Content
Irga alnifolia, photos and descriptions of varieties of which are given in this article, is one of the most underrated garden plants. But this perennial shrub can become a real decoration for a personal plot.
It is not only beautiful during the flowering period, but is also able to generously reward the gardener with a harvest of tasty and healthy berries.
Distinctive characteristics of the species
Irga alnifolia is a perennial shrub of the Rosaceae family. Its homeland is North America. In the wild, in addition to its original places of growth, it is found in the Crimea and the Caucasus. Basic data on this plant is presented in the table.
Parameter | Meaning |
Type of crop | Deciduous shrub |
Root system | Powerful, well developed, penetration depth into the soil up to 2 meters |
Escapes | Straight, smooth, dark gray, up to 6 meters high |
Leaves | Green, matte, oval or almost round, up to 5 cm long, the edge has a characteristic serration, the veins are clearly legible, light |
Flowers | White, 2–3 cm in diameter, collected in large inflorescences of up to 20 pieces per raceme |
Pollination | Self-pollinating |
Fruit | Large (up to 1.5 cm in diameter), oval, blue-black in color |
Compared to other types of serviceberry, alderberry has both advantages and disadvantages. It is less frost-resistant and more demanding on watering. Its positive qualities are:
- higher yield;
- absence of uncontrolled root growth;
- long life span (up to 70 years);
- high shade tolerance;
- high shoot growth rate.
Like other species, alder serviceberry is undemanding to soil type. Its fruits are just as tasty, and their content of vitamins and microelements is no less.
Serviceberry berries contain:
- sugary substances;
- pectins;
- carotene;
- B vitamins, ascorbic acid;
- tannins.
Photo of alder serviceberry during the flowering period - in the photo below.
The shrub is an excellent honey plant. It is not for nothing that in its homeland, North America, this type of plant is called Saskatoon or Amelanch, which means “bearing honey.”
Which varieties belong to the type of serviceberry
Under the general name “Sirberry alnifolia” several varieties with similar species characteristics are combined. These include:
- Starlight Night;
- Smokey;
- Forestburg;
- Obelisk;
- Krasnoyarsk;
- Slate.
A brief description and characteristics of each variety are presented below.
Krasnoyarsk
The description of the Krasnoyarskaya serviceberry variety can begin with its berries, since it is a productive, super-large-fruited variety. Its fruiting is really abundant and regular.The berries weigh up to 2 g, dark blue, with a characteristic haze. The taste of the fruit is sweet, with a pleasant sourness. A mature tree can reach 4 m in height. A description of the Krasnoyarsk serviceberry would be incomplete without mentioning its amazing winter hardiness. Thanks to this ability, shadberry shadberry Krasnoyarsk can be grown in the Urals and Southern Siberia.
Slate
Irga Sleyt is a productive variety with large black berries weighing up to 1.1 g, with a high sugar content. It is an improved variety of Canadian serviceberry. Shrub of medium height, 1.5–2 m. The shoots are slightly curved, the crown is dense. Winter-hardy. Requires mandatory crop protection from birds. In autumn, the crown turns bright red; the shrub can also perform decorative functions.
Starlight Night
The first and only variety of Russian selection included in the State Register in 2016. A large-fruited, productive variety with a berry weight of up to 2 g. A distinctive feature is the ripening of the berries in the cluster almost simultaneously, so that fruiting is not extended over time. The fruit skin is denser and transportability is improved. Resistant to diseases and pests.
Smokey
Irga alnifolia Smokey was bred in Canada. It is distinguished by powerful vertical shoots; as it grows, the bush becomes spreading. Produces numerous basal shoots. Large-fruited, high and stable yield. The berries are dark blue, with a bluish bloom, 12–15 mm in diameter. The taste is bright and sweet. Requires mandatory protection from birds. Resistant to both drought and frost. Not susceptible to diseases.
Forestburg
Another variety of Canadian selection. Like Smoky, it has powerful vertical shoots, but unlike the latter it forms significantly less basal shoots.Winter hardiness is very high, drought resistance is increased. No diseases or pests were noted. The fruits are large, 12–17 mm in diameter, collected in dense clusters. The taste is pleasant, sweet. The berries are suitable for consumption both fresh and processed.
Obelisk
Irga alnifolia obelisk (Obelisk) is a shrub with an original narrow vertical crown. Descriptions of serviceberry Obelisk can be found in books on landscape design, since the shrub is widely used as an ornamental shrub due to its bright green color in summer and bright orange and red in autumn. It is winter-hardy and not affected by diseases and pests. Grows well in urban environments. Fruits annually and abundantly, the berries are dark blue with a bluish bloom, sweet in taste. Reviews about the Obelisk game are mostly positive.
Blooming irga variety Obelisk - in the photo.
Reproduction of irgi alnifolia
The same methods are suitable for propagating shadberry alder as for berry bushes. It can be done:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- basal shoots;
- dividing the bush.
Seeds must be removed from ripe fruits, planted in nutritious soil and covered with film. They germinate quite quickly, providing an annual growth of about 15 cm. Cuttings are cut from young strong shoots, kept in a root growth stimulator and planted in the soil under a film. Layers are obtained by bending the side shoots to the ground and covering them with soil. Regular moistening of the soil in these places leads to rooting and growth of shoots. The sprouted seedlings are then separated from the mother bush and planted.
The basal shoots formed by the root system of the shrub are the best seedlings.In this case, they are simply separated from the root along with a lump of earth and transplanted to a new location. Planting by dividing a bush can be used when transplanting a bush to a new place. To do this, the bush is completely dug out of the ground and divided into parts along with the roots.
Planting serviceberry
Planting serviceberry can be done both for decorative purposes and for producing berries.
Site selection and preparation
When choosing a planting site for shadberry, you need to take into account a number of factors. Key things to take into account:
- In order for the shrub to feel good, the groundwater level at the planting site should not rise above 2 meters.
- To get a good harvest, it is better to choose a place with good sunlight.
- The bush will be tall, spreading and will create a lot of shade.
- An adult bush can be transplanted before it reaches the age of 7 years.
- An adult bush can live up to 60–70 years.
- A strongly developed root system will produce shoots even after the bush is completely removed from the site, so it is unlikely that you will be able to completely get rid of the shadberry.
- The berries will attract many birds to the site.
- Carrion is highly colored, so you should not plant shadberry next to white stone paths, light wooden gazebos, etc.
If the decision to plant is made, you need to take care of the planting holes in advance. It is better to dig them up one and a half to two months before the planned planting. Their depth should be at least half a meter. The distance between adjacent bushes should be at least 2.5 m; when planted in a row, it can be reduced to 1.5 m.
Below is a video about planting and propagating irgi:
When to plant alder shadberry: in spring or autumn
Irga alnifolia has excellent survival rate, so it can be planted both in the spring, before the first leaves appear, and in the fall, after the end of leaf fall.
How to choose seedlings
As a rule, shadberry is planted with seedlings of the second year of life. By this time they should be at least 30–35 cm long and have well-developed roots.
Boarding procedure
A mixture of turf soil and humus is poured into the prepared planting holes in a 1:1 ratio. As a top dressing, it would be advisable to add 1 tbsp to the mixture. a spoonful of potassium sulfate and 2 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate.
The seedlings are placed vertically in a hole and the roots are covered with turf soil, while the root collar is buried by 5–6 cm. The tree trunk circle is lightly compacted, watered at the rate of 30 liters per bush, after which the soil is mulched with peat, humus or sawdust.
Caring for alder shadberry
No special measures are required to care for alder shadberry. Bushes need to be periodically pruned for both sanitary and decorative purposes. To get a good harvest of berries, you need to do regular watering and fertilizing.
Watering
Irga alnifolia loves water and responds well to watering. This is especially necessary during the period of setting and ripening of berries. If there is enough precipitation, you can avoid watering altogether.
Weeding and loosening the soil
Loosening and weeding can be done periodically, clearing the tree trunk circle of weed. The entire tree trunk circle is usually dug up in the fall, while applying fertilizer.
Feeding alder serviceberry during the season
Alder serviceberry responds well to the application of organic fertilizers: peat, humus. In addition, it can be fed throughout the season.
Deadlines | Fertilizer |
Spring, before the leaves begin to bloom | Nitrophoska or other nitrogen fertilizer - 50 g per 10 liters of water, applied by watering the tree trunk |
Early summer | Infusion of chicken manure or slurry 0.5 l or urea 30–40 g per 10 l of water, applied to the root zone |
In autumn, after leaf fall | Superphosphate 40 g, potassium sulfate 20 g per 1 sq. m simultaneously with digging up the soil |
Trimming
Alder serviceberry is pruned for sanitary purposes, to rejuvenate plantings and to form a crown. Sanitary pruning is done in the fall after the leaves fall and in the spring before the buds swell. First of all, broken, dry branches that thicken the crown are cut out. After the third year of life, three vertical annual shoots are usually left, the rest are cut out at the root. In total, the bush is formed from 10–15 branches of different ages.
Preparing serviceberry for winter
The winter hardiness of shadberry is sufficient to survive frosts of -40 degrees and below. No special protective measures need to be taken.
What diseases and pests can threaten the crop?
Alder serviceberry is very resistant to diseases.Despite this, sometimes traces of diseases and pests can be seen on the bushes. Here is a small list of them.
Disease/Pest | How it manifests itself | Treatment and prevention |
Phallisticosis | Characteristic brown spots are visible on fallen leaves | The affected foliage is destroyed, the bushes are treated with Bordeaux mixture |
Gray rot | Gray mold on berries and leaves | Reduce watering; treatment with Bordeaux mixture |
Drying branches | Leaves and branch tips darken and dry out | Cut out and burn the affected areas of the bush. In spring, treat the bushes with copper sulfate. |
Shrub moth | Moth caterpillars secrete substances that destroy the leaf blade | Spray with karbofos |
Serviceberry seed eater | The seed-eater larva eats the seeds in the berry |
Conclusion
Irga alnifolia, photos and descriptions of varieties of which are given in this article, is a real find for a gardener. Caring for it is extremely simple, and the abundance of berries can please you even in lean years. The blooming irga is very beautiful, and many sweet dishes can be prepared from its fruits.
