The easy-care chokeberry is not only a pretty ornament for the garden, the fruits of the plant are also rich in vitamin C.
The chokeberry belongs to the Aronia genus and belongs to the rose family. The fruit, also known as black mountain ash or black chokeberry, is a robust and easy-care plant that is an ornament for every orchard, not least because of its pretty, brown-red autumn colour. The roughly pea-sized chokeberries are real vitamin bombs, which have long been valued as medicinal plants in Russia. In our latitudes, too, the level of awareness of the plants has increased through the sale of aronia juices. In the following we will tell you what you should consider when growing and caring for the bald chokeberry.
Plant Description
The bare chokeberry is a stiff, upright shrub that can reach heights of growth of up to two meters. Visually, the bald chokeberry resembles the felty chokeberry. However, the initial hairiness of the foliage gradually disappears. The pointed, dark red winter buds are striking on the deciduous shrubs. The flower spikes can contain up to twenty flowers. The flowers are about one centimeter in size and have five sepals. The exposed five petals appear white to pale pink. The ripe chokeberries are glossy black in color and should be harvested quickly in autumn, otherwise they will fall off the bush.
History and Distribution of the Chokeberry
The home of the bald chokeberry is to be found in the north-east of the USA. There, the plant had to adapt to the harsh climate, which benefits the hobby gardener today. The Native Americans used the plant, which grew on stony slopes and shore zones or in barren dune areas, as a source of food early on. The targeted cultivation of aronia began in the USA and Canada in the early 18th century. In 1834 the plants made their way to Russia, where they were exhibited as a rarity in botanical gardens. The plant became of interest to science and when the he alth benefits were recognized, chokeberries were used as medicinal plants in the then USSR.In the 1950s, the bald chokeberries came to Central Europe. Cultivation first took place in Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia. In Germany, chokeberries are now grown near Dresden, in Upper Lusatia and in the Landshut area.
Using the Chokeberry
The chokeberries are rich in vitamins and minerals. We advise against eating the fruit raw, as the taste of the aronia is noticeably bitter. The fruits are preferably processed into juice, wine or jam.
The he alth value of the aronia berry has already been confirmed in numerous studies. Daily consumption of even small amounts is said to contribute to increasing general well-being.
The importance of medicinal plants was recognized early on in Russia. Both fresh fruits and dried chokeberries are used. The berries contain a lot of vitamin C, as well as iron, folic acid and iodine.
In folk medicine, the following ailments are cured with the chokeberry:
- high blood pressure
- Urinary Tract Infections
- hardening of the arteries
- Stomachitis
When does the chokeberry bloom?
The flowering time varies from region to region and can start as early as May in mild regions. The chokeberries are usually in full bloom between July and August.
Plant the Chokeberry
Adapted to the harsh climate in the north-east of the USA, the chokeberry proves to be an easy-care guest in the orchard. The plant can also supply itself with nutrients via the broad, branched root system during longer dry periods.
Find the right location
You have more or less a free hand when choosing the location. You can integrate the chokeberry into existing hedges, plant it in groups or cultivate it as a solitary plant.
» Caution: Since the plants develop widely branched root systems, a planting distance of at least 1.5 meters should be maintained for group planting.
The bald chokeberry thrives in a sunny location as well as being content with partial shade. Slopes and river courses are preferred. The good s alt tolerance makes the plant ideal for cultivation near the coast. The sunnier the location, the more plentiful your crops will be.
Before planting, it can make sense to plant a root barrier. This means that the root network cannot spread unhindered and prevent neighboring plants from growing. A damp location getsof the plant particularly well. However, the bald chokeberry does not tolerate waterlogging. This can be prevented by laying a drainage out of potsherds or gravel.
The ideal location in keywords:
- light
- sunny
- moist
- Note the planting distance
Select the right substrate
Although the chokeberry will do well in almost any soil, it does have certain requirements which, if met, can contribute to a bountiful harvest. The soil should be as moist as possible and have a high proportion of clay or sand.
» Tip: Heavy clay soils become more permeable if they are loosened up with sand or gravel.
If the soil is enriched with humus during planting, the plant can grow up well and is supplied with a valuable natural fertilizer from the start. Too much sand in the soil is less suitable, since water and fertilizer cannot stay in the soil. You will then need to water and fertilize more often. On the other hand, soil that is too loamy keeps the liquid on the surface for too long and does not allow it to penetrate to the roots in a timely manner. Anyone who has the ability to determine the pH of the soil should do so. Ideal soil conditions are created with a pH value between 5 and 6.5.
The ideal substrate in keywords:
- moist
- sandy loam soil
- permeable
The best planting time
The bare chokeberry is best planted in autumn. Then the plant has already shed its leaves. The plants that are commercially available at this time are mostly bare-root plants. The planting can be done until the first night frosts. Container goods that have a stable root system can be planted all year round. Since the plants appear to be quite robust, they will definitely grow well and withstand lower temperatures.
Step by step instructions
❶ Select location
❷ Prepare the soil
❸ Maintain planting distance
❹ Dig planting hole
❺ Lay drainage
❻ if desired, Install root barrier
❼ Water root ball
❽ Insert plant
❾ Fill in substrate and close planting hole
❿ Press soil well and water plant well
Once the right location has been found, the soil needs to be loosened. A permeable soil is particularly important to prevent waterlogging, which the plants cannot tolerate. To make the soil more permeable, it is advisable to mix ingravel or sand. Use compost to provide nutrients.
A planting distance of at least 1.5 meters must be maintained, because the chokeberry forms a densely branched root system. You can stem the growth by installing a generous root barrier. It is important not to restrict the plant too much and thus hinder its growth. Container plants should be watered before they are placed in the planting hole. To do this, place the plant in a bucket until no more air bubbles rise. After planting, the chokeberries should be watered vigorously.
Keep the bald chokeberry in the bucket
The cultivation of bald chokeberries is also possible in a bucket. With regard to the extensively branched root system already mentioned, you will already suspect that the plant pot must be of sufficient size.
» Tip: If Aronia are pressed into a planter that is too small, they will stop growing.
Although the bald chokeberry is considered to be robust and well adapted to our climate, with potted plants it is always necessary to make compromises in this regard. The plants need frost protection. As soon as the soil in the planter freezes, the chokeberry can no longer absorb any food and "dies of thirst". In winter, a sheltered location is an advantage. Wrap the plant with garden fleece or coconut mats and protect the soil with brushwood or leaves.
» Tip: A particularly effective long-term fertilizer is stable manure. This takes three years to decompose and provides the plants with all the necessary minerals and nutrients during this time.
By regularly mulching the soil, you protect the plant from drying out. Likewise, fewer weeds will be able to settle in the root area.
How to properly care for the chokeberry
❍ casting:
The wide root network of the plants is very useful for the hobby gardener in terms of watering. The chokeberries usually get all the necessary nutrients through the roots and do not need to be watered regularly. Only in particularly dry summers should you water the plants from time to time.
» Tip: Tub plants cannot do without watering and should be watered regularly. The soil must not dry out. In return, there must be no waterlogging.
❍ Fertilize:
The undemanding plant does not depend on regular fertilizer application. It is perfectly sufficient to use compost asuse organic fertilizer. This usually happens at the time of planting.
❍ Harvest Time:
From the second year after flowering, the bare chokeberries will produce fruit. Harvest time begins around September and lasts until October. In order to determine the fruit ripeness of the berries, the appearance is usually not decisive, because the dark violet coloration begins in July. To check the degree of ripeness, it makes sense to pick out a berry and cut it open. A solid red color of the flesh indicates that the fruit is ripe.
❍ Pruning:
First of all, it makes a difference whether you buy containers or opt for bare-root plants. Potted plants are not cut in the first year.
In the case of bare-rooted plants, pruning should be carried out before planting. In this so-called plant pruning, damaged shoots are completely removed. Shorten all other shoots by half.
» Tip: Also check the roots. Damaged root parts are to be removed. Slightly trimming the main root makes it easier for the young plants to absorb nutrients.
In the case of container plants, the bottom shoots are shortened in the second year. The best time for this pruning measure is spring. To ensure that the fruit can develop unhindered, shoots that are too close together should also be removed.
About every three years it's time for a thinning out. This takes place in late winter and serves to rejuvenate the plant. Here you remove all old and overhanging shoots.
❍ Propagation:
The most common method of propagating bald chokeberries is to take cuttings. Cut the cuttings from the shoots of an existing plant at a length of about 20 centimeters. Shorten the shoot tip to the lower eye and halve the remaining leaves. The cutting can now be placed in the ground and kept evenly moist. The best season for this measure is autumn.
» Tip: Ungrafted Chokeberries can also be propagated by seeds. Furthermore, the plants themselves form root shoots, which can be dug up directly and grown separately as a new shrub.
❍ Overwintering:
Cultivated outdoors, the chokeberry does not need winter protection. The plants are extremely frost hardy and easily tolerate temperatures down to -35 degrees. Even late frosts cannot harm the plant.
Potted plantsappear less robust. The plants would not be able to survive if the soil in the pot froze. Therefore, chokeberries must be overwintered in a bucket in a sheltered location and must also be protected with garden fleece or coconut mats.
❍ Finishing:
The refinement to a standard is quite simple. Copulation is the simplest method of improvement. The chokeberry plant is grafted directly onto a standard.
The grafting method is reserved for experienced gardeners. A well-trained plant eye is transferred here. The mountain ash is preferably used as a base. If the chokeberry is grafted onto the rowan berry, it is called the black rowan berry. The resulting small tree delivers particularly high yields.
❍ Diseases and Pests
The bald chokeberry is considered to be quite robust and hardy, but is not entirely spared from diseases and pests.
Observed:
- Firebrand
- Apple Moth
- Red Spider
» Fireblight
The bald chokeberry belongs to the rose family and can therefore also be attacked by fire blight. The disease caused by bacteria can cause great harm and effective remedies have hardly been found at present. For us humans, however, fire blight is completely harmless.
» Attention: If there are dark dots distributed in a spiral on the dead branches, the pear wasp was at work. The infestation can easily be mistaken for fire blight. In this case it is sufficient to remove affected branches, no further measures are necessary.
» apple moth
If the bald chokeberry starts to shed its leaves and shows a low fruit yield, this can indicate the apple moth. A closer look at the fruit reveals small holes caused by the larvae. Natural predators such as chrysanthemums or parasitic wasps have proven effective in combating this.
» Red Spider
Infestation by red spiders can occur as early as spring. Light dots appear on the leaves at first. These will turn greyish over time and merge with each other. The leaves begin to curl up and later fall off. If the plant is particularly badly infested, a fine web can also be seen. If you want to fight without chemicals, you can use predatory mites, ground beetles or predatory bugs as natural predators. For the targeted control of the pests mentionedSoap solution or olive oil can also be used.
Facts at a glance:
| Care measure | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Select location | ❍ The plants do well in almost any location. ❍ If you expect a high yield, you should choose a sunny spot. ❍ In the shade, the chokeberry grows less intensively and is more lazy about flowering . ❍ To allow the plant to spread, plant at least 1.5 meters apart. |
| Soil condition | ❍ The soil should be as moist as possible. ❍ At the same time, it is important to avoid waterlogging, which is encouraged by drainage. ❍ Heavy clay soils can be made more permeable with sand and gravel. ❍ A pH value of 5 up to 6.5 appears to be the ideal substrate. |
| Casting | ❍ Outdoor chokeberries do not require regular watering. ❍ During particularly dry summers, care should be taken to ensure that the soil does not dry out completely. ❍ A layer of mulch retains moisture longer in the ground. ❍ Potted plants need to be watered regularly as they cannot get enough water from their roots. |
| Fertilize | ❍ When planting, compost is mixed under the substrate. ❍ Manure is an excellent long-term fertilizer that supplies the plant with all the nutrients it needs for several years. ❍ Additional measures are not required. |
An overview of different Aronia species
From a botanical point of view, the chokeberry is divided into three different types. The bald chokeberry and the felty chokeberry are particularly suitable for cultivation in the orchard. Over time, different cultivars have emerged, the chokeberries have grown larger and taste less bitter.
The felty chokeberry is also known as the dwarf rowan berry. The name can be traced back to the felty hairs on the underside of the leaves. Felty chokeberries can grow up to three meters high and bear numerous white to light pink flowers from May. The fruits can be harvested around September. Although the fruits of the felty chokeberry taste sweeter than the chokeberries of the bald aronia, they are less relevant for raw consumption and are usually processed into juices, liqueurs or jams. Felty chokeberries are undemanding plants that can be cultivated on almost any soil and evensurvive severe frosts unscathed.
Short portrait of other varieties of chokeberry
» Hugin
This chokeberry is mainly grown in Sweden and is therefore well adapted to a harsh climate. You can expect high yields. The fruits are particularly rich in vitamin C and have a diameter of up to 13 mm.
» Viking
The fruits of this chokeberry are particularly large and shiny black in color. Viking delivers high yields, although the aroma is less aromatic compared to wild chokeberry. With a maximum height of 1.5 meters, the shrub can easily be harvested by hand.
» Nero
This variety was already cultivated in the 1970s in what was then East Germany and is still the most commonly cultivated chokeberry in Germany and neighboring Poland. The fruits are juicy and aromatic and are used primarily to make jam.
» Rubina
This sort was first bred in Hungary. Rubina produces high yields and bears shiny dark purple fruits. The shrubs can grow up to two meters high and are particularly frost hardy.
Holding the bald chokeberry as a bonsai
The bald chokeberry is also quite undemanding in bonsai culture. The plant lover can design them in a wide variety of styles. Be careful not to let the soil dry out. The earth should be constantly moist. Adequate watering behavior is particularly important during the flowering period, otherwise the bonsai will drop its flowers. In winter, watering is more economical. It is important to avoid waterlogging in any case. The occasional application of bonsai fertilizer ensures he althy growth.