Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'
Brilliant Red Chokeberry

Previously known as: Photinia pyrifolia 'Brilliantissima'

Aronia arbutifolia ′Brilliantissima′ - Flowering Shrub

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family) 211

Genus:

Aronia (Chokeberry) 7

Plant Type:

Shrub 468

Growth Forms:

Upright 574

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 4 520

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 839

Flower Notes:

White (Flowers are white or pinkish-white with red stamens; May)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Deep green summer foliage); Red (Outstanding scarlet fall foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Red (Bright red persisting berries)

Ultimate Height:

6-8 feet

Ultimate Spread:

3-4 feet

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers well-drained, moist, loamy soils, but adaptable to many soil types

Range:

Cultivated origin

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are alternate, simple, elliptic, 1.5-3.5" long and 0.5-0.75" wide. Margins have black-tipped teeth. Dark glands are present along the midrib on the upper side of the leaf. Top dark green and bottom with gray tomentum. Stems also tomentose. (Aronia melanocarpa is not tomentose on its leaves or stems.) Five scaled buds are green tinged red, often completely red, and glabrous. Flowers resemble those of hawthorn.

Ecological Functions:

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Chokeberry

Special Characteristics:

Tolerant of Poor Site Conditions 187

Wet Soil Tolerant 109

Additional Information

The Brilliant Red Chokeberry has dark green leaves that turn a stunning deep red in the fall. 'Brilliant' produces larger and more abundant flowers and a greater number of red berries than the species type. Because birds find the fruits unappealing, the berries are allowed to persist well into the winter months. This plant tends to sucker and create colonies.

Plant Photo Gallery

Flowering Shrub

Flower

Foliage

Shrub in Fall

Fruit and Fall Leaves

Bark

Buds

Winter Habit

Summer Interest

When Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima' has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

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Fruiting

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2 Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima' found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2022_00014*A	HGRH
2	2023_00595*A	WANG

Other plants like this Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima' (Brilliant Red Chokeberry)

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