Description
The Aronia berry is a beautiful ornamental plant that thrives when planted in any soil with good drainage. The bush flowers in spring. The blooms are small, delicate, and creamy white with 5 petals and 5 sepals. The leaves will change from green to bright red in autumn, making an attractive display.
There are three different fruit colours: red, black, and purple. Our current plant is the Black Aronia Berry.
Aronia berries are also known as Chokeberries because of their astringent flavour. However, when ripened, the fruit can be picked, frozen and then defrosted, to make the taste much sweeter. These berries can last up to one year in a freezer. Add them to smoothies, yoghurt, ice-cream or salads. The leaves add lovely flavour to salads.
The Aronia berry is classified as a ‘super food’ for its exceptional nutritional value. The berries contain antioxidants, beta carotene, potassium, iron, manganese, and vitamins A, C, and E. This means that they help us to fight diseases, combat the signs of ageing, and contribute to preventing Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Position
Plant your Aronia berry bush in full sun or semi-shade for the best results.
Size
This bush grows to a height of 1 metre, with a width of 3 metres when it matures. So, when planting your Aronia berries, give them enough room to spread.
Fertilising
The plant thrives in soils rich in good organic matter, and compost, or well-rotted manure will improve the yield. You can also apply 1 teaspoon of our slow-release Berry/All-plant Fertiliser, every 4-5 months. The roots will absorb what they need as required.
Soil Type
This berry is not very fussy. All it needs is soil with good drainage so it doesn’t become waterlogged. Aronia berry plants can tolerate most soil types.
Adding our Volcanic Rock Dust when planting will boost the health of the soil because it contains organic minerals and trace elements that boost the health of the soil by increasing increase the presence of important micro-organisms which are essential for healthy soils.
Watering
Once your plant is well-established, it is quite tolerant of drought and disease. Berry plants prefer only the soil to be watered and not the leaves. If there’s been no rain lately, ensure that you give the soil a good soak every 2 to 3 days, once it has been planted in the garden.
The main cause of death for newly planted berries is not getting enough water after they are planted.
Mulch
Apply 2 to 5 centimetres of pine bark mulch to protect the roots from UV damage and drying out. It retains moisture and maintains an optimal pH. Do not let the mulch touch the plant stem, as it may cause infection or rot. Re-apply every 3-4 months.
Pruning
Cut away any dead branches in winter. This allows the bush to direct its resources to healthy, productive limbs, leaves and fruit rather than trying to sustain dead or diseased ones.
