Chokeberry

Caution: Invasief!
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General characteristics of a Chokeberry

The choke berry (Aronia) originates from North America and belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae). Around 1900, this vitamin-rich, healthy fruit was first improved for commercial fruit cultivation in Eastern Europe and planted in plantations. In recent years, chokeberries have also been increasingly cultivated here for pharmaceutical purposes or the food trade. It is closely related to our native mountain ash or rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and can even crossbreed with it.

Chokeberries can be divided into three different types:
– The common chokeberry, Aronia arbutifolia (red fruits)
– The black chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa (black/purple fruits)
– Hybrid chokeberry, Aronia × prunifolia (aubergine-coloured fruits)

The chokeberry is mainly found in lowland peat bogs, where it is invasive. Therefore, do not plant it around or in lowland peat bogs.

The chokeberry is a medium-sized, leafy shrub that belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae). It can reach a height of 1.5 to 3 metres and has a sturdy, round shape. The branches are often brown and branch out well, resulting in dense growth. The chokeberry has white to cream-coloured flowers that grow in clusters and are an ideal food source for bees in the spring. The flowers develop into small fruits that closely resemble miniature rowan berries or apples (Malus).

Characteristics


How to plant a Chokeberry

The chokeberry is particularly invasive in lowland peat bogs. Therefore, do not plant it around or in lowland peat bogs.

Plant from mid-November onwards, preferably before the coldest weather sets in. Make the planting hole slightly wider than the roots of the berry and cover the roots with soil.

Planting distance: 1–1.5 m for hedges and group plantings; 3–4 m in solitary arrangements.

How to harvest a Chokeberry

Dig up root runners. Cut off cuttings from the plant and let them root in water.

Caring for and pruning your Chokeberry

The chokeberry is relatively easy to maintain, requires little pruning and is resistant to common diseases and pests.

Each year, remove hanging twigs, weakened branches, overcrowded stems or diseased branches. The goal is to have 16 to 20 healthy branches after 4 years, which can be gradually rejuvenated in the following years.

Where does a Chokeberry grow

The optimal location for chokeberries is full sun to partial shade on slightly acidic, moderately to slightly sandy, well-drained, humus-rich soil. The pH value should be between 5.8 and 6.5. Grows naturally in lowland peat bogs, along forest paths, forest edges and thickets.


General

Origin
Alien
Invasive
Tree Type Shrub

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 1 Up to 2 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 2 Up to 15 year
Maximum Age 20 Up to 40 year
Required Space 1 Up to 2m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating Yes
Reproduction Method
Makes layers
To cut (cutting is between 5 and 50 cm)
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen Yes
Summer April tot September
Winter October tot March
Leaf Shapes Elliptical
Easy to prune Yes

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Oval

Other

Root
Deep and wide roots
Bloom
Has flowers
Has fruits
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases
Mildew
Leaf spot disease

Harvest/recognition in winter

Sometimes the shiny black berries are still on the bush. The bark is dark brown to greyish. The branches are sturdy and may be slightly curved.

Light requirement of the Chokeberry

The Chokeberry thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun

    • Suitable soil types for the Chokeberry

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Chokeberry to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Chokeberry

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Chokeberry in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Chokeberry

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Chokeberry like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant?
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Bees
    Beetles
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer May Up to June

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Horse
    Human
    Goat
    Herbivorous rodents
    Chicken
    Cow
    Sheep
    Pig
    Squirrel
    Badgers
    Beavers
    Ferret
    Deer
    Dog
    Cat
    Mouse
    Roe deer
    Foxes
    Wild boar

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). Yes
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Chokeberry looks like

    Chokeberry - a mature shrub
    Choke berry in winter

    This is what the fruits of a Chokeberry look like

    Fruit of the chokeberry

    This is what a Chokeberry in bloom looks like

    Chokeberry in bloom

    This is what the leaf of a Chokeberry looks like

    Leaf of the chokeberry