Family: Rosaceae, Rose view all from this family

Description A spreading shrub with terminal clusters of white or pink-tinged flowers on hairy stalks.
Flowers: 1/2" (1.5 cm) wide; petals 5; stamens numerous, with conspicuous, black or dark red anthers. Bloom April-July.
Leaves: 1-3" (2.5-7.5 cm) long, toothed, oval to broadly lanceolate, with pointed tips, dark green and smooth above, densely hairy and pale beneath; glands along upper midrib visible with hand lens.
Fruit: Bright or dull red, berry-like, 1/4" (6 mm) wide.
Height: 3-12' (90-360 cm).

Habitat Thickets, clearings, low woods, and swamps.

Range Ontario east to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Kentucky, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Discussion A native shrub, this species forms sizable colonies and is excellent for naturalistic landscaping. A closely related, black-fruited species, Black Chokeberry (P. melanocarpa), has leaves that are hairless beneath; it is found from Ontario east to Newfoundland and south to Georgia and Arkansas. Growing in much the same range, Purple Chokeberry (P. floribunda), which appears to be derived by hybridization of Red and Black Chokeberry, has purple fruit. Although chokeberry fruits persist through much of the winter, they appear to be of little importance to wildlife; they are occasionally eaten by game birds and songbirds and reportedly by bears. Chokeberry species are sometimes placed in the genus Aronia.