Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry, or Aronia arbutifolia Brilliantissima, is a dependable, tough, semi-evergreen shrub that will add dimension and beauty to your garden all year long. The foliage of the Brilliantissima emerges dark green and shiny, contrasting with a profusion of small, white to pinkish flower clusters in mid to late spring. Soon following are spades of highly decorative, brilliant, red fruit berries that are beloved by songbirds. As the summer fades to fall, the glossy chartreuse foliage of the Brilliantissima blushes to a vivid red, adding multi-seasonal appeal to this already stunning shrub. The Brilliantissima grows from 6 to 10 feet tall at maturity, with a relatively narrow spread of 3 to 5 feet.
Native to Southern Canada and the eastern United States, and bred by American Beauties Native Plants, the Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry is a narrow, upright shrub with a clumping, erect, growth habit. Brilliantissima was granted the Gold Medal Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and it's easy to see why. Bees and other critical pollinators love the Brilliantissima for its plentiful spring nectar, and songbirds of all kinds cherish the Brilliantissima for its dense, protective foliage, and ample berries. It is deer and rabbit tolerant, and generally disease and pest free.
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry Care
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry prefers full to partial shade, but will produce the most berries in areas with more sun. It thrives in soils that are rich, consistently moist, and well-drained. However, Brilliantissima is tolerant of many soils, including boggy, dry, and poor quality soil. Prune your Brilliantissima during its dormancy in the late winter or early spring for size management and rejuvenation. It can be propagated by potting the suckers when the plants are dormant, or taking softwood cuttings in the early summer.
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry Spacing
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry is an excellent, undemanding choice for background or filler planting. Since Chokeberries are relatively leggy, planting underneath them is a breeze. They are stunning when planted en masse and are a must-have addition to any late season landscape or garden. When planting, space your Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry 48 to 60 inches apart, giving them plenty of airflow and room to grow.
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 6-10 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry
- Botanical Name
- ARONIA ARBUTIFOLIA 'BRILLIANTISSIMA'
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
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