# Aronia Bushes
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Chokeberry
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Common chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9; It grows 6 to 10 feet tall in full sun to partial shade and bears clusters of pink and white flowers in early to mid spring. As with other chokeberries, the flowers are pollinated by bees and give way to bright red fruits. "Brilliantissima" (Aronia arbutifolia "Brilliantissima") is a more compact variety, growing only 6 to 8 feet tall and producing fruit larger than that of the species.
Black Chokeberry
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Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) bears glossy black fruits that are especially attractive to birds. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, the shrubs grow 3 to 6 feet tall, with an equal spread. The white spring appear in clusters and resemble tiny single roses. The pendulous fruits are borne in the fall. Black chokeberry is native to the Eastern U.S. "Autumn Magic" (Aronia melanocarpa "Autumn Magic") is noted for its especially vibrant fall foliage. "Morton," sold as Iroquois Beauty (Aronia melanocarpa "Morton" Iroquois Beauty) is a more compact version of the species, topping out at 3 feet tall.
Purple-Fruited Chokeberry
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A natural hybrid between common chokeberry and black chokeberry, purple-fruited chokeberry (Aronia x prunifolia), can grow relatively tall, at up to 12 feet. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7 and produces clusters of pinkish-tinged white flowers in the spring. The fruits appear in the fall and are blue-purple, persisting on the shrubs. Purple-fruited chokecherry shares the same brilliant fall color as the other species. Like other chokeberries, the plants increase by suckering, but are also a stable hybrid that will also come true from seed.
Garden Uses
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All three aronia species flourish in wet soil and can be used for streamside plantings or naturalized areas that tend to be damp. They are good choices for wildlife gardens, as the flowers attract pollinators and the fruits attract birds. If the suckering tendency is kept in check, the shrubs make good hedges and foundation plantings. The brilliant fall color makes chokeberry an excellent substitute for the fall color supplied by invasive exotics like burning bush (Euonymus alatus), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. The astringent fruits can also be harvested and processed into juice or jelly.
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