Black chokeberry

Profile

Family

Rosaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

2.2 m

Spread

2 m

Growth

fast

Lifespan

30 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 4–8

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

dry – very moist

pH

5 – 8

Synonyms

Aronia, Aronia-Beere

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit - cooked. The fruit has a pleasant taste but is very astringent. It should be fully ripe before consumption and is best after one or two frosts. The fruit is suitable for making jelly when sugar is added and can also be dried to make pemmican. Due to its high pectin content, the fruit can be used to make jams to increase the pectin level, which is believed to protect the body from radiation. The fruit has a diameter of about 9 mm.

Other uses: The fruit is a source of pectin, a substance used to thicken jams and as a culture medium in laboratories. Pectin is extracted from the fruit and serves as a gelling agent for jams and similar products. It is also utilized in laboratories as a nutrient medium.

Growing

Prefers a moist, peaty soil in full sun or partial shade. Thrives in most soils but dislikes shallow chalk. Tolerates drier soils better than other species in this genus. The plants are hardy to about -25°C. There is at least one variety developed for its improved fruits. 'Nero' has fruits that are twice as large as the species' and a vitamin C content of 15-30 mg (per 100g?). The fruit is borne in groups of about 15, is more flavorful, and the yield is about twice as high as in wild forms. Other varieties mainly developed for their ornamental value include 'Viking' with extra-large berries and 'Aron' with numerous large berries. The subspecies A. melanocarpa elata Rehd. and A. melanocarpa grandifolia (Lindl.) Schneid. are more robust than the type species with larger flowers and fruits. This genus is closely related to Sorbus species. Plants of this genus are notably resistant to the honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seeds - best sown immediately after ripening in pots outdoors or in a cold frame. Soak stored seeds overnight and then cold stratify at 2°C for 3 months. Seeds will germinate in 1 - 3 months at 15°C. Once large enough, prick out seedlings into individual pots and let them grow in a cold frame during the first winter. Plant out in late spring. Take cuttings from semi-ripe shoots in July/August in a frame. Divide runners during the dormant period. Very straightforward, they can be planted directly into their final position. Layering.

Notable

Special features: forms runners, drought-tolerant, prefers moist peat soil; originated from North America, spread to Europe through Russia; hybrid cross A. x prunifolia with numerous varieties such as 'Aron', 'Nero', 'Viking', 'Königshof',.. claims of up to 17kg of fruit per bush; easy to care for; can be grafted onto rowan; pruning measures from the 4th-6th year of growth;

Origin & habitat

Swamps, low forests, dry soils The frog is particularly common in these habitats.

Forests and hedges, often by streams.

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