Black chokeberry- is a shrub in the Rosaceae family. It is native to and can be found growing wild on the Eastern coasts of North America. Mature chokeberry shrubs reach the height of 2 - 3 m. The leaves are alternate, dark green, not more than 6 cm long. In the autumn they turn orange to red. The plant blooms white in May. In our climate sphere the harvest takes place in the second half of August. The fruit is round or slightly elongated, of dark blue, almost black colour, covered by a delicate coating, about 10mm diameter. Chokeberry is not very demanding in cultivation and adapts easily to various conditions. Soil requirements are not very high; it grows well even on weaker soil. Chokeberry prefers sunny positions with annual water supply of about 550 mm. The shrubs show high resistance to diseases and pest. The fruit of this plant is suitable for producing preserves, jams, juices, etc. It is also used as natural food colouring and in herbal medicine - prevention and treatment of hypertension - due to precious vitamins it contains; it's a rich source of antioxidants.
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