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Rain Garden Plants: Red Chokeberry

An informative guide on red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), covering growth habitat, ideal site conditions, and distinctive features such as showy white clusters of flowers and red berries in the fall.

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Updated:

June 9, 2025

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A cluster of 5-petaled white flowers. Jodi Sulpizio, Penn State Extension

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Red chokeberry is an upright, multistemmed, perennial shrub with high visual appeal in all seasons. In spring, showy clusters of white to light pink flowers are very attractive to pollinators. Glossy, dark green, finely toothed leaves are 1 to 3 inches long. In fall, leaves turn orange, and deep red berries develop. Berries are eaten by mammals and some birds. It prefers acidic soil but can tolerate a pH of up to 8.0. This shrub is attractive to deer, so it should be protected from browsing.

Height: 6 to 12 feet
Bloom color: White to light pink
Bloom time: March to May
Hardiness zone: 3a to 9b
Salt tolerance: Tolerates salt spray
Spreading habit: Root suckers can form dense colonies

Site Conditions

Sun: Full sun/partial shade
Soil: Well-drained
Hydrologic zone: Moist, can tolerate occasional periods of wet soil

References

Cornell University, Aronia arbutifolia
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Aronia arbutifolia
North Carolina Extension, Aronia arbutifolia

Close up of leaves of red chokeberry — Leaves of red chokeberry. Photo credit: Jodi Sulpizio, Penn State Extension

The red berries of red chokeberry — Berries. Photo credit: Connie Schmotzer, Penn State Extension

Red chokeberry shrub in flower — Shrub in flower. Photo credit: Jodi Sulpizio, Penn State Extension

Reddish-orange fall color of red chokeberry — Fall color. Photo credit: Connie Schmotzer, Penn State Extension

Prepared by Jodi Sulpizio, Jessica Chou, Constance Schmotzer, and Beth Yount. Reviewed by Scott Sjolander and Sandra Feather. Finalized by Jodi Sulpizio.

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