FloraFinder.org
Home   About Us   Want to Help?   FAQ  
Searching   Image Use Biblio

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’

Red chokeberry

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderRosalesRose family and eight others
FamilyRosaceaeIncludes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
GenusAroniaFrom the Greek aria, which is the specific epithet of a mountain ash (Sorbus aria) which has similar fruit
SpeciesarbutifoliaHaving leaves like Arbutus unedo, the Spanish madrone
Cultivar‘Brilliantissima’

About plant names...

This is a red chokeberry cultivar. Wild chokeberries are native to eastern North America.

Edibility: The berries are not poisonous, but they are so tart that they cause choking. Wild red chokeberry can be cooked and sweetened, but I couldn’t find any edibility information for this cultivar.

Identification: These reach up to 8' (2.4 m) in height, with a spread of about 4' (1.2 m). Blooms are white and fragrant. Berries are bright red and fairly hard, about ⅜" (9.5 mm), like tiny apples. In the fall, the foliage turns bright or deep ruby red. Don’t confuse chokeberries and chokecherries:

 

Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)

4/24/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 2½" (9.4 × 6.3 cm)

Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)

10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

  You are here
Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’

Prunus virginiana
Common Name

red chokeberry

common chokecherry
Plant 6-15' (1.8-4.6 m) high A large shrub or small tree up to 18' (5.5 m) high
Flowers   Bunches (“racemes”) of 15-30 white flowers, each about ½" (1.3 cm) in size
Leaves Leaves turn deep ruby red in fall. Fine serrations, dark above and pale green underneath
Fruit Red, about ¼-⅜" (6.3-9.5 mm) in diameter, very sour Bright red to dark red or black, ¼-⅝" (6.3-15 mm) in diameter, extremely sour
Range/ Zones

USDA Zones: 4-9

Habitats   Moist woods; stream banks; prairie hillsides; fence rows; rocky bluffs; roadsides
Type Cultivar Wild

 

Online References:

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ on www.carolinanature.com

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ on pnwplants.wsu.edu

Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)

5/11/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)

10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)

8/4/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

 

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 Dec 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)

10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry)

10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

Range: Zones 4-9:

About this map...