Viking Aronia (Bundle of 2)

Overview

Viking 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.

Origin and history

Viking 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.

Fruit & Uses

Viking 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.

Growth Habit

Viking 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.

Spacing

Viking 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.

Pollination

Viking Aronia is self-fertile. For more yields, plant with our wild Aronia that we also offer.

Cold hardiness

Viking 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.