What Plant is this?

Cornelius

I saw this plant at my school (actually several) and I think that it is an Aronia berry but I wanted to confirm before I harvested any of the berries. What do you all think?

Cornelius

@judsoncarroll4 @Tave @LaurieLovesLearning What do you all think? is this Aronia Berry?

Torey

I've never seen aronia berries other than in pics. But this certainly looks like the pics I have seen.They don't grow in my area, although they are hardy to zone 3, so I could import a plant.

Do they have a large seed? We have chokecherries here but they have a large seed in comparison with the amount of pulp around the seed and they are very sour and tannic. Not sure I really need another similar fruit.

LaurieLovesLearning

I haven't seen them here either, but I agree that it looks possible.

Here is an extensive write up about aronia berry: https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/aronia/plant-description-and-habitat/

I've been on this page before. There is even a link to a distribution map: https://practicalselfreliance.com/black-chokeberry/

Another description & an ID video for you: https://www.ediblewildfood.com/black-chokeberry.aspx

@torey There are some smaller seeds in these, not at all like that big one that fills the chokecherry. I've considered buying a bush or two, but I'm not sure where I would place it.

jowitt.europe

@Cornelius I am sure it is Aronia (Aronia mlanocarpa). The berries and the leaves look exactly like the ones in my parents garden. The berries thicken blood, so those who have problems with blood clogging have to be careful.

Torey

@jowitt.europe Good to know about the blood clotting.

@LaurieLovesLearning I might try a couple of bushes if I can find them. But like you I'm not quite sure where I'd put them. Trying very hard to expand my haskaps and blueberries right now.

nicksamanda11

What are haskaps? I'm sure i could google it but it's more fun to ask😉

Torey

@nicksamanda11 Haskaps are members of the honeysuckle family. Lonicera caerulea. Because of that they are also sometimes called honeyberries. They have berries similar to blueberries as far as the colour goes but are elongated (more tube shaped). They are more tart than blueberries and maybe a bit spicier (?) in flavour. Wonderful addition to muffins, loaves or cakes.

Cornelius

Thank you all so much!

And thank you @jowitt.europe for the confirmed identification!

LaurieLovesLearning

@nicksamanda11 ...and birds LOVE them, so beware.

I had some cedar waxwings just hanging out waiting for them to ripen last year. They got quite a few, but missed some that were hiding underneath some leaves.

Make sure that you get the honeyberry that is meant to be eaten. Before they were developed for this purpose, a co-worker introduced me to the ornamental type. Ew, but they were nasty! She got a huge kick out of persuading me to try them.

judsoncarroll4

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/902989#Comment_902989

Sorry - no internet for a few days... yes, they do look like aronia, but I couldn't say for sur.e

frogvalley

Yes, they look like aronia.

Oh goodness! Aronia thickens blood? Uh oh! I'm going to have to look into that as the research I've read says the opposite. We get elderberry syrup from a local winery, but it has aronia juice in it. It's been our #1 pandemic must have.

Cornelius

@frogvalley What about aroinia berry syrup? @LaurieLovesLearning I have a new product idea for TGN!

@judsoncarroll4 No worries! I believe a ton of people don't have power after Ida paid a visit.

@torey I had one of those. It died a few weeks after I got it and I never figured out what did it in?

LaurieLovesLearning

@Cornelius 😉😄 For that, you chat with Nikki.