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Aronia prunifolia

Common name:	Purple Chokeberry	Family:	Rosaceae
Author:	(Schneid.)Graebn.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Eastern N. America.
Habitat:	Low woodlands[200].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	A. arbutifolia var. atropurpurea[B] A. atropurpurea[B] A. floribunda[B] Photinia floribunda[B] Pyrus arbutifolia var. atropurpurea[B] Pyrus floribunda[B] Sorbus arbutifolia var. atropurpurea[B]
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	unifolia = one leaved
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Rosales. Rose family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Us

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 3m by 2.5m . It is hardy to zone 4. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from October to December. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit - dried and used for making pemmican. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[200].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist peaty soil in full sun or partial shade[200]. Succeeds in most soils but dislikes shallow chalk[200].
Plants are hardy to about -25° c[200].
This genus is closely related to Sorbus species[200].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].
This species is probably a naturally occurring hybrid, A. arbutifolia x A. melanocarpa[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots outdoors or in a cold frame[113]. Pre-soak stored seed overnight and then cold stratify for 3 months at 2° c[113]. The seed germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15° c[134]. 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. Since this species is believed to be a hybrid it will probably not breed true from seed.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[113].
Division of suckers in the dormant season[200]. Very easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.
Layering[200].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Photinia floribunda (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[134] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

Aronia arbutifolia

Prof. Helmut Halbmayr (zierpflanzen@gartenbau.bmlf.gv.at) Thu Jul 27 22:42:18 2000

Dear Sirs,

we are working with Aronia on our Horticultural College. I found during surfing in the internet the facts about Aronia in PFAF. If you want you should supplement some data:

Cultivars

'Aron' (Denmark, 1985) - 1,5-2 m, leaves 8x5 cm, fruits 10-12 mm

'Autumn Magic' (University of British Columbia, 1996) - 2 m, leaves 5x3 cm, red and yellow autumn color.

'Elata' (syn. var. elata) - 2-3 m, leaves 3-8 x 2-5 mm, fruits 6-8 mm

'Estland' (syn. Eastland)- 2-2,5 m, leaves 6 x 4 cm, fruits 8-10 mm

'Grandiflora' (var. grandiflora) - 2,5 m, leaves 7 x 5 cm, fruits 10-12 mm

'Hugin' (University of Sweden, 1992) - 1-2 m, leaves 5x3 cm, fruits 6-10 mm. Flowers 3 weeks later than the other cultivars.

'Karhumäki' (Finland) - 3m, leaves 8x5 cm, fruits 9-10 mm

'Mandschurica'

'Nero' (Tschechia, 1987) - 3m, leaves 10x8 cm, fruits 9-10 mm. Most importants cultivar for fruit production. Many new crosses with this cultivar.

'Rubina'

'Serina' (Germany, 1987) - 2,5 m, leaves 10x7 cm, fruits 12-13 mm

'Viking' (Finland, 1980) - 2,5 m, leaves 7x4 cm, fruits 10-13 mm

Several Polish new cultivars with numbers are tested in Polan and USA.

Medicinal Use

leaves and fruits against high blood pressure. (Juice can be dangerous for persons with low blood pressure). Fruits against gastritis. Fruits help to excrete heavy metals.

Other uses

The fruit is a source of anthocyanes, substances to color foodstuff, preventing types of cancer.

Prof. Helmut Halbmayr, Federal Horticultural College, Gruenbergstrasse 24, A-1131 Vienna, Austria

Cross references: Genera: Aronia.

Aronia arbutifolia

Helmut (zierpflanzen@gartenbau.bmlf.gv.at) Sun Jul 30 11:56:00 2000

Rich >> We have three different species in the Aronia genus Aronia arbutifolia, Aronia melanocarpa and Aronia prunifolia does this refer to all of then or just one species? >>

Cultivars of Aronia exists from all 3 important species (Aronia melanocarpa, A. x prunifolia, A. arbutifolia). Aronia arbutifolia is only important for cultivars with nice autumn colour. The other two are used for fruit production. In Poland European enterprises plant large new areas with Aronia (jam for joghurt and medical use). Now Americans start in northern China for juice.

Helmut

Cross references: Genera: Aronia.

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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