Aronia shrubs are the perfect garden plant for gardeners who are new to gardening or don't have much time to devote to their garden. The plants are frugal and do not require much care, and they are easy to propagate.
Propagating aronia from cuttings
You can propagate the chokeberry, as the aronia is also often called, using seeds, cuttings or so-called root shoots and thus get new bushes. Propagation via seeds is quite tedious, which is why you can achieve faster success when planting cuttings. In addition, you are safe from surprises with cuttings, because they have the same genetic material as the existing plant. Basically it is a clone. Mutations, on the other hand, can arise from seeds or the plants that grow from them often have different properties.
Procedure for propagation via cuttings
Aronia bushes usually form numerous new shoots and runners, which can be used as cuttings. The suitable shoots are quite thin and often overhang.
- Select a suitable new shoot.
- Cut this off to a length of about 20 centimeters.
- The shoot tip is cut off down to the lower eye.
- Remove about half of the remaining leaves.
- Plant the cutting in the desired location in the ground.
- Keep the soil nice and moist.
The cutting will take root and grow well within a short period of time. The best time for planting cuttings is early fall when it is still relatively sunny and warm and no cold snaps are expected. The plant is expected to bear flowers and fruit in the second year.
Propagating Aronia via root shoots
Rootshooters are shoots that shoot directly from the root. They grow out of the ground next to the actual main plant and should usually be removed. However, they can also be used to propagate chokeberry bushes. To do this, dig out these shoots together with the roots and plant them in the desired place again. Be careful not to damage the roots. You should also dig deep enough, because the Aronia is a deep rooter.
tips and tricks
In contrast to the cultivated forms, the wild form of the Aronia can best be propagated by sowing. To do this, collect the seeds contained in the berries and simply sow them in the spring in the desired place. However, you can also prefer the plants on the windowsill or in the greenhouse and plant them out later.