Bloomipedia
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Photo: Will McFarland via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering shrub

Red chokeberry

Aronia arbutifolia

Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is a shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly February–May across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering shrubNative in the lower 48

Red chokeberry is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 33 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in February–May.

24states where USDA records it
33Bloomipedia state lists include it
1,968U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden shrubs are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Quick look

Aronia arbutifolia, called the red chokeberry, is a North American species of shrubs in the rose family. It is native to eastern Canada and to the eastern and central United States, from eastern Texas to Nova Scotia inland to Ontario, Ohio, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 24 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–March. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 280 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #110 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 230 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #109 among the 154 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 224 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #112 among the 186 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (287 records)
Bloom time in the 33 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Florida🌷 Gardenfew records (46)280
Mississippi🌷 GardenFebruary–March230
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (8)224
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (22)223
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (7)158
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records (35)138
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (12)138
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (19)112
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records (11)92
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (3)64
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (3)53
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records (1)43
South Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (2)41
Texas🌷 Gardenno flowering records32
Connecticut🌷 Gardenfew records (1)28
Louisiana🌷 Gardenfew records (1)22
Arkansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records18
Ohio🌷 Gardenno flowering records14
Maine🌷 Gardenfew records (1)11
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records9
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records (2)6
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records (1)5
Missouri🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Vermont🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Michigan🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Minnesota🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Nebraska🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Oregon🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 22 of our 33 states.
See each state
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: S5, secure in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S5, secure in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. 31 TAC 69.8
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe has no Maine rank for it. Maine rare plant list
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe has no Illinois rank for it. IL E&T checklist 2025
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: S5, secure in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe has no Missouri rank for it. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe has no Minnesota rank for it. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe has no Nebraska rank for it. 163 NAC 4-004
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe has no Oregon rank for it. OAR 603-073-0070
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe has no Wisconsin rank for it. NR 27.03
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in South Carolina.
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Ohio
State endangered On Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024): state endangered. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe has no Indiana rank for it.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe has no Kansas rank for it.
Michigan
State threatened On Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023): state threatened. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Oklahoma.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on Ohio's rare plant list (state endangered); it's on Michigan's rare plant list (state threatened); NatureServe ranks it S1 in Ohio and S1 in Oklahoma. OAC 1501:18-1-03 R 299.1028 NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The raw berries are bitter and tart. The fruits may be used to make tasty jams and jellies.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

Edible or not, please don't pick this one. See the note under Conservation status.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records red chokeberry in 24 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.

Mississippi counties with USDA records: Clarke, Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lauderdale, Marshall, Newton, Noxubee, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Smith, Stone, Tishomingo, Walthall, Washington.

New Jersey counties with USDA records: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Red chokeberry a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -18 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-18 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
130
Annual precipitation range
34 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
20 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Red · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ARAR7. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Aronia glabrescens, Aronia pumila, Aronia pubens, Aronia pyrifolia, Crataegus pyrifolia, Mespilus arbutifolia, Photinia pyrifolia, Pyrus arbutifolia, Sorbus arbutifolia.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 586 counties across 22 states; the most are in Virginia (85), North Carolina (83), Georgia (55).

Other Aronia on Bloomipedia (1): Black chokeberry.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More Florida flowers

Southern dewberry (Rubus trivialis)

Southern dewberry

Rubus trivialis

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: February–March
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–May
Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis)

Green hawthorn

Crataegus viridis

🌷 Flowering tree

🌷 Grown in Florida gardens

Sources