What soil does Red chokeberry grow in?

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

Is Red 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 Red chokeberry be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Red chokeberry be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 2 plants per metre.

When does Red chokeberry flower?

Flowering: April–May, white, pink.

How much water does Red chokeberry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Red chokeberry

Aronia arbutifolia

Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of Red 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 upright, slender shrub grown for its flaming red autumn foliage and for the glossy red berries that stay on the stems well into winter; white, pink-flushed flowers open in spring. The form usually sold is 'Brilliant', which has the best autumn colour and fruit. It copes well with moist and even occasionally wet soil, but stays duller on dry, chalky ground, and it slowly forms a colony by root suckers, so pull the suckers out if you do not want it to spread. The berries are edible but very astringent raw and are better made into jam.

Watch out for

It spreads by root suckers, which need removing regularly in a small garden. On chalky, alkaline soil the leaves can yellow and the autumn colour is weaker, and in the hot, dry summers of Central Europe the foliage can scorch without watering. It becomes bare at the base with age, so lower plants in front help. Leaf spot and twig or fruit blight occur but are rarely serious. It has escaped locally on acidic heaths and pine woods in western Europe; no such problem is reported from Central Europe.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 2 m × 1.2 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, white, pink

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2 m × 1.2 m
Ultimate size	1.5–3.7 m × 0.9–2 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, white, pink
Harvest	September–October
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 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 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Hedge plants Shrubs for pollinators Low-maintenance shrubs Flowering shrubs Plants with autumn colour Shrubs 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.

Looks good next to it

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Bergenia cordifolia

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Hedera colchica

Heather

Calluna vulgaris