Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

red chokeberry

Synonym(s):

Photinia pyrifolia

Genus species:

Aronia arbutifolia

Family:

Rosaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

6-8(10) ft tall by to 3-5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Fall Color, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Beautiful early spring-blooming shrub. Grow at edge of wooded areas or as a specimen.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|---- |----|---- <----------------> --|----|----|----|----|----|-

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Birds

Flowers attract bees and butterflies.  Pollinated by bees.

Various birds eat the berries including titmice, nuthatches, warblers, chickadees, cardinals, grosbeaks, and orioles.

Native Habitats:

Wet sites. Seep slopes, wet flatwoods, edges of swamps.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Berries are theoretically edible, but do not taste good, hence the chokeberry name.

General Comments:

Often grows with ink berry and palmettos.