Arisaema tortuosum, Arum tortuosum

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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Arisaemas resemble carnivorous plants, but in fact they attract flies and other insects as pollinators, not food. Their leaves are divided into three or more leaflets. Their fascinating "flower" a pulpit-like hooded spathe enclosing a fleshy, erect spadix usually rises in spring. Scarlet berries by late summer or autumn enclose seeds that are scattered by birds and other creatures.

They prefer a rich but well drained neutral to acid soil that does not dry out in the growing season.

The plant contains calcium oxylate crystals. These cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten but they are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water. Tuber - it must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten. The roots are buried in masses in pits until acetous fermentation takes place, they are then dug up, washed and cooked, by which means their acrimonious principles are in part dispersed.

Aristotelia chilensis, Aristotelia macqui

Aristotelia chilensis, also known as Maqui, is a small tree that reaches 10-20 feet in height and is native to Chile and Argentina. It prefers full sun or semi-shade, and needs regular water to grow. Its white or off-white flowers are small and unisexual, with its small purple-black berries typically measuring 4-6 mm in diameter.

The berries of the Maqui tree have a rich array of health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which can help reduce inflammation in some conditions, as well as boost general health. Maqui berries are also high in dietary fiber which can help support digestive health, as well as essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and Vitamin A and C.

The Maqui tree can produce up to 500 fruits per season and can be grown in USDA Zones 9-11, though it may require extra care in colder climates. Care of the Maqui tree in a pot requires well-draining soil and careful monitoring of water levels in colder climates. Consider setting up a mulch barrier around the tree to help protect its roots from frost damage, and bring the tree indoors or to a sheltered area when freezing temperatures threaten.

In addition to its health benefits, the Maqui tree has also been used in ethnomedical practice for many generations. The leaves, bark, and roots of the tree have traditionally been used to make herbal remedies, and the berries are also edible, adding to their health benefits.

Aristotelia serrata, Aristotelia racemosa

Leaves opposite, ovate, base truncate or cordate, doubly and irregularly dentate, bright green above, paler and sometimes purplish beneath. Small dark pink flowers in axillary and pubescent panicles. Berries dark red or black.

Aronia melanocarpa

Native to eastern North America and most commonly found in wet woods and swamps, Aronia is also naturalized in Europe.

Chokeberries are cultivated as ornamental plants and as food products. The sour berries can be eaten raw off the bush, but are more frequently processed. They can be found in wine, jam, syrup, juice, soft spreads, tea, salsa, chili starters, extracts, beer, ice cream, gummies and tinctures. The name "chokeberry" comes from the astringency of the fruits, which create a sensation making one's mouth pucker.

Cultivar Viking was selected in Europe for use in orchards but gardeners quickly discovered it's many attributes as a landscape plant. Masses of fragrant, white flowers bloom in spring a bit earlier than the species. Gorgeous red fall colors and extra large berries follow the glossy summer foliage. Persistent, purplish black berries are high in nutrients and can be used for pies and jellies or left on the shrub to provide food for birds and other wildlife. The berries can persist into spring feeding the first returning robins. Viking is self-fertile, so you need plant only one for a full crop of berries. It needs no pruning, is quite drought-tolerant once established in your garden, and as a native shrub, has proven remarkably resistant to pests and diseases. In other words, it is utterly trouble-free and very, low maintenance. USDA hardiness zone 3-9.

Aronia berries are harvested in September and October. Enjoy them in an array of foods as they are rich in vitamins. One of the true super fruits, they are high in antioxidants with huge health benefits. This fruit is used in Eastern Europe in holistic medicine for lowering blood pressure. Fruit should be consumed with caution as excessive amount can cause significant blood pressure drop.

See article: Cold hardy Aronia and its Superfruit: a Magic gift from the Native Americans

Artocarpus altilis, Artocarpus communis

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a large tree, typically growing to over 20 ft tall, and requires full sun exposure. It is suitable for growing in USDA hardiness zones 10-11, where temperatures remain above 55F for most of the year. It should be watered regularly and grows best in a loamy soil that drains quickly. In cold regions, it is best to grow this tree in a large pot with well-draining soil to provide enough space for it to grow. If the tree is grown in a pot for an extended period, it is important to repot it periodically to prevent the roots from becoming cramped.

The breadfruit tree produces large fruits that vary in size and shape, ranging from 3 to 18 inches long. The skin of the unripe fruit is green, turning yellow or yellow-brown when ripe. The creamy white to yellow pulp inside is pasty, sweetly fragrant, and has a somewhat soft texture. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is rich in carbohydrates, making it a dietary staple in some parts of the world, particularly Polynesia. In the West Indies, a decoction of the tree's leaves is used to lower elevated blood pressure and relieve asthma. The shoots, bark, and latex also have medicinal uses.

The breadfruit tree is fast growing, reaching up to 80-100 ft in height with a trunk up to 6 ft in diameter. However, some varieties are smaller. The leaves, which can be either evergreen or deciduous depending on the climate, are ovate and up to 3 ft long with deeply cut, pointed lobes. They are bright green and glossy on the upper surface, with conspicuous yellow veins and dull, yellowish, and coated with minute, stiff hairs on the underside. The flowers are tiny and similar to those of the jackfruit tree. Male flowers are densely set on a drooping spike 5 to 12 inches long, initially yellow and becoming brown. Female flowers are massed in a rounded or elliptic, green head about 3 inches long, which develops into the compound fruit. The fruit can be oblong, cylindrical, ovoid, rounded, or pear-shaped and ranges from 3 to 18 inches in length. Generally, the fruit is green at first and turns yellow or yellow-brown when ripe. When fully ripe, the fruit is somewhat soft, and the interior is cream-colored or yellow and pasty, with a sweet fragrance. All parts of the tree, including the unripe fruit, contain milky, gummy latex. There are two main types of breadfruit: the normal, "wild" type (cultivated in some areas) with seeds and little pulp, and the "cultivated" (more widely grown) seedless type. However, occasionally a few fully developed seeds are found in seedless cultivars. The seeds are oval, about 3/4 inch long, dull brown with darker stripes. The moist inner pulp of seedless breadfruit is eaten after cooking and has the taste and texture of potatoes. The seeds of the seeded breadnut form can be cooked by boiling or roasting.