Japanese name: アロニア アルブティフォリア Scientific name:Aronia arbutifolia
[Overview]
A deciduous shrub about 3 m tall.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblong to ovate, with pointed tips.
The leaf margin has small, sharp serrations.
Cymose to racemose inflorescences at the branch tips bear 2–25 white 5-petaled flowers about 1 cm across.
The anthers of the stamens are deep pink.
The fruit is a spherical pome-like fruit about 1 cm across, ripening red and hanging down.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or from seed.
The germination rate of seed drops when it dries, so harvest ripe fruits, wash off the pulp, bury the seeds in moistened vermiculite or similar so they do not dry out, store them in a cool, dark place, take them out the following spring, and wash them thoroughly once more before sowing.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
For established plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer in winter, and after flowering place slow-release fertilizer on the soil as thanks fertilizer.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
