Good Qualities
Year 1
Can be sold as green berries or as red; Very attractive berries; Transplanted easily, our cool wet summer (Zone 5) helped it establish, no disease problems.
Year 2
Easy to grow; pretty good fruit set.
Problems
Year 1
Japanese beetles were heavy for us this year; No problems so far, small problem with Pear Slugs (Caliroa cerasi) at the end of the summer.
Year 2
None
Postharvest
Year 1
Our testing was with plain water. One trialer also noted a vase life of 14 days.
Year 2
None
Comments
Year 1
Similar to Aronia melanocappa elata; Nothing harvestable this year, will wait for next, we have grow this variety, good seller for us; Fruit quality appears better on these plants than it does on plants I received from another source.
Year 2
Plants are still too small to harvest from; It is still a "new" planting to me, but I would like to see more vigorous growth from this plant.
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants Flowering (%) | Plants Dead at End of summer (%) | Yield (stems/plant)¹ | Stem Length (inches)¹ | Market Appreciation Rating² | Repeat Again Rating² | Ease of Cultivation Rating² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 67 | - | - | 5.5 | - | 3.7 | 4.5 |
| Range of Responses | 0-100 | - | - | 3-8 | - | 2-5 | 4-5 |
Year 2
Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliant' Plants Flowering (%) Plants Dead at End of summer (%) Yield (stems/plant)¹ Stem Length (inches)¹ Market Appreciation Rating² Repeat Again Rating² Ease of Cultivation Rating² Average 100.0 0 3.0 36.0 4.0 - 5.0 Range of Responses 100 0 3 36 4 5
¹Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
²1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Bailey Nurseries (BA) 1325 Bailey Rd. St. Paul, MN 55119 651-459-9744 800-829-8898 FAX 651-459-5100
