4 Super Fruits and How They Grow

Commonly known as chokeberries, Aronia berries are said to have the highest level of cancer- and age-fighting antioxidant, anthocyanin of any fruit. The berries are tart when eaten raw, and are best combined with other ingredients or sweetened.

As attractive as it is productive, Aronia flowers in late spring, and has superb fall color that complements the dark berries, so plant this bush where it will be seen. It's a large, shubby plant, reaching 6 feet tall and 10 ft. wide.

Aronia grows well in a range of conditions but is best in a moist, acidic soil, in partial shade or full sun. Incorporate plenty of organic matter before planting. This plant should be kept moist at all times, especially during the first year. Apply a thick mulch of chipped bark after planting to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Aronia takes a few years to establish and reach full productivity, so be patient. You may need to protect plants from birds when the berries are ripe; they develop their best flavor after hard frosts. USDA Zones 3 to 8