Aronia melanocarpa, 'Nero'

Aronia melanocarpa 'Nero' Variety description: Similar in all regards to 'Viking,' except slightly lower growing. The cultivars 'Viking' and 'Nero' were both imported into the US from eastern Europe, where they are widely cultivated. Both of these cultivars originated in Russia in the late 19th or early 20th century, from the breeding work of the great plant breeder Ivan Michurin. Current research led by Professor Mark Brand of UCONN suggest that these two cultivars are in fact hybrids between our native aronia and the European mountain ash (Sorbus). This accounts for the larger fruit size of these two cultivars.  The blueberry-sized black fruits of Aronia melanocarpa have the highest known levels of antioxidants (anthocyanins and flavonoids) of any temperate fruit, five times higher than cranberry and blueberry, and also contain strong anticancer compounds. Aronia has been widely grown in Eastern Europe and Russia where the fruits are processed and used in beverages, wine, jelly, and