Aronia - appelbes or in apple berry

Aronia or chokeberry

Aronia / Chokeberry hardy plant with a pleasant surprise


apple berry

1.Naamgeving (Aronia in several languages)

Genus: Aronia
Type: prunifolia (x)
Synonym: Aronia floribunda (Photinia)
Family: Rosaceae, Rose Family
Subfamily: Pomoideae, Apple likes / pipfruit
Dutch name: chokeberry, appelbesstruik, appelbesboom
English: apple berry
German: Apfelbeere, Kahle Apfelbeere
Origin: O. N. Am., (Russia)

2.Appelbes as ornamental shrubs and fruit shrubs

The ornamental shrub or Aronia chokeberry is a familiar sight in public parks. But the plant for the private garden is interesting is less well known. Due to good health is also a promising bet for integrated crop arboriculture

Aronia is a deciduous shrub in the rose family, which occurs naturally in eastern North America. The decorative value he derives from the white blossom in April-May, the healthy dark green leaves that later a bright, mostly red autumn color and the red or black edible berries.

Aronia melanocarpa is a relatively small, almost hairless shrub with edible black berries.

Of this hybrid in recent years several new cultivars have been introduced, which are grown as fruit crops or ornamental shrub. Discussed below, the "Viking" is one of them.



3.Vermeerdering of Aronia d.m.v. slips:

Aronia it is possible to graft on a rootstock. On tall, half-standard or low strain, this attractive, small tree on besdragend.
In a short rootstock remains Aronia look like a shrub, but does not grow out wide as he can make no underground runners. The grafted plants can tolerate a bit less drought than plants on own roots.

Apple Berries grow on almost any soil except heavy clay and dichtslempende, loamy sand.
The slight preference for moist sand. Although Aronia naturally prefer partial shade in the stands, he does well in full sun provided the soil is not too dry.
It is possible the shrub before or after the winter to transplant and it can withstand pruning.



4.Winterharde healthy fruits and shrubs.

Aronia is in Russia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, many planted as fruit crops. That the plants are very hardy, is not surprising. Plants at rest can survive -30 ° C and even the roots of a plant container to about -10 ° C..

For nurseries, the chokeberry a pleasant surprise. Of all the plants from the family Rosaceae Aronia is one of the least susceptible to fire blight. Furthermore, the plant generally healthy. Fungal diseases (eg leaf spot disease) occur, but only in hot, wet summers a problem they have with a wide spacing largely preventable. If not close Chamaecyparis Aronia is planted, it will rust no chance.

Because of the high tolerance to diseases and pests is an attractive crop for Aronia integrated or organic farming.

5.Appelbes with many uses in the garden

For consumers, the plant has several options. Aronia on tall, half-standard or low strain bred as a compact ornamental tree for small gardens for example.
Because Aronia (A. x prunifolia mostly) easy to care for a fruit crop, short rootstock plants would be recommended for allotment gardens.

6.Plant and cultivation tips:

Light: Sun or partial shade

Height: 1 to 2 m

Flowering time: May-June, especially in bloom year-old wood

Flowers: white color; bloemtuilen of 20-30 cm, self-pollinating

Soil pH: neutral to calcareous soil

Type: Low shrub or tree trunk (grafted)

Plant Characteristics: (Aronia prunifolia) Fruit Black (Aug.-Sept.) Red autumn color

Fruit: Round berries 10-12 mm thick, dark blue and black when ripe and slightly frosted, evenly ripe in August; fruit weight 1-1.5 g; Juice dark red, very strong coloring, fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and sugar.

Pruning Tips: It is possible the shrub before or after the winter to transplant and it can withstand pruning.

Use: Processing (kitchen): juice, jam, jam, ..

>>> Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking' <<<

An approximately 1 to 2 m high compact growing shrub with rich bloom.
White blossom, in screens, blooms in May-June. Many remarkably large, black fruit and a beautiful wine red fall color.
Highly recommended race, one for the flower and berry production being selected clone. Rich in vitamin C.

This small shrub is continuing in our nursery www.hortusconclusus.be on a stem of 1 m or 1.20 m grafted, in the spring covered with a fragrant white blossom, then appear black edible berries (you can be very tasty make jam ... but the birds like they do), then appears dark red autumn coloring. Apple Berries can be planted in full sun or partial shade on various soil types, including dry or humid places. The leaves in autumn pretty purple. It is a Finnish, very strong cultivar that grows like to wetlands.
Application and Use

Both the leaves, blossoms and berries are easy to process into a flower arrangement, the plant is resistant to sea wind, the blossoms can be used as cut flowers. The plant tolerates pruning easy, but the slow growth does not always. The bees make honey is delicious.

The fruits are edible and very tasty!

The plants are available in container and inoculated at 1 m or 1.20 m