Aronia arbutifolia
| Aronia arbutifolia | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Aronia arbutifolia (common name: red chokeberry)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots outdoors or in a cold frame[1]. Pre-soak stored seed overnight and then cold stratify for 3 months at 2°c[1]. The seed germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[2]. 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[1].
Division of suckers in the dormant season[3]. Very easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.
Layering[3].
Cultivation: Prefers a moist peaty soil in full sun or partial shade[2]. Succeeds in most soils[4] but dislikes shallow chalk[3]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[5].
Plants are hardy to about -25°c[6].
This genus is closely related to Sorbus species[3].
A suckering plant, it forms thickets in the wild[7].
Some named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[7].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.[3]
Range: Eastern N. America - Massachusetts to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida.
Habitat: Low woods, thickets, swamps, damp pine barrens etc[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[9]. It can also be dried and used for making pemmican[10][11]. Fruit quality is rather variable, some forms are rather pleasant when fully ripe, especially if they have experienced some frost[12]. The fruit is about 7mm in diameter[3], it can hang on the plant for several months[13].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall-Early Winter
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Pyrus arbutifolia.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Vines, Robert. Trees of North Texas. University of Texas Press, 1982.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.