Plant Details

Aronia prunifolia

Purple Chokeberry

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Aronia prunifolia.

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Purple Chokeberry
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Zwarte appelbes
French
  • Aronie à feuilles de prunier
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Aronia prunifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Aronia × prunifolia View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Aronia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Purple Chokeberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.44–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 1.83–2.74 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Columnar, Erect, Multi-stemmed

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
None

Description

Fruit - dried and used for making pemmican. The fruit is approximately 8 mm in diameter. Translated and rewritten for better readability: The fruit is dried and used in the making of pemmican. The fruit has a diameter of about 8 mm.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Aronia × prunifolia (Marshall) Rehder, name ID 2942347, row 1433649
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 838120; name ID 2942273; Aronia Medik.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Aronia x prunifolia — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .