Practical
Plants

Aronia melanocarpa

Black Chokeberry

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Aronia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
2.5 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - cooked. A good flavour but very astringent[4]. The fruit should be fully ripe before being eaten and is best after a frost or two[K]. It makes a good jelly when sugar is added and is also dried and used for making pemmican[4]. The fruit is rich in pectin and can be added to fruits that are low in this substance when making jams etc[4]. Pectin is also said to protect the body against radiation[6]. The fruit is about 9mm in diameter[5].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Pectin

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

An infusion of the berries has been used in the treatment of colds[8].

Product or use
Miscellany

Material uses

The fruit is a source of pectin[4], a substance that is used to thicken jams etc and as a culture medium in laboratories.

Product or use
Pectin

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Florida and Michigan.
Habitat
Swamps and low woodlands, it is sometimes also found in drier soils[5][7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots outdoors or in a cold frame[1]. Pre-soak stored seed overnight and then cold stratify for 3 months at 2°c[1]. The seed germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[2]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[1]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[5]. Very easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions. Layering[5].

Cultivation

Prefers a moist peaty soil in full sun or partial shade[5]. Succeeds in most soils but dislikes shallow chalk[5]. More tolerant of dry soils than other members of this genus[5]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c. There is at least one cultivar developed for its improved fruit. 'Nero' has fruits twice the size of the species with a vitamin C content of 15 - 30 mg (per 100g?). The fruit is borne in clusters of about 15, it is more flavourful and the yield is about twice that of wild forms[4]. Other cultivars developed mainly for their ornamental value include 'Viking' with extra large berries and 'Aron' with numerous large berries[3]. The sub-species A. melanocarpa elata Rehd. and A. melanocarpa grandifolia (Lindl.)Schneid. are more vigorous than the type species with larger flowers and fruits[5]. This genus is closely related to Sorbus species[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5].

References

  1. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

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  3. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  6. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩

  7. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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