Aronia X prunifolia is a shrub with simple, finely-toothed alternate leaves, and a scattering of coarse, dark hairs along the upper side of the leaf midrib. Flowers have 5 bright white petals, in general appearance not unlike many other woody species in this family, and fruits are 5-7 mm in diameter, juicy, and dark purple to black. Leaves and twigs are usually gray or whitish tomentose, unlike the glabrous twigs and leaves of the very similar Aronia melanocarpa. It is generally a bushy, low plant seldom exceeding 2 meters in Wisconsin, though sometimes reaching greater heights farther south.

Aronia X prunifolia is usually a species of wet, sunny or partly shaded sites, although some sites may become quite dry as the growing season progresses. Habitat is similar to A. melanocarpa, often as a shoreline species of lakes or streams or at the interface of marshes or bogs with adjacent uplands on sandy soils. It seems to be widely distributed in Wisconsin.