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Aronia melanocarpa - (Michx.)Elliot.

Common Name

Black Chokeberry

Family

Rosaceae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Swamps and low woodlands, it is sometimes also found in drier soils[200, 235].

Range

Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Florida and Michigan.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft) by 3 m (9ft).
It is hardy to zone 4. It is in flower from Jul to August, and the seeds ripen from Oct to December. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils..It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.It requires dry or moist soil.


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sten

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nova

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit.

Fruit - cooked. A good flavour but very astringent[183]. 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[183]. The fruit is rich in pectin and can be added to fruits that are low in this substance when making jams etc[183]. Pectin is also said to protect the body against radiation[201]. The fruit is about 9mm in diameter[200].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Miscellany. An infusion of the berries has been used in the treatment of colds[257].

Other Uses
Pectin; Miscellany; Pectin. The fruit is a source of pectin[183], a substance that is used to thicken jams etc and as a culture medium in laboratories.

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist peaty soil in full sun or partial shade[200]. Succeeds in most soils but dislikes shallow chalk[200]. More tolerant of dry soils than other members of this genus[200]. 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[183]. Other cultivars developed mainly for their ornamental value include 'Viking' with extra large berries and 'Aron' with numerous large berries[182]. 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[200]. This genus is closely related to Sorbus species[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots outdoors or in a cold frame[113]. Pre-soak stored seed overnight and then cold stratify for 3 months at 2°c[113]. The seed germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[134]. 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[113]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[200]. Very easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions. Layering[200].

Expert comment

Author
(Michx.)Elliot.

Botanical References

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[113]Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.

A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[134]Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2.

Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[182]Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.

Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[201]Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting.

A well produced and very readable book.

[235]Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada

Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.

[257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany

Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Jonathan Byron	Mon Dec 19 2005

The plant should be rated higher on the medicinal category. Aronia extracts have proven themselves useful as an antioxidant. They reduce inflammation induced by histamine and serotonin. The juice supports vascular/endothelial function, and appears to be a valuable adjunct or secondary therapy for people with heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions.

Elizabeth H.
Birgir Norddahl	Sat May 27 2006

Please find the link below for one example of medicinal use (hypoglycemic effect) in diabetes patients - many more can be found.

NCBI PubMed (National Centre for Biotechnology Information)

Elizabeth H.
SW	Sun Jun 11 2006

I suspect this is what is known as 'black rowan' in at least three countries; Russia, Lithuania and Czech Republic. A Lithuanian company makes a wine; 'Aronijos'. Website link shows a juicy picture of the berries.

Photos by Nikolay Palshin 2004 Picture: 'Black Rowan'

Elizabeth H.
Michael	Fri Sep 15 2006

Hi, I'm really surprised that you don't know that this is one of the most powerful remedies for high blood pressure! Please, adjust your page. If you need any additional info please, write to me at mike_miner@hotmail.com. Thanks, Michael.

Elizabeth H.
David Everett	Tue Dec 26 2006

Aronia melanocarpa is an extraordinary medicine plant which has been developed in Poland. It has an incredible array of health qualities, and it deserves a far higher recognition. Last year Professor Iwona Wawer published a book all about it. Known as Chokeberry, the native Americans used it to prepare pemmican (dried meat). It has a higher concentration of vitamin C than blackcurrants, but it also contains a host of other valuable substances, especially antioxidants, polyphenols, bioflavonoids, and tannins. It is a very hardy and vigorous plant and can survive most conditions. The book is still difficult to obtain, even with the ISBN (83-923931-0-4). The printers are Nature's Print Ltd., Suite 4, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RH (no phone no. given). If you still have difficulty, and want to know more, contact Polfrutz Company, 2 George St, Wellington TA21 8JA.

Elizabeth H.
Carla	Mon Oct 29 2007

We received some sticks from Montana but have not had much luck in getting them to produce leaves or grow. In eastern Montana they grow along the drainage diches or hiway in poor conditions. I'd like to buy a plant but haven't been able to find any. Any ideas where I can find one?

Elizabeth H.
Kitty Antonik Wakfer	Mon Mar 3 2008

This highly beneficial fruit is not getting sufficient attention - partly because websites such as this are terribly out of date regarding the results of peer reviewed studies. Just a very few: PMID: 15623784 Anti-inflammatory effects of aronia extract on rat endotoxin-induced uveitis PMID: 16860979 Up-regulation of tumor suppressor carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 in human colon cancer Caco-2 cells following repetitive exposure to dietary levels of a polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice. PMID: 17229985 Effects of novel plant antioxidants on platelet superoxide production and aggregation in atherosclerosis. PMID: 18044341 [Effect of anthocyanins from Aronia melanocarpa on blood pressure, concentration of endothelin-1 and lipids in patients with metabolic syndrome] PMID: 18231940 Comparative anti-platelet and antioxidant properties of polyphenol-rich extracts from: berries of Aronia melanocarpa, seeds of grape and bark of Yucca schidigera in vitro. More can be found with search at PubMed.

PubMed Seach on aronia and particular effects

Elizabeth H.
Val Gillespie	Sat Jan 26 2008

We planted a small beautiful 'autumn magic' chokeberry in the fall. That very night a rabbit bit off all the branches and ate them along with the leaves and berries! Very nutritious, I'd say!

Elizabeth H.
Snowplow	Wed May 28 2008

See the Wikipedia entry for more information on the antioxidant goodness.

Wikipedia Chokeberry entry on Wikipedia

Elizabeth H.
MARK ARGEBAND	Fri Jun 6 2008

lOOKING TO SOURCE ARONIA JUICE FOR WHOLSALE AND EXPORT PREF IN EU.

Elizabeth H.
David N	Fri Sep 5 2008

Re: rabbit eating Aronia, a mixture of egg-whites, milk and paint(fixing agent) keep rabbits off plants, I get commercial mixes from farm suppliers.

Elizabeth H.
Lukas	Sun Nov 30 2008

HI I am a producer of high quality Aronia. If needed I can provide a large amounts of the fresh fruits to full fill your demand (season 2009- approximately 50 tonnes= 50 000 kilograms). Plantations are located in clear and healthy regions of EU. For more imformations please email me: lukasinuk@yahoo.co.uk

Elizabeth H.
	Sat Apr 18 2009

Hi , I m a producer of Aronia. welcome to www.aronija.com.hr

Elizabeth H.
Dr. Eldon Everhart	Sun Sep 6 2009

The Aronia Festival will be held on September 19 & 20, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. at Sawmill Hollow Organic Farm, 2159 Kennedy Avenue, in the Loess Hills north of Missouri Valley, Iowa. From Council Bluffs or Sioux City on Interstate 29, Exit 82 (Modale) then follow signs. This is the largest and oldest aronia plantation in the United States. Last year, the Aronia Festival attracted 700 people. I expect we will have over 1,000 this year. Public interest in aronia berries is growing rapidly in the United States. Many acres of aronia are being planted in the Midwest. Aronia may become the next big berry crop in the United States.

Sawmill Hollow Organic Farms

Elizabeth H.
Cheryl	Wed Jan 13 2010

Any information about Midwest Aronia Association? Interested in networking with other growers.

Midwest Aronia Association Networking for growers and processors of aronia berries

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