Aronia arbutifolia

Red chokeberry is a rock star in the landscape. Look for small white or pale pink flowers in the spring, dark green, shiny leaves in the summer, crimson leaves in the fall and bright red berries in the winter. Sit back and watch the wildlife enjoy the flowers and berries.
 

Why grow Aronia arbutifolia?

• Four seasons of interest including clusters of diminutive flowers and a brilliant fall foliage display.

• It’s drought tolerant once established, although it also grows well in wet sites.

• It’s native throughout a large portion North America – in eastern North America, Nova Scotia to Florida, and west to Michigan.

• ‘Brilliantissima’ is a cultivar that flowers more abundantly, with larger fruit and has glossier and more abundant red autumn color than the species.

Sources: Ohio State University, North Carolina State Cooperative Extension

Photos courtesy of Bob Gutowski; and Jennifer Horn (http://plantedcloud.blogspot.com)