Aronia Species, Red Chokeberry, Red Chokecherry

I planted several of these straight species behind Elderberry - Sambucus 'Lemon Lace' and near Florida Corkwood -Leitneria floridana in 3...Read More/4 day sun. They all duke it out and knit together. Since the Aronia stems are bare at the bottom, you may want to under-plant or plant something in the foreground it you don't like the airy appearance. The spring flowers attract pollinators and the birds seem to finish off the berries by Christmas. (Berry set is ok but nothing like a winterberry Ilex verticillata.) I have seen caterpillars eating some leaves but that is a good thing when you plant to support local wildlife. I have never noticed any deer damage on my Aronia.

This is a shrub with a loose, open, graceful habit. The white May flowers are showy, though malodorous (like Callery pears). The red fall...Read More fruits are also attractive, and fall color is a good red.

This shrub has been widely promoted as a native alternative to the ecologically invasive burning bush (Euonymous alatus). It will never have the dense twiggy habit of a burning bush, and it isn't suitable for shearing. It also spreads by suckering, sometimes aggressively, and may not be appropriate for all applications.

It has its own charms, different from burning bush's.

Because the cultivar 'Brilliant' is what's available in commerce, all the other comments on Plantfiles have gone to its separate entry.

Im really surprised to see no reviews. This is a great native shrub. The blooms are a beautiful white, with dark red stamens. The white o...Read Moref the flowers is secondary to the red cloud the stamens produce. This is not a slow growing shrub, although it typically takes one to two years for them to get established. Produces Gorgeous red berries in the fall. The only downside I can really say about this plant is that it tends to spread by runners that have to be kept under control. Height can be an issue but it can be easily trimmed into the shape you desire. Just be careful on timing as not to lose the flowers or berries. Wonderful alternitive to the invasive burning bush (Euonymus alata). One of my favorite garden shrubs. With the proper publicity this shrub could reach the heights of Hydrangea macrophylla, or Viburnum opulus.