Galicjanka Black Chokeberry is a large, deciduous, woody shrub, and is a variety of Black Chokeberry, which is native to eastern Canada. The shrub is covered with clusters of white flowers in June. Galicjanka Black Chokeberry is a popular variety in Poland where it was developed as a commercial agriculture crop. Its fruit is slightly larger than 'Viking'. Aronia are self-pollinating but planting another variety nearby will improve its yield and the size of the fruit. This variety gives a generous yield of edible fruits in August that is used for making jams, jellies, juices, and pies. However, these healthy berries are fairly bitter when eaten raw, thus the common name Chokeberry. Fruits can be picked in August but the longer they remain on the bush, the most ripen and the sweetest they are. In the fall, the leaves turn deep red and rich orange colours. This native shrub is valuable for wildlife food and habitat, as well as pollinator species, like bees. Galicjanka Aronia is easy to grow. It is adaptable to wet, flooded areas, making it a great choice for riparian soil stabilization and naturalization. Despite Galicjanka’s popularity in Poland, it’s quite rare to find this variety for sale in North America, yet.
