Aronia melanocarpa is rugged, reliable, and adaptable to a range of soil conditions. We have it planted in full sun hard packed clay to shady swampy wet drainages. They have a nice way of swaying in the breeze.
Size: 4-8ft in height
Bearing: 1-2 years
Pollination: 1, self pollinating
"The Forest Potawatomi steep the berry to make a tea to cure a cold." - 1933 H. Smith Potawatomi
"Aronias are higher than other dark berries in antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids, which, according to the National Institutes of Health, are linked to anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activity, cardiovascular disease prevention, obesity control and diabetes alleviation properties. Acai berries contain 320 milligrams of anthocyanins per 100 grams of fruit; aronias have 1,480 milligrams." - Desmoines Register.
"Aronia berries may reduce cancer cell growth in people with certain types of cancer." - WebMD
" Here we report that Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry, Aronia), the fruit of a perennial shrub species that contains several polyphenolic constituents, possesses in vitro and in vivo efficacy against different subtypes of influenza viruses including an oseltamivir-resistant strain. These anti-influenza properties of Aronia were attributed to two constituents, ellagic acid and myricetin." - PubMed