Eetbare tuin-edible garden Aronia melanocarpa - Black chokeberry

• Article number: AROMEL02

The Aronia melanocarpa or Black chokeberry is an ornamental shrub that grows up to 150 cm high as a shrub.
Sometimes we have stemmed specimens that grow up to 2 meters high. The Aronia can be planted in a sunny or semi-shaded place.
The soil does not matter much during a dry hot summer, the plant may receive extra water, which will certainly benefit the production of the fruits.

In early spring, the chokeberry is fully occupied by beautiful white / pink and fragrant blossom.
After flowering in May and June, berries grow on the plant in clusters.
The berries ripen from the end of July and in August and September.
They are black purple in color. The diameter of the berries is between 10/15 mm and the juice is dark red.

The berries taste very good and are full of vitamins, minerals, full of antioxidants and good sugar. It is an excellent fruit that belongs to the superfoods. The Aronia melanocarpa is a variety specially selected for large, tasty berries.
The berries can be eaten fresh, but can also be used in the jam, juice or dried like raisins. The taste is somewhat like blackberry with a slightly sour aftertaste.
It is best to process the berries in the jam or as juice.

The foliage of this small shrub changes to yellow, bright red and purple in autumn and is a real asset to the garden.
Pruning is done immediately after winter if necessary to rejuvenate certain old branches. prune it back to 20 cm after which the plant will sprout again.
These plants are native to North East America and are very hardy.
Winter hardiness zone 5a (-28ºC).