Aronia prunifolia Lowberry Little Helpers

The Aronia Lowberry 'Little Helpers' is a variety of aronia with a naturally compact growth habit, reaching a maximum height of 80 cm (32in) at maturity, but providing high yields. Self-fertile, the bush is self-sufficient and makes an excellent potted plant on the terrace or balcony. The dark purple-black berries, resembling blackcurrants or blueberries, have a slightly tart taste, but are much milder than other varieties and are also less acidic. Highly consumed in Asia, they are full of anthocyanins, vitamins, and antioxidants. They are harvested in September-October.

The Aronia Lowberry 'Little Helpers' has the genes of the Aronia melanocarpa, the black-fruited aronia, and those of the Aronia 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, aronias are very cold-resistant plants that thrive in cool, slightly acidic soils. Aronia is a distant cousin of roses, plum trees, and blackberries, a member of the vast rose family.

'Little Helpers' is a compact form that does not exceed 60 to 80 cm (24 to 32in) in height after 5 years, with a similar spread. It is an upright, sparsely branched bush with an open habit. Its bark is smooth, reddish-brown. It bears alternate, simple, ovate, finely toothed leaves, measuring 4 to 5 cm (2in) in length, with a satin dark green colour, which truly blaze in autumn in shades of reddish-orange. In April-May, its white flowers speckled with pale pink, measuring 2 cm (1in) in diameter, appear. Gathered in corymbs, they are very numerous, highly fragrant and melliferous. They give way to clusters of round fruits, 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter, initially greenish-purple and then turning dark purple and shiny, while the peduncles that bear them turn red. This fruiting, with a slightly tart and bitter taste, has enough sugar in this variety to balance the bitterness. Birds love it, so it is advisable to cover the bush with a protective net to enjoy the harvest.

Aronia Lowberry 'Little Helpers' is perfect for container cultivation, but it is also suitable for planting in the ground, in a border of perennial plants and shrubs. Place it in a mini-fruit hedge, in groups of 3 plants, with other compact berry bushes and aromatic plants. Undemanding, it performs best in cool, deep, non-chalky soil that is slightly acidic.

The fruits of Aronia can be consumed fresh and cooked, in jam or in juice, which can be mixed, for example, with cranberry juice and apple juice. Chinese pharmacopoeia ascribes medicinal and beneficial health properties to the berries of this fruit variety of Aronia 'Little Helpers'. Its richness in polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, B and C vitamins (3 times more than oranges), minerals, and fibre, make Aronia berries one of the most nutritionally interesting small fruits.