Chokeberry Bush
Grow this hardy native shrub for fall color that stops traffic
About Chokeberry Bush
The chokeberry we grow is red chokeberry, Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima', a native shrub of eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States known for its scarlet fall color. White to light pink flowers open in May, and glossy red berries follow in fall and often hang on into winter. It grows slowly into a vase-shaped shrub about 6 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, takes wet ground and occasional flooding, handles dry spells once established, and spreads by suckers if you let it.
This site walks you through everything you need to know to grow chokeberry bush well: the right planting location and soil prep, ongoing care from spring through fall, common problems and solutions, and where to find healthy plants. We also compare it with black chokeberry, its smaller cousin, so you can pick the right shrub for your garden.
Buy Chokeberry Bush
Nursery-grown plants shipped in their container, with our planting and care guides to go with them.
From $93.12
Sizes: 3 GALLON, 2 GALLON
Shop Chokeberry BushQuick facts
- USDA zones
- 3-9
- Mature height
- 6-12 ft
- Mature width
- 3-6 ft, suckers to form colonies
- Sun
- full sun to part shade; best fall color and fruiting in full sun
- Water
- moderate; tolerates wet sites and occasional flooding, and drought once established
- Bloom time
- mid to late spring (April-May, varies by zone)
- Bloom color
- white to light pink
- Growth rate
- slow
- Deer resistance
- low (deer browse it)
- Plant type
- deciduous shrub (native red chokeberry)
- Native shrub with white spring flowers, glossy red berries and scarlet fall color
- Berries are edible but very astringent raw, best cooked into jams and jellies
- Grows slowly to about 6 to 12 feet tall, so give it room at the back of a border or in a screen
- Takes wet sites and occasional flooding as well as average garden soil
- Deer browse it, so protect young plants where deer are common
- Spreads by root suckers, which you can pull to keep it in place
- Hardy in USDA zones 3-9
Growing guides
Core guideChokeberry Bush Care: A Complete Growing Guide
How to grow red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima': site, planting, watering, pruning, pests and propagation for this zone 3-9 native with scarlet fall color.
Core guideHow to Plant a Chokeberry Bush: Site, Timing and Steps
How to plant red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima': a sunny site, spring or fall timing, hole depth, spacing 3 to 6 feet apart and first-year watering.
Plant specificChokeberry Bush Fall Color: Why Its Foliage Turns Fiery Red
Why red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima' turns orange to scarlet in October, how full sun and cool nights help, plus care, spacing and native companions.
Core guideChokeberry Bush Buying Guide: Best Container Sizes to Choose
How to buy red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima': 2 gallon vs 3 gallon pots, named cultivars, signs of a healthy plant and site checks for zones 3-9.
Plant specificChokeberry Bush vs Chokecherry: What's the Difference?
Red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima' vs chokecherry: size, soil, zones, fall color, berries and toxic parts compared, plus which one we plant for most yards.
Core guideChokeberry Bush Growing Zones: Where Will It Thrive?
Red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima' grows in USDA zones 3 to 9. Cold and heat limits, sun, soil, spacing and planting tips for every region.
Core guideChokeberry Bush Sun Requirements: Full Sun or Part Shade?
Does red chokeberry need full sun? How to count sun hours and place 'Brilliantissima' for scarlet fall color and a heavy crop of red berries.
Core guideWatering Chokeberry Bush: Establishment to Mature Plants
How to water red chokeberry from planting day to maturity: a first-season schedule sized to our 2 and 3 gallon pots, seasonal tips and soil notes.
Core guideBest Soil for Chokeberry Bush: Drainage and pH Tips
Soil tips for red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima': test pH and drainage, fix clay and sand, plant at the right depth, mulch and water well.
Core guidePruning Chokeberry Bush: When and How to Cut It Back
When and how to prune red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima': cut right after bloom, remove root suckers, thin the oldest stems and avoid hard cuts.
Core guideHow Big Does a Chokeberry Bush Get? Size and Growth Rate
Red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima' grows 6-12 ft tall and 3-6 ft wide at a slow rate. See spacing, sucker control and how to keep its size in check.
Core guideCommon Chokeberry Bush Pests, Diseases and Problems
Red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima' has few serious problems. Spot and fix aphids, scale, borers, leaf spot, rust, blight, yellow leaves and suckers.
Chokeberry Bush questions
Is chokeberry the same as chokecherry?
No. Chokeberry (Aronia) and chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) are different plants in different genera that share a similar common name.
Can you eat the berries?
Yes, red chokeberries are edible, but they are so astringent raw that most people cook them into jams and jellies. They are a little sweeter than black chokeberries.
Does chokeberry need full sun?
It tolerates part shade but flowers, fruits, and colors best in full sun.
How big does red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima' get?
Plan on about 6 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide over time. It grows slowly and spreads by suckers unless you remove them.