Zone 3 - 2m / 6.5ft

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’, Red chokeberry

A deciduous shrub noted for it’s multi-season contribution to the garden. White and light pink flowers begin to appear in spring, providing nourishment for early pollinators such as butterflies. Flowers grow into a showy display of bright red berries and glossy green foliage in the summer. By fall, the leaves change to a brilliant red rivalling those of the famous burning bush. Once the fall ends, only the berries are left adding winter interest to you garden, with the added sighting of hungry birds looking for a snack. Generally pest and disease free and deer tolerant. Prefers full sun to part shade. It’s spreading/suckering growth habit does best in an area where it does not need to be restrained.

• tolerant of wet and dry soils

Red Chokeberry by Katja Schulz, available under CC BY 2.0 at Flickr.com.