Aronia Berry vs Kawai Haskap (Honeyberry)

Aronia Berry produces black fruit that is often considered too astringent. This is why they are also referred to as Black Chokeberry. It is native to Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States. White to pink flowers appear in the spring which provides a nice contrast to the dark green foliage. In fall the leaves turn a vibrant orange to red.

It has a fast growth rate, strong roots, and can tolerate growing in wet soils. This makes it well suited for various projects including forming hedges, bank stabilization, erosion control, and in wetter riparian areas. They are also well suited as an understory plant as it grows well under other trees.

Aronia berries have their own unique flavour. The polyphenols and anthocyanins are touted as healthy antioxidants and lots of research seems to be underway on the health benefits of this fruit.

The Kawai Haskap is a compact fruit-bearing shrub that blooms with small white flowers in early spring and then fruits with medium-sized, oval shaped berries in late June and July. Their taste is usually described as something between a raspberry and a blueberry. The berries are blue and sweet and are great for fresh eating or preserves.

The Kawai Haskap, or Kawai Honeyberry is cold-hardy and is suitable for urban gardens.

Kawai is a late pollinating variety. Pair with other late pollinators to have a higher yield.
Giants Heart Haskap is a great companion variety for the Kawaii.

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