{"title":"Aronia Shrubs","description":"\u003cp\u003eAronia, also called black chokeberry. Heavy crops of very dark fruit on a tough, self-fertile shrub that takes cold and wet ground. The berries are astringent raw, so they earn their keep cooked: juice for blending, syrup, jam and wine.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"aronia-berry-bundle-of-5","title":"Aronia Berry (Bundle of 3)","description":"\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eA superfood that is rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins, Aronia berries are excellent dried or blended into smoothies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eLate-Season Harvest Perks\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eBest left on the tree well into fall to allow some of the sugars to develop. This Zone 2 shrub is easy on your harvest schedule—when everything else has already been picked, Aronia is still hanging on. We’ve harvested them well into November here in Montana, surrounded by snow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTough as Nails in the Cold\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eThe berries don’t seem to be affected even when temps drop below 20°F. Hardy to Zone 2 (-40°F or more), they’re a must for all cold-climate sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eGrowth \u0026amp; Soil Preference\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eThey reach roughly 5–6 feet at maturity in Montana, possibly a bit more if planted in soft, loamy, organic matter-rich soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eCurrently these are 2-3 ft. tall\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42472433221698,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/aronia-berry-fruit.webp?v=1789019154"},{"product_id":"viking-aronia-bundle-of-2","title":"Viking Aronia (Bundle of 2)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViking Aronia, also known as Viking black chokeberry, is a cold-hardy, deciduous fruiting shrub grown for heavy crops of dark, nutrient-dense berries and for its strong ornamental value. In Montana these berries hang on the shrubs well into the FallI (even if we get a super cold autumn), well into Nov. It produces clusters of white spring flowers, glossy green foliage through summer, and vivid red fall color, making it one of the rare fruits that earns its place in both edible plantings and landscape borders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and history\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViking is a cultivated selection of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) that was developed in Finland in the early 80's from the black chokeberry (Aronia) native the the Eastern Norther America. It was selected as a cold climate adapted shrub with strong fruiting performance. It is widely planted as a productive fruiting cultivar rather than an ornamental-only chokeberry type, and it has become one of the most commonly offered aronia cultivars in North America for backyard and small-farm production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViking produces dark purple-black berries that ripen in late summer. Fresh berries are characteristically tart and astringent, which is why aronia is most often used in processing. Viking is excellent for juice, syrup, jelly, wine, drying, freezing, and blending with sweeter fruits where it contributes color, acidity, and a deep berry character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViking grows as an upright, multi-stem shrub. In typical conditions it matures around 4–6 feet tall and about 4–6 feet wide, forming a dense plant that can be managed as a standalone shrub or allowed to become part of a productive hedgerow over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViking Aronia is sold on its own roots rather than grafted. For individual shrubs, spacing of about 4–6 feet is appropriate depending on how quickly you want plants to knit together. For hedgerows, tighter spacing will fill in faster, while wider spacing improves access and airflow for harvesting and long-term maintenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViking Aronia is self-fertile. For more yields, plant with our wild Aronia that we also offer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViking is typically listed as hardy to zone 3 and suited to very cold continental winters. That said, we wouldn't be surprised if it can survive even colder temps than -40F.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Tree Co.","offers":[{"title":"1-5-2.5 ft.","offer_id":42547516407874,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/viking-aronia-berries.jpg?v=1789021309"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/aronia-shrubs.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}