Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry)

Native to eastern North America, this deciduous shrub grows in both wet and dry thickets. It usually reaches six to ten feet tall and spreads by root suckers, forming colonies. Clusters of white to pale pink, five-petaled flowers appear in spring. Glossy red fruits ripen in late summer and can remain on the branches into winter, while the leaves turn bright red in autumn. The astringent fruits are sometimes used to make jams and jellies. Photographed in Virginia.