Viking Aronia Berry vs Mountain Huckleberry - TreeTime.ca

Viking Aronia Berry vs Mountain Huckleberry

Vaccinium membranaceum

Aronia melanocarpa Viking

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Mountain Huckleberry
Viking Aronia Berry

Mountain Huckleberry is a small shrub known for its tart to sweet berries. The berries range from purple-black to red-black, and can be eaten fresh or used in jams and syrups. It is a plant native to Alberta and the berries are frequently enjoyed by both people and wildlife.

In traditional Indigenous fire management practices, berry patches were burned after harvest. This would reduce the invasion of other plants allowing the Mountain Huckleberry to thrive. Its foliage has low flammability and can survive low severity fires, and even if destroyed they regrow from the roots.

Note: Mountain Huckleberry requires specific soil conditions. They need moist, well-drained, acidic soil with a pH around 5.5.

Viking Aronia Berry is easy to grow, with black berries that are high in antioxidants. The Viking variety is much more productive than the non cultivar Aronia Berry. The berries can be eaten fresh but are found to be tart and bitter. They are more often used in baking, jams, juices, and wine. They have small, white flowers with a hint of pink that grow evenly on the shrub. The summer foliage turns a very attractive red in the fall.

The Viking Aronia Berry is a self-pollinating plant. Because of its uniformity and high yield, the Viking Aronia Berry is a popular cultivar.

Mountain Huckleberry Quick Facts

Viking Aronia Berry Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: dark purple
Berries: small black berries
Flavor: sweet, acidic
Flavor: astringent
Harvest: mid to late summer
Flowers: white
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium




Other Names: big huckleberry, black huckleberry, tall bilberry, thinleaf huckleberry
Other Names: black chokeberry viking, viking chokeberry