Aronia prunifolia Aron

Aronia x prunifolia 'Aron' is a variety of hybrid aronia selected for its large edible black fruits and exceptional crimson autumn foliage. In May, it blooms in umbels of small white-pink flowers, which are very honey-scented. In September, it produces sweet berries, which are slightly astringent but improve in taste when cooked or prepared as delicious jellies, pastries, fruit syrups or jams. This small erect bush does not exceed 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height and easily finds its place in fruit hedges and at the back of borders in countryside-style gardens. Very hardy, it grows in sun or partial shade, in any deep, moist, preferably non-calcareous soil.

Aronia x prunifolia 'Aron' has the genes of Aronia melanocarpa, the black-fruited aronia, and those of A. arbutifolia, the aronia with arbutus-like leaves. It is now extensively planted in Eastern European countries to meet the demand of the Asian market. Native to Canada and the northeastern United States, Aronia plants are highly cold-resistant and thrive in moist, slightly acidic soils. Aronia belongs to the vast Rosaceae family and is a distant cousin of roses, plum trees, and brambles.

'Aron' forms a sparsely branched suckering shrub, developing several trunks with an erect, open habit, reaching about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height and 2 m (6.6 ft) in width, sometimes more depending on growing conditions. It shows a fairly slow growth in its early years. Its bark is smooth and reddish-brown. It bears alternate, simple, ovate, finely toothed leaves, 4 cm to 5 cm (1.6 in to 2 in) long, with a glossy dark green colour, which truly blaze in autumn, adopting various shades of crimson to violet. In April-May, its flowers appear, which are white with pale pink spots, and 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter. Gathered in corymbs, they are very numerous and highly honey-scented. They give way to clusters of round fruits, 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter, with a shiny black colour while their stalks turn red. The fruits are sweet and astringent, with firm flesh, and are rich in vitamin C. The fruit persists quite long into winter if not consumed by birds. 'Aron' is a self-fertile variety: a single plant is sufficient for a plentiful harvest.

Hardy and naturally resistant to diseases and pests, Aronia is an excellent free-standing hedge shrub. While it tolerates poor soils, it will only reach its full potential in non-calcareous, moist, deep, slightly acidic soil. It fits well in isolated plantings, in a free-standing, countryside or hedgerow hedge, as well as in large shrub borders. To achieve a spectacular mass effect, plant it in groups of 3 to 6 plants of the same variety. It combines in a hedge that is both beautiful and delicious with other small fruit shrubs, foliage shrubs, or flowering shrubs, such as apple trees, plum trees, ornamental cherry trees, male dogwood, hedge honeysuckle, serviceberries, Goumi, anemone trees, May berries, sea buckthorn (Hyppophae rhamnoides), Goji, and blueberries. Plenty of options to create vitamin-packed cocktails for the whole family!

Aronia fruits can be consumed fresh, cooked, as jam, or as juice mixed, for example, with cranberry juice and apple juice. Chinese pharmacopoeia attributes medicinal properties and beneficial properties for human health to the berries of this fruit variety of Aronia. The richness in polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, vitamins B and C (3 times more than orange), minerals, and fibres makes Aronia berries one of the most interesting small fruits from a nutritional point of view.