Overview & Description

Viking Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’) is a cold-hardy, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub selected in Europe for orchard production and prized for its exceptionally large, nutrient-rich berries. In late spring, profuse clusters of fragrant white flowers with brick-red anthers bloom slightly earlier than the species, attracting bees and other pollinators. The glossy, dark green oval leaves transform into a brilliant, fiery red in autumn, offering spectacular fall colour. The purplish-black berries ripen in late summer to early fall and are high in antioxidants and vitamins.

Growth & Size

This variety exhibits an upright, suckering, multi-stemmed growth habit . It is a slow to moderate-growing shrub, typically reaching a mature size of about 3 – 5 feet in height with a similar spread.

Additional Notes

It blooms in mid-to-late spring. Hardy to Zone 2, it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including wet sites, drought once established, and urban pollution. It is self-fertile, pest and disease resistant, and requires little to no pruning. The tart, sweet-sour berries are excellent for juices, pies, jams, wines, and baking or left on the shrub to feed birds.