Amelanchier parviflora
Boiss.
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Akkar Trail, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Akkar Trail, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Akkar Trail, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Deciduous shrub reaching 2 m tall. Hardy to UK zone 5 and tolerant of a wide range of soils—sandy, loamy, or heavy clay—across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and prefers moist conditions. Flowers in May with bee pollination; self-fertile. Seeds mature in July.
Description
Deciduous shrub reaching 2 m tall. Hardy to UK zone 5 and tolerant of a wide range of soils—sandy, loamy, or heavy clay—across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and prefers moist conditions. Flowers in May with bee pollination; self-fertile. Seeds mature in July.
Edible Uses
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is rich in iron and copper.
Traditional Uses
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Distribution
It is a temperate and Mediterranean climate plant.
Where It Grows
Europe, Turkey, Türkiye,
Cultivation
Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny position or semi-shade but thrives in any soil that is not too dry or water-logged. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Fairly lime tolerant. Plants are hardy to about -20°c. All members of this genus have edible fruits and, whilst this is dry and uninteresting in some species, in many others it is sweet and juicy. Many of the species have potential for use in the garden as edible ornamentals. The main draw-back to this genus is that birds adore the fruit and will often completely strip a tree before it is fully ripe. A group of young plants about 5 years old growing at Kew under this name were about 2 metres tall with almost no side-branches in 1995 and flowering at the end of April. They look as though their final height will be substantially more than that given above. This species is closely related to A. ovalis. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Grafting onto seedlings of A. lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is sometimes practised in order to avoid the potential problem of hybridizing.
Propagation
Seed is best harvested green — when fully formed but before the seed coat has hardened — and sown immediately in pots outdoors or in a cold frame. Stored seed obtained early enough in autumn can be given 4 weeks of warm stratification before being left out over winter, and should germinate in spring. Otherwise, germination can be very slow, potentially taking 18 months or more. When large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and grow on in a sheltered outdoor position, planting out once they reach 20cm or more. Where seed is plentiful, sow thinly in an outdoor seedbed and grow on for two years before planting into permanent positions during winter. Layering in spring takes 18 months. Suckers can be divided in late winter, but must have been growing for 2 years to have formed roots. They can be planted directly into permanent positions if needed.
Other Uses
The wood is fine-grained, hard, very heavy, and reddish in colour. It is used for small articles.
Notes
There are about 25-30 Amelanchier species.
Also Known As
Karagoz
References (2)
- Ertug, F, Yenen Bitkiler. Resimli Türkiye Florası -I- Flora of Turkey - Ethnobotany supplement
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/.
