For fall and winter interest, black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’ is always a showstopper, with its generous clusters of shiny black berries that can look spectacular glistening in the autumn sunshine.

A beautiful berry – and not just for looks. Aronia is notoriously chock full of health benefits.

Yiasou for now,
-DB

Suckering profusely, each shrub consists of multiple slender stems held stiffly erect, the upper two-thirds covered in glossy, dark-green leaves frosted with white flowers. The five petals of each half-inch flower surround a cluster of pink anthers held high on extended filaments. The flowers are pollinator magnets. In a few minutes of close observation, I recognized two species of bumblebee, two fly species, a tiny wasp of unknown identity, and several solitary bee species, all moving chokeberry pollen around as they went about their foraging.

Just as busy trying to get decent photographs of it all, I kept thinking this plant is a must for the garden insectary.

In early September to late November, the shrubs bear loose clusters of glossy, black berries, fruits that contain higher levels of antioxidants than any other temperate fruit, including blueberries. This feature has prompted increasing interest in black chokeberries among small fruit growers in the United States. Whole berries are canned, the juice used in making jelly or added to apple juice, and extracts of the berries used as natural colorants in other foods.

In the wildlife garden, black chokeberries are eaten by grouse, black-capped chickadees, cedar waxwings, black bears, red foxes, rabbits and white-footed mice. I read that the astringent taste of the berry (the characteristic responsible for its common name) makes it a food of last resort among winter birds. I have noticed that many berries do shrivel on the stems, but I also have watched robins feast on ripe berries when other fruits were still locally abundant.

As a landscape plant, the merits of black chokeberry have been sung since its introduction to Western gardens in the 1700s. In 1972, Aronia melanocarpa received the Royal Society’s Award of Merit, described as a “splendid shrub for naturalistic plantings, especially on the edge of woodlands.” Others have recommended it for use in mass plantings, informal hedges, pond plantings and as a spot of color in the mixed border.

I recommend it to the insectary.

While they may be seen as a nuisance to most, horticultural enthusiasts can surely appreciate the power that insects wield over their green gardens.

Yiasou for now,

-DB

First up: a group of French researchers recently concocted a unique fruit cocktail chock full of healthy goodies. Grapes, apples, blueberries and strawberries were all included in the blend, but one of the most active ingredients is none other than the aronia berry. More on the blend from BBC News:

French scientists tested the blend on pig arteries in the lab, and found it caused artery walls to relax.

It remains to be seen whether fruit juices can improve vascular health, they report in a scientific journal.

The study adds weight to evidence fruit and veg reduces heart disease risk, says the British Heart Foundation.

The researchers looked for a chemical called polyphenol in fruit and berries.

They found the most active fruits included blackcurrant, blueberry, aronia (choke berries), cranberry, lingonberry and grape.

Commenting on the study, Tracy Parker, heart health dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This research adds more weight to evidence that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us in terms of reducing our risk for heart disease.

“However, we still don’t fully understand why, or whether certain fruits and vegetables are better than others. Even this study acknowledges that scientists can’t yet explain any link.

“What we do know is that we should all eat a wide range of fruit and veg as part of a balanced diet, and fruit juice is a tasty and handy way of doing this.

“Don’t forget though, juice contains less fibre and more sugar than the original fruit so it only counts as one of our five-a-day.”

Though the direct link between vascular health and fruit juices has not been established, there’s no shortage of evidence that aronia has powerful health benefits. Other aronia berry blends have proven their versatility, but the market potential of this particular blend remains to be seen.

Yiasou for now,

-DB

Some excerpts:

The berry left the United States in the early twentieth century, exploded in popularity as Romanians and Bulgarians bred it for higher yield and better taste, and came back to America as a sort of prodigal son, transformed and seeking redemption on home soil, in 1997.

And here, a note about the Pittz’s son Andrew:

Today, however, the Pittz family is working harder than ever. Andrew, a horticulture and sociology graduate from Texas A&M University, oversees the shrubs, of which there are now thousands. “Retirement farm” just doesn’t fit the bill for what Andrew and his parents are running: the oldest and largest aronia berry farm in the United States.

A great summary that pinpoint’s the ideals behind the Pittz aronia operation:

Pittz was blunt about why Sawmill Hollow spends so much time encouraging others to join the impending aronia boom: “We want to give all these people a shot.”

Which makes me wonder: is Pittz just too sweet a guy for this sour berry? I mean, can a small farm growing a niche crop and encouraging others to do the same—and, in some cases, even subsidizing the newcomers—survive in an agricultural environment bent on the hard logic of the bottom line? What’s going to keep a neighboring farmer from growing ever larger, undercutting the competition, and cashing in to, oh, Kraft Foods? Will youthful idealism survive corporate pragmatism?

I shared these concerns with Pittz, who responded to my doubts with something of an evasion, but one that seemed to put everything he’s doing in perspective. He explained, “There’s no way we can’t be doing what we’re doing.”

The berry’s potential was discovered by Mentera, a project funded by European Union Objective 1 money and run by Gwynedd council.

The project, run with the Welsh Assembly Government and Bangor University, also trialled shitake mushrooms and omega three oil crops, which have also seen some successes.

Owain Pennant Huws, from Nasareth in the Nantlle Valley, was one farmer who decided to give the aronia berries a go.

“They’ve done well up here in Nasareth, by the sea in Aberdaron and in Chwilog,” he said.

“They’re sturdy plants, not problematic and they like quite acidic earth.

“Farmers will always go for lamb or the popular crops, but it’s good to try out other things and diversify.”

The Gwynedd aronia growers considered using the berries to make jams, cakes or food colouring.

But with the help of Llwyddo Yng Ngwynedd (Succeed in Gwynedd), they funded expert analysis of the berry’s properties at Coleg Menai’s food technology department.

“We did testing on the levels of anthocyanins so they can have something on the labels to compare with other berry products,” said Steven Williams, a food technologist.

He discovered the levels of this antioxidant are 15 times higher in the aronia berry than the blueberry.

Mineral content

“We’re also looking at the folic acid, vitamins and mineral content in the berries,” he added.

“But the debate is ongoing with European legislation on whether companies can claim the benefits of antioxidants.

“Some have done research which show that they do help with combating some cancers, but we couldn’t suggest saying that on the labels without large scale evidence.”

With the college’s help, the growers are producing a fruit drink called Ffrwythlon which they have started selling at local food markets.

Experiments at the college also threw up the potential to use the berries in a liqueur, an idea taken up with enthusiasm by Gwilym and Hazel Jones of Chwilog, of the Llŷn Peninsula.

“We dabbled with jams and chutneys and then we tried the liqueur which everyone seemed to like,” said Mr Jones.

“It’s a deep red colour, because aronia berries are also used as a natural dye. They’re quite tart to the taste, but the berries and the sugar counteract each other in the process of making the liqueur.”

“He discovered the levels of this antioxidant are 15 times higher in the aronia berry than the blueberry.”

That stat alone can generate large interest, but it’s the claims that the berry can combat cancer and certain neurodegenerative diseases that have marketers at an ethical crossroad. At least they’re taking the time to consider their options!

Yiasou for now,

-DB

Read French? Me neither. Fortunately, Google Translate deciphered this bit from La Depeche – an article citing aronia as one of three fruits to discover.

The Aronia

Aronia melanocarpia is a rounded shrub from 1.50 to 2 m.The foliage is dark green void. In autumn, he takes flamboyant colors, ranging from apricot to red purple. The spring bloom is late – April-May – which puts it safe from frost. The flowers are grouped by 20 or 30 at the ends of branches. The fruits ripen in late August. They are shiny black berries. It can be installed in hedges or isolated subject. It grows in all non-calcareous soils. It must be watered at least the early years. He likes sun or partial shade. It is resistant to -30 ° C.

The cure: We will provide regular organic manure: a bucket of compost to the planting foot, renewed each year.

For that branches out well, they cut short the planting. Then, maintenance pruning is done in February: thinning to ensure that all branches are well lit, remove dead wood, spindly branches and suckers supernumeraries.

It is easy to propagate by division of clumps, but also by seeds or cuttings in green. It bears fruit after three years, may give up to 10 kg of berries per foot.

Eat it! The fruit is harvested with the umbel, which increases its conservation. Relatively dry, it is not fragile.

We made jams, jellies (close taste of blackcurrant) sorbet, puree, syrup, and it accommodates as blueberry or blackcurrant.

Apologies for the broken English, but it appears this author has discovered the many uses of aronia. Jams, jellies, sorbet, puree, syrup — they’ve got it figured out!

Yiasou for now (I’ll be working on my aronia sorbet recipes),

-DB

I had to remind myself of it again recently, as colleague Jason Reeves and I stood talking to a visitor in the parking lot. A large container stood just next to us, filled with plants that will provide interest through the winter months. One of them was chokecherry, Aronia arbutifolia, a shrub with good fall color and clusters of deep red berries. Suddenly a mockingbird lit on the plant and began testing the berries. I interrupted the conversation with a loud stage whisper. “Turn your head slowly and look at the bird.”

Jason’s head twisted gently, but the second he saw the bird, he lunged toward it, clapping his hands and shouting “Get away, get away!”

In response to my stunned face, he explained that the pleasure of the many people who would enjoy seeing the pretty berries far outweighed the needs of the mockingbird. Since I like Jason so well, it was not hard for me to see things his way, but it was made even easier when I read that the berries are bitter and astringent, and not readily consumed by birds. This particular mockingbird must have been having his first taste.

It seems these berries get quite a tough rap when consumed raw – even from birds! Hopefully this bird strayed from the flock and acquired a taste for aronia. If not, there’s always ARo to keep him happy.

Yiasou for now,

-DB

Trees and shrubs whose fruits persist into winter not only add visual interest but also feed the native birds throughout the cold winter months. Excellent choices for persistent winter fruit include Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), and Green Hawthorne Winter King (Crataegus viridis Winter King), the last two offering attractive spring flowers.

Ah – spring as well! Covering three seasons, it seems this berry is ideal for the year-round gardener.

Yiasou for now,

-DB

Goji berries, aronia berries… there are plenty of ‘superfoods’ on the market, but the latest research says good old-fashioned fibre is the only true superfood we need.

Yesterday, we reported on how pectin – a natural fibre – in jam can help prevent cancer, however, the Institute of Food Research says that given pectin is found in everything from plums to potatoes,apples to oranges, as long as you’re eating a wide range of fruit and vegetables you don’t need to rely on any one superfood to stay healthy.

‘We hear so much about ‘superfoods’ like blueberries, but for a combination of different effects it may be better to eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables,’ Professor Vic Morris told the BBC.

‘I am not saying don’t eat superfoods, but just make sure you eat others as well.’

There is no magic bullet. A healthy diet is a well-balanced one. And, of course, aronia is an exemplary supplement to such a diet.

Yiasou for now,

-DB