Aronia melanocarpa, Black Aronia
Aronia melanocarpa
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 6a (-23.3°C ≤ T° < -20.6°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Aronie Aronia
- Species
- Black Aronia Aronia melanocarpa
Other names:Pyrus angustifolia var. melanocarpa, Adenorachis melanocarpa, Aronia arbutifolia var. melanocarpa, Mespilus arbutifolia var. melanocarpa, Photinia melanocarpa, Pyrus melanocarpa, Sorbus melanocarpa
In the forests of eastern and central Canada and the United States grows a shrub with white flowers and black berries: Aronia melanocarpa. This member of the Rosaceae family can also be grown as an ornamental tree in our latitudes.
How to recognize Aronia melanocarpa, the black Aronia?
A shrub with a dense, bushy habit, Aronia melanocarpa measures up to three meters in height and more than two meters in spread.
The branched trunk and branches are covered with smooth, reddish-brown bark.
The oval to obovate leaves have serrated margins, as in aronia × prunifolia (Aronia prunifolia). But they are smaller, generally no more than six centimetres long. Dark green, they turn red in autumn and drop off in winter.
Aronia melanocarpa flowers in spring. The flowers are grouped in corymbs. White or slightly pinkish, they have rounded petals and enclose clusters of stamens with pink or red anthers.
Aronia melanocarpa is nicknamed Black Aronia because of its fruit. The green globular drupes turn black when ripe. In the depths of winter, the berries delight robins and certain rodents. But they're less popular with humans! Raw berries have a sour taste.
Black Aronia berries are not toxic. Nevertheless, avoid eating too many. They may cause digestive problems. The rest of the plant is not known to be harmful if ingested or if it comes into contact with the skin.
Our care tips
Aronia melanocarpa produce numerous shoots. Plant them in the ground so that they can develop.
Watering
Aronia melanocarpa appreciate constant but moderate humidity. Before watering your plant, make sure it needs it by touching the surface of the potting soil. If two or three centimetres of the surface is dry, you can water.
If you can, use non-calcareous water such as rainwater or filtered water.
Make sure the water doesn't stagnate in the saucer or planter.
If you can, use non-calcareous water such as rainwater or filtered water.
Make sure the water doesn't stagnate in the saucer or planter.
Repotting
Choose a pot with holes or a tub large enough to accommodate your Black Aronia and its future offshoots. You can place clay balls or gravel at the bottom for drainage.
Mix universal potting soil with garden soil. You can also enrich the substrate with compost or heather soil. Pour a layer of this mixture at the bottom of the pot and plant your Black Aronia. The root ball should be a few centimetres below the rim to form a watering trough. Add potting soil to reach the root ball.
Water copiously to encourage rooting and mulch to keep the soil cool.
Fertilization
Place compost at the foot of your Black Aronia.
Harvest
Pick the berries when they are ripe and easily detachable from the branch.
Prune
Always use clean, sharp pruning shears when pruning.
Eliminate dead wood and aerate the center by removing crossing branches, for example.
Shorten the remaining branches by about a third if you want to control the growth ofyour Black Aronia.
Planting
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
Soak your Black Aronia while digging a hole at least 50 centimetres wide and as deep as the root ball. If you're planting several specimens, to form a hedge for example, space them one meter apart.
Plant your Black Aronia in the center. You can backfill with garden soil, but your plant will thrive best if you add compost and heather soil.
Tamp and water generously to help the plant take root. You can also mulch the soil to limit water intake.
Taking cuttings
Locate one of the young shoots that has formed at the foot of the main plant. Take care to remove it with its roots.
Pour universal potting soil into a perforated pot. Use your finger or pen to make a hole. Plant your Aronia melanocarpa. Water generously to encourage rooting and place the cutting in partial shade.
Disease / Threat
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrates
- Calcareous earthHumus soilPeat soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn tubs
- Tags
- BeginnerFloweryHardy
- Origin
- North America
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 6a (-23.3°C ≤ T° < -20.6°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Flower colors
- WhiteRose
- Fruit color
- Black
Discover plants from the same family
Red Aronia
Aronia arbutifolia
Purple Aronia
Aronia × prunifolia
Cultivated strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
Everbearing strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
