About Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Pers.
Aronia arbutifolia, commonly known as red chokeberry, is a North American shrub species belonging to the rose family. It is native to eastern Canada, as well as the eastern and central United States, ranging from eastern Texas to Nova Scotia, inland to Ontario, Ohio, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. Red chokeberry is a branching shrub that forms clumps via new stems growing from its roots. It typically grows to a height between 1.8 and 3.6 meters, or 6 and 12 feet. Its flowers are white or pink, and they develop into either black or bright red fruits. The unpleasant taste of the raw fruits gave the plant its common name; raw fruits are bitterly acidic, though they are edible. The fruits are high in pectin, and can be used to make flavorful thick jams and jellies. This species is a popular landscaping plant. In the wild, Aronia arbutifolia grows in wet habitats including titi bogs, boggy pine flatwoods, and various hammocks. It generally shows no response to soil disturbance caused by clearcutting and chopping.
