Aronia x prunifolia (ar-OH-nee-ah BY proo-nih-FOE-lee-ah)
Family: RosaceaeNativeShrub (3-15 ft)
Shrub (3-15 ft)Native
The Purple Chokeberry is a hybrid, deciduous shrub with multi-season interest. The multi-stemmed shrub is derived from the Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and the Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa.) The plant is found in bogs, meadows, fields, and along the shores of rivers and lakes. It is a native of eastern Canada and the eastern United States. The shrub grows upright and is thicket forming. They measure up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Full sun encourages the best fruit and flower production. They are tolerant of salty soils, dry and wet sites, and occasional flooding. Root suckers tend to develop and may need to be removed to prevent colonial spread. Clusters of white to pink-tinged flowers appear in the spring. The leaves are green and glossy, but they turn to a wine red color in the fall. The berries ripen during the fall, and the purple fruits may be present throughout the winter. Their colorful bark adds winter interest. The berries are very tart, but they may be used to make jams and jellies. Reportedly, the raw berry is so astringent it may cause choking. The genus name, Aronia , is from the Greek word "aria." This is the Greek name for the species Sorbus, whose fruits are similar to the Chokeberry. The species name, prunifolia , refers to the foliage that resembles the genus Prunus. The common name, Chokeberry, references their bitter taste. Butterflies are attracted to their flowers for nectar, and birds enjoy the berries as a food source. The Purple Chokeberry is a good choice for mass planting in low or wet areas. They may also be considered for use as hedged or mixed borders for their multi-season interest. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : No serious disease/insect problems. It may be susceptible to developing leaf spot and twig/fruit blight
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Columnar; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are elliptical to obovate in shape. They measure 1.5 to 3 inches long and 1/2 to 3/4 inches wide. The upper surface of the leaves is dark green, shiny, but the undersides are grayish-green with fine hairs. The leaves are a bright red or reddish-purple in the fall.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
In the spring, the blooms appear along the branches. Clusters of 5- petaled flowers in white or pinkish-tinged appear. The flowers measure about 0.5-inches across.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits mature to dark purple or blackish-purple berries. The berry measures 1/3 inch in diameter, and they form dense clusters along the branches. They mature in the fall and may persist throughout the winter. They are edible but very tart.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark is reddish-brown, thin, and smooth when it is young. As the shrub ages, the bark becomes grayish-brown.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
The stems are brownish, grayish, and purplish in color. The winter bud has 3 or more scales, and they overlap like shingles.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada and Eastern United States
Distribution
Native: USA--AL, CT, GA, IN, KY, ME, MA, MI, MS, NH, NY, NC, OH, RI, SC, VT, VA, WV, WI Canada-- Ontario and Quebec; Introduced: Belgium and the Netherlands
Wildlife value
Fruit attracts birds. Butterflies are attracted to the nectar of the flowers.
Attracts
Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
The fruits are edible and are best used in jams and jellies.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the fruits in pemmican which is a mixture of dried meats, tallow, and berries.