Alder-leafed serviceberry

Profile

Family

Rosaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

4 m

Spread

3 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

50 years

First yield

after 4 years

Hardiness

zone 2–7

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very wet

pH

5.5 – 8

Synonyms

Saskatoon, Junibeere, Felsenbirne

Planned in gardens

6×

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: The fruit ripens in midsummer, offering a sweet aroma reminiscent of apples. It is soft, juicy, and contains a few small seeds in the center. About the size of a blackcurrant, the fruit grows in small clusters, with the finest wild varieties reaching a diameter of 15 mm. The fruits can be consumed raw, dried for raisins, or processed into pemmican. They are high in iron and copper. The leaves can serve as a substitute for tea.

Medicinal: A decoction of the bark is applied externally to treat swellings and body aches.

Other uses: Plants have an expanding, absorbing root system and are utilized for erosion control in windbreaks. Young branches can be twisted into a rope. The wood is hard, straight-grained, and tough, commonly employed for tool handles. Heating it over a fire can further harden it, allowing for easy shaping while hot. Young stems are used in crafting edges, handles, and for reinforcement in basket making.

Growing

Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny or semi-shaded location, but also thrives in any soil that is not overly dry or waterlogged. The plants are fairly tolerant to lime and also grow well in heavy clay soils. The species is hardy to about -20°C, with some reports suggesting it can withstand temperatures as low as -50°C. All members of this genus bear edible fruits, which in some species are dry and uninteresting, but in many others are sweet and juicy. Many species have the potential to be used in gardens as edible ornamental plants. This particular species is of particular interest for its compact size and excellent quality of relatively large fruits produced. The main drawback of this genus is that birds love the fruits and often strip a tree completely before it is fully ripe. It is a highly variable species, ranging in the wild from a shrub-like bush to a small tree. Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruits, there are several named varieties. It is a stoloniferous species that spreads through runners, forming thickets. The species freely hybridizes with other members of this genus. Sometimes, grafting onto seedlings of A. lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is done to avoid the potential issue of hybridization.

Propagation

Seeds - It is best to harvest them "green" when the seed is fully developed but before the seed coat hardens, and then sow them immediately in pots outdoors or in a cold frame. If seeds are obtained early enough in the fall, they can be warm stratified for 4 weeks before being left outside in winter and should germinate in spring. Otherwise, seed germination may take a very long time, perhaps 18 months or longer. Once they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them in a sheltered outdoor location before planting them out once they are 20 cm or more tall. If there are enough seeds, it is best to sow them thinly in an outdoor seedbed. Let the seedlings grow in the seedbed for two years before planting them in their final location in winter. Spring stratification - takes 18 months. Division of runners in late winter. The runners must have grown for 2 years before you dig them up, as otherwise, they may not have formed roots. They can be planted directly in their final location if necessary.

Notable

Special features: suitable for calcareous and clay soils; Mainly cultivated for yield is A. alnifolia (Saskatoon). A. ovalis is the common Juneberry, and A. laevis also has productive varieties and can reach a height of 6-8m. There are also hybrids; popular with birds; The most productive and sweetest variety is 'Smoky'. Maximum yield is achieved after 12-15 years (15kg).

Origin & habitat

Thickets, forest edges, riverbanks. Smaller ones also on dry slopes.

In the low mountain forests of Central and Southern Japan, there is a variety of native plant and animal species. This forest is renowned for its biodiversity and picturesque scenery. Visitors can fully enjoy the beauty of nature here and relax in the tranquil atmosphere.

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