What soil does Purple chokeberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Is Purple chokeberry hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Purple chokeberry be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Purple chokeberry be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.2 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 2 plants per metre.

When does Purple chokeberry flower?

Flowering: April–June, white.

How much water does Purple chokeberry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Purple chokeberry

Aronia × prunifolia

Purple chokeberry (Aronia × prunifolia) is a fruit plant. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of Purple chokeberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An undemanding, very hardy berry shrub: white flower clusters in May, glossy purple-black berries in early autumn and bright red leaves before leaf fall. It is self-fertile, so a single bush crops well; the tart berries go into juice, syrup and jam. The fruiting cultivars are sold under this name by some nurseries and as black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) by others. It does best in moist, slightly acidic soil; on dry, chalky ground the leaves yellow and the crop is poor, and the root suckers need removing now and then.

Watch out for

On chalky, alkaline soil the leaves turn yellow from iron deficiency, which can be a problem in many Central European gardens; acidic compost and mulch help. In summer drought without watering the berries stay small and shrivel. Leaf spot and twig or fruit blight occur but are rarely serious. Birds spread the seed: it has escaped and is spreading locally in acidic bogs and bog woodland in northern and Central Europe (the Netherlands, northern Germany, Poland, Latvia), so do not plant it near bogs and protected wetland habitats.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1.8 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–June, white

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.8 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	1.5–3.7 m × 1–2.7 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–June, white
Harvest	August–October
Self-fertile	yes
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	120 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Hedge plants Fruit trees and bushes Plants with autumn colour Plants with edible fruit

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

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