The red chokeberry is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that has multi-seasonal interest. It is found in both wet and dry thickets in eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States, including North Carolina. It is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). The species epithet is a Latin compound that means "with leaves like Arbutus ” [an unrelated genus in the blueberry family]. The red chokeberry is easily grown in average, medium moisture soils. It has a wide range of soil tolerance, including boggy soils. They tolerate wet sites and occasional flooding. It is recommended that root suckers be removed to prevent colonial spread. The best fruit and flower production occurs in full sun. They are propagated by seeds, soft-wood cuttings, or by removing suckers and potting them when the plant is dormant. It typically grows in a vase-shaped form to 6-12’ tall and 3-6' wide but tends to sucker and form colonies. The plant has a stiff and upright habit with a fibrous root system. It is best used in mass planting as it tends to become leggy with age. Spring brings clusters of white to light pink flowers. The leaves are green and glossy throughout the summer and turn orangish-red or purple in the fall. Bright red pear-shaped berries appear in the fall and may persist through the winter. The bark is reddish-brown and adds interest to a winter garden. The fruits are edible but so astringent that they may cause choking (hence the common name). The red chokeberry's fruits can be used in canning or making jams and jellies. Jellies are heavy, sweet and solid due to the abundance of pectin. The red chokeberry can be eaten raw and is more palatable than the black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) . This plant has a low flammability rating. Butterflies and pollinators are attracted to the flowers for nectar. This plant has little resistance to damage from deer. Consider the native red chokeberry for its multi-season interest in a children's, edible, pollinator, native, rain or winter garden. It works as a screen, hedge, border or foundation plant. Insects, Disease, or Other Plant Problems: No serious disease/insect problems, but they can develop leaf spot and twig/fruit blight; round head apple borers can also be a problem. VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “ Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping ” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
The leaves are oblong, obovate, or elliptical. They measure about 1 inch to 3½ inches long and up to 1½ inches wide. The leaf's upper surface is glossy, smooth, medium green to dark green. The undersides of the leaf are grayish-green and pubescent. The foliage turns orange to bright red in October.
Fall color
Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers appear along the branches. The blooms form clusters or corymbs of white to light pink with red anthers and are 5-petaled flowers. They measure 1 inch in diameter and bloom in May. Butterflies and bees are attracted to their nectar.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible; Long-lasting; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit matures to a red glossy pome. The berry measures ¼ to ⅓ inch in diameter, and they form dense clusters along the branches. Each pome contains 1-5 seeds. The fruits mature from September to November and may persist throughout the winter months. The fruits may be eaten raw or cooked and made into tasty jams and jellies. The Red Chokeberry is sweeter than the Black Chokeberry.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark is reddish-brown, thin, smooth, and exfoliating, which adds color to the garden during the winter months. As the shrub ages, the bark becomes grayish-brown.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The twigs are brownish-red with bright red buds that almost circle the stem. There are multiple upright stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada to Central and Eastern United States
Distribution
Native: Canada--New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec; United States--AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV Introduced: Netherlands
Wildlife value
The shrub's winter berries are eaten by mammals and birds. Butterflies and pollinators enjoy the flower nectar in the spring.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Pome
Edibility
The raw berries are bitter and tart. The fruits may be used to make tasty jams and jellies.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Some species of the Aronia were used by Native Americans to treat the common cold.