Content
- Aronia - great diversity of varieties
- Smaller wild forms with tart fruits
- characteristics
- Which aronia varieties are there?
- Tips & Tricks
Aronia - great diversity of varieties
The chokeberry has already come a long way: it came from North America across the Atlantic to Russia - and from there to Europe. The undemanding plant is now available in many different cultural forms, all of which are based on the three original wild species Aronia melanocarpa (Blackcurberry), Aronia arbutifolia (Fruity Appleberry) and Aronia prunifolia.
Smaller wild forms with tart fruits
The wild forms mentioned grow significantly lower, but more branched than their cultivated conspecifics. Also, the berries of wild aronia are smaller and tart in taste. This is mainly due to the higher concentration of tannic acid. The cultivated forms, on the other hand, were bred more towards milder taste. Especially in Canada and the USA, the variety Aronia prunifolia is widespread, which is basically just a natural hybrid (i.e., cross) of the two more common species, Aronia melanocarpa and Aronia arbutifolia.
characteristics
For the cultivation in the garden above all the "black chokeberry" (Aronia melanocarpa) is important, from which there are many different varieties from many European countries. However, only the rich and very hardy variety "Hugin" from Sweden is one of the pure representatives of the "black chokeberry", all others are actually crossbred products. The real "blackcurrants" are characterized by six to ten millimeters large, shiny black fruits and smaller, narrower leaves. The plants are not hairy. The hybrids, however, are characterized by larger leaves, fruits of 1.0 to 1.5 grams in weight and purple-black color. In addition, these berries shine comparatively little. The shrubs are slightly hairy in contrast to the "black chokeberry".
Which aronia varieties are there?
1. Hugin - Swedish strain that is extremely hardy and very hardy. The shrub remains quite small and is therefore also suitable for container planting on a terrace or balcony.
2. Viking - This strain comes from cold Finland and is also very robust. The fruits are comparatively large with a weight of 1.5 grams, moreover, it is a very profitable variant.
3. Nero - This aronia is originally from Russia. Currently, it is the most productive and most widely cultivated variety. It has larger dole clusters and reaches a fruit weight between 1.0 and 1.5 grams. The fruits are very juicy and are great for making jams and jellies. It is a late ripening variety.
4. Rubina - This Aronia from Hungary is a cross between Viking and another Russian variety. The very tall (up to 3.5 meters!) Wake shrub bears early ripening, quite large berries with a fruit weight between 1.2 and 1.8 grams.
5. Aron - This aronia from Denmark is richly fruity, but it bears many, but small fruits.
The listed varieties are of course not complete, as there are many other variants from all possible countries. However, all varieties have the same taste of the fruit, which is rather sour to sweet-sour.
Tips & Tricks
The variety Nero is cultivated so often for no reason: This aronia is particularly productive with little care, but not at all prone to diseases and pest infestation. The fruit protects itself by the high proportion of tannic acid in the shell - which makes it suitable for insects u. a. not very attractive.