How often is shadberry found in dachas... Almost all varieties are suitable for the Moscow region, fortunately the berry is not picky. Everyone knows this bush under different names, but the essence does not change. Children and birds love it equally. Over time, an overgrown bush begins to take up a lot of space, which is not very good for small plot. But this disadvantage is compensated by a huge harvest of delicious blue berries. But once you pick up the scissors, the tree obediently turns into a beautifully shaped ball or cube; in this way you can make a charming hedge that will delight you with the harvest. So, the topic of our conversation is serviceberry and its varieties. Let's get started!

Pros and cons

You need to figure this out if you are deciding whether you need irga on your site. Varieties for the Moscow region - all as one - are very tenacious and prolific. They will not dry out in the hottest summer and will not freeze out in the harshest winter, and from spring until autumn they will diligently occupy your site with young shoots. Therefore, you need to remember to take care of your garden. Moreover, watering and fertilizing play not the first role; the most important thing is to restrain the growth of the serviceberry, shape its crown and give shape to the bushes joined in a row. But with the shoots it will be more difficult; they will still come out, no matter how much you destroy them.

However, many gardeners still want their irga to grow. Varieties for the Moscow region are surprisingly durable and hardy plants that, no matter what, will produce a harvest.

Spring in the garden

About two weeks after the appearance of green leaves, the serviceberry produces soft silvery flowers. Varieties for the Moscow region are famous for early harvests, and fragrant flowers feed many insects. The plant we are considering does not differ in the variety of species; usually it is either round-leaved or spiked irga, although there are many more of them. And each is more or less productive, and also differs in shape and size. However, if you are replanting your area with trees, then you will probably be interested in learning more about these species.

Irga canadensis

Since we are limited by the scope of the article, we will only note the best varieties serviceberry for the Moscow region. First I would like to consider the Canadian variety, which is distinguished by its high decorative properties. The bush has a natural round shape with drooping branches. The plant is especially beautiful during the flowering period. By the way, shadberry can be grown as a bush or as a tree, it all depends on your skills. In the first case, it turns into a luxurious bush up to 6 meters high. Keep in mind that the irga in the garden must be accessible for harvesting, so it makes sense to form the bush lower. Thin drooping shoots are beautiful at the moment of flowering: they are literally strewn with white flowers. And then they become completely blue with berries.

Irga roundifolia

We continue to consider what types of irga there are. The types and care are not too different, but there are still certain features characteristic of each variety. This variety grows up to three meters without pruning. It grows almost throughout Russia, and bears fruit well in the Moscow region. The leaves are oval, serrated. It is distinguished by good yield and amazing resistance. It is even very difficult to remove it from the site on purpose.

Irga alnifolia

This is a multi-stemmed shrub, its height is up to 4 meters. The leaves are round and turn red in autumn. yellow. The flowers are white, with a faint aroma. The fruits are purple, very sweet and quite large. It can produce up to 10 kg of berries per season, which can be considered good results. The tree itself is unpretentious, resistant to various diseases. Another species is very similar to it, called blood-red shadberry. This is a shrub up to 3 meters high. It has oblong leaves and flowers, the berries are sweet, dark, and very pleasant to the taste.

Large-fruited varietal plants

The work of breeders does not stand still, and today species and varieties of serviceberry such as Alytaglow are demonstrated at exhibitions. Its specialty is its fruits white. Another good variety for the Moscow region is the large-fruited Forestburg and the very aromatic Pembina. Other types of serviceberry, distinguished by record-breaking large berries, are also presented at the exhibitions: Moonlake, Nelson, Slate, Regan and others. We will not dwell in more detail on the features of caring for them, since the opportunity to purchase these plants is still very small. Usually, stores sell old, good, proven varieties.

Shrub care

Have you decided to plant shadberry in your summer cottage? Which good variety choose, you can inquire in the next issue of “Dachnik”. Most often, only the varieties listed above will be presented there. By the way, you can borrow them completely free of charge from your neighbors, because the shadberry bush produces a lot. This is a completely unpretentious plant that will withstand even the most severe frosts.

However, she also has her own requirements for conditions of detention. Irga will survive in any conditions, but it shows maximum productivity on fertile, loamy soil. The plant loves well-lit places, but will grow even in complete shade. He is completely calm about drought. Excellent design idea planting irgi along fences could be a good idea. This will give it a special decorative look, especially if the bushes are trimmed beautifully.

Planting shrubs

You can plant shadberry in both spring and autumn. At the same time, choose seedlings that have reached the age of 1-2 years, because you will have to wait quite a long time for fruits from younger ones. The hole for one plant must be at least 80 cm in diameter. After planting, do not forget to water the seedling generously. All that remains is to mulch the soil around - and you can leave the plant alone. It takes root almost immediately; it is for this quality that many gardeners fell in love with shadberry. Care and breeding are intuitively simple. The only thing needed for good harvest, so this is regular watering.

Bush formation

In order for the plant to look good and not block too much of the usable area of the site, but at the same time it is convenient for you to pick berries, you need to do regular pruning. First of all, you need to make the bush as strong as possible. It will require care in the form of sawing out old trunks, removing long and weak branches, and cutting off damaged shoots. To emphasize the decorative nature of the planting, you can form the shadberry as a multi-stemmed bush. To do this, you need to leave only strong shoots and cut off the weak ones. In this case, you will need to follow a number of rules. In the first three years of the plant’s life, leave all strong shoots, then monitor their numbers annually, leaving a new one in place of the removed one. A fully formed bush consists of 10-15 branches of different ages. After this, care will consist of an autumn inspection, removal of broken branches and excess shoots. If you see that the growth and fruiting of the bush is deteriorating, then once every 4 years you can perform a rejuvenation procedure, that is, cut off all 2-4-year-old shoots.

Reproduction

If you have enough time, you can try growing shadberry from seeds. To do this, you need to collect ripe berries, select seeds from them and rinse them to remove the pulp. Immediately after washing (preferably in September), the seeds should be sown in the soil. They will sprout next year or the year after.

However, it is much easier to use vegetative methods. Most often the plant is propagated by root shoots. What is needed for this? Dig up the shoots and select seedlings 10-15 cm long, with well-developed roots. Excellent result show those whose shoot thickness is 0.5 cm or more. They should be planted vertically. Such seedlings require constant care in the form of abundant watering. Young serviceberry bushes can be propagated by division, but this method is not suitable for old plantings. You can also use the cutting procedure. To do this, cut the annual shoots 12-15 cm long. After cutting, the material must be planted in a greenhouse. If the air is humid enough, roots will soon appear, and within a month it will be possible to plant young seedlings. However, no more than 20% of the total number of cuttings will produce roots.

Top dressing

In order for you to enjoy the harvest every year, you need to feed your plant. For this you can use organic and mineral ones - in the spring. Like everyone else fruit trees, serviceberry is very responsive to feeding, since when growing a large number of berries it takes large number nutrients. If the soil is very poor, then the bush will drop some of the fruits, and those that remain will be small, and they will contain much less useful microelements.

Pests and diseases

Irga rarely suffers from disease; most often it is only slightly affected by leaf-eating insects, which do not cause much harm. Birds cause much more damage to the crop - they love to feast on berries. However, usually the serviceberry bush produces so many fruits that it will be enough for both you and your feathered friends. If the bush is small, you can cover it with netting to make it difficult for birds to reach the berries.

If you notice spots on the leaves of the serviceberry that look like rust, it means a clear sign fungal disease. With monilinia, brown rot forms on the fruits, and the harvest will be ruined. Nectria necrosis of the bark leads to drying out of shoots and branches, which can contribute to the death of the entire bush. In addition, it is not uncommon for serviceberries to be infected by the gray tinder fungus, which causes a white, fibrous, putrid coating on the trunks of old serviceberries. To protect your garden, it is necessary to promptly treat it with insecticides and antifungal drugs. One procedure early spring will help you avoid all these problems, which means you can safely enjoy delicious and healthy berries.

Species rather than varieties of serviceberry are most often grown in culture, because they are the most common and freely sold in nurseries. As for varieties, the most common are Canadian ones. Today, only one variety of serviceberry is listed in the State Register of the Russian Federation, but there are already more than three dozen of them in the world. Each variety has its own characteristics related to care, placement on the site, and use of fruits.

Types of serviceberry

Of the types of serviceberry, two are most suitable for growing in culture:

irga alnifolia,

All types and varieties of serviceberry can be grown on almost any type of soil, with the exception of areas with very close standing groundwater(less than a meter) or those areas where melt and rain water stagnates for a long time.

Read more about planting and caring for irga in the articles:

Irga alnifolia

Irga alnifolia - ideal option a plant intended for producing fruits and for decorating a garden.

Distinctive features:

highest winter hardiness,
drought resistance,
not sick
not damaged by pests.

Blooming serviceberry

Irga alnifolia blooms very beautifully, usually in mid-May. Its shoots almost completely cover the inflorescences with snow-white flowers, the petals of which fall off at the end of flowering, resembling falling snowflakes. Depending on the onset of spring, flowering times may vary.

Photo: flowering serviceberry

Fruiting serviceberry

The fruits of the serviceberry ripen at the same time as the currants. The berries are dark purple, almost black, with very bright, coloring juice, which contains a large amount of pectin, which is why the juice quickly gels. The taste of the fruits is pleasant; when fully ripe, they are sweet with slight sourness.

The fruits also contain seeds, but unlike currants, where they are very clearly felt when consuming the fruits fresh, y serviceberry they are practically not felt.

Benefits of serviceberry

The seeds of serviceberry contain amygdalin, which is beneficial for the heart. Therefore, you should not spit them out - it is better to chew and eat them, especially since they are very soft.

Irga canadensis

Irga Canadian is more suitable for garden decoration. The plants are low, about 3-3.5 meters, have curving shoots and light green boat-shaped leaves. This species blooms less spectacularly, due to the fact that the clusters are loose, and it produces fewer fruits, but they are larger, approximately 0.7-0.8 g compared to 0.5-0.6 g for serviceberry.

Fruit serviceberry They are a little more interesting in taste, they contain more acid, so their taste is considered more harmonious. The fruits ripen 3-5 days earlier than those of shadberry.

Of the disadvantages of this species, we can name only one - birds love the fruits very much, so if you decide to have a Canadian shadberry on your property, then you will need to think about protection from birds.

Varieties of serviceberry

As for varieties, now you can get only three relatively easily:

Mandan – Canadian, reminiscent of shadberry, only having larger fruits, weighing up to 0.9 g,
Slate – in fact, this is an improved Canadian serviceberry – the clusters are denser, the berries are large, weighing up to 1.1 grams,
Starry night – obtained from serviceberry, its fruits are more palatable and reach a maximum weight of 2 g.

Serviceberry variety Starry Night

The first Russian one was included in the State Register in 2016.

Main differences:

resistance to pests and diseases,
increased transportability of fruits due to thicker skin,
balanced taste,
the ability of the fruits in the cluster to ripen almost simultaneously.

Growing the irgi variety Starry Night

Irgu can be placed literally anywhere on the site, but we recommend planting them on the north side. Due to the fact that the plant varieties Starry night are quite spreading shrubs, they are able to protect more heat-loving crops from the cold northern wind, retain snow on the site and contribute to its accumulation.

For the first 5-6 years, the variety does not need practically any care; it is enough to just water it if the weather is excessively dry and remove weeds in the bush area, although the latter will rather prevent you from picking fruits than to fully develop the plant. Around the sixth year, it is necessary to thin out the crown - remove shoots that thicken it, as well as thin and broken ones.

Due to the fact that the fruits of the variety Starry night ripen in a short period of time, you can get by with two harvests.

Serviceberry variety Mendan

One of the most common cultivars of serviceberry.

Distinctive features:

large fruit,
winter hardiness,
drought resistance,
resistance to pests and diseases,
restrained growth.

Adult plants 8-9 years old stretch no more than three meters, which makes it possible to harvest the entire crop with the help of a small elevation.

Due to its relative compactness, the irgu Mendan can be placed closer to other crops. Considering that the crown of this variety resembles a candle and is not spreading, plants can be planted both on the north side of the site and on the south.

Of the minuses "Medana" can be called an extended period of fruit ripening. From the beginning of the ripening of the first fruits to the complete ripening of all the berries in the cluster, sometimes it takes up to a week, so in order to harvest the entire harvest, several harvests will be necessary.

Serviceberry variety Slate

Variety Slate is also quite widespread. This variety was obtained from serviceberry , and therefore it is more suitable for decorating a site rather than for growing for fruits. Its light green foliage, light shoots and rather bizarre flowers, collected in loose inflorescences and having long petals, are liked by many.

Irgu "Slate" It is better to plant it on the south side of the site; it prefers a well-lit place and is afraid of severe frost. Planting should begin in the spring, before the buds open. In early May, it is advisable to feed - 1.5 matchbox apply nitroammophoska under the bush, after loosening the soil. The fruits of the variety, which are quite large and tasty, need to be picked before the birds peck them off, so you should not wait until the berries are fully ripened in the cluster.

Irga Smokey

The category of less common varieties in our country includes the cultivar Smokey . The fruits are large, tasty and very aromatic. Considering the spreading nature of the bush, the variety should be planted at a distance of at least three meters from other plants, shoots that thicken the crown should be cut out and watered more often, because this variety is poorly resistant to drought.

Irga Northline

One of the leaders in winter hardiness is the serviceberry variety. Northline can be placed in an area open to all winds. The fruits of the variety are very sweet (up to 13% sugar) and quite large (just over 1 g). The good thing about this variety is that it has slender shoots and moderate growth, and therefore is very convenient for harvesting. Fruits are often harvested using mechanized methods. Northline suitable for those who have summer cottages far from home - it does not need to be watered often, and thanks to its rapid ripening and thick skin, the fruits can be collected in one go and easily brought home.

Irga Honeywood

True sweet tooths will love the variety with the honey name. Honeywood . The fruits are sickly sweet, rarely used for processing, they are mainly consumed fresh as a tasty and healthy dessert. The variety is winter-hardy and drought-resistant, grows on any type of soil and does well even without fertilizing, the main thing is that there is a sufficient amount of moisture in the soil. The variety is striking in clusters; they can contain up to 10-15 large, uniformly shaped fruits of a dark blue color.

Irga Altaglow

In the event that collecting serviceberry fruits is not part of your plans at all, and you just want to decorate your plot, the most successful purchase will be the variety Altaglow With amazing white fruits.

IN autumn period "Altaglow" amazes with the splendor of the foliage: it becomes bright crimson and hangs without falling until the first serious frost, when everything around is already gray and dull. The undoubted advantages include weak formation of root shoots and slow thickening of the crown, which reduces work with the plant to a minimum.

New varieties of serviceberry

Among the new products that will be problematic to get, we can name such cultivars as:

Cumulus ,
Ballerina ,
Princess Diana.

From a distance, the flowers of these varieties look like miniature roses, and the fruits look like small apples.

New variety of serviceberry Rabin Hall

For lovers exotic plants you will definitely like the cultivar Rabin Hall , in addition to high productivity and large-fruitedness, it has very interesting flowers with pink petals. The variety, like other foreign novelties, is perfectly suited to our conditions; it can be planted both in spring and autumn, but when planting in a hole, be sure to make drainage from pebbles, expanded clay or broken brick, because new varieties do not tolerate stagnant water.

Irga ( Amelanchier) - a shrub or tree, up to 6-8 m high. In spring, the shadberry blooms profusely with small white flowers collected in racemes. At this time, the plant looks a little like a bird cherry. In autumn, the leaves turn golden and purple.

In culture, the most common are four species of serviceberry, of which the Canadian serviceberry ( A. canadensis) the most decorative.

See photos of the shrub serviceberry, the most common species in our country:

All species have edible apple-shaped fruits similar in color and size to currants.

Irga is a frost-resistant, undemanding shrub that can tolerate both drought and slight soil salinity. The plant is resistant to diseases and pests, tolerates air pollution, loves light, but can grow in partial shade, tolerates pruning well, including “to the stump,” grows and is rejuvenated by offspring.

Serviceberry makes beautiful hedges and screens that protect from prying eyes, noise, and dusty highways. In addition, serviceberry is a good background for other shrubs. Below is a description of the shrub shrub, features of care and cultivation.

Description of the shrub Iga

This bush can be considered a “newbie” on the territory of domestic summer cottages, but despite this, gardeners fell in love with it. The tree grows quickly and has several trunks, is resistant to winter cold, unpretentious to conditions, is not susceptible to disease and has a bountiful harvest.

The shrub has oblong, oval, dark green leaves, which turn purple-orange in the fall and look especially decorative, and brown-gray bark. It blooms with white flowers, which are arranged in inflorescences in the form of brushes. The berries have a sweetish taste, juicy, dark blue, are located up to 12 pieces on one brush.

Flowering occurs in April-May, which makes the shrub very attractive at this time. During this period, he is not afraid of frosts that happen in the spring, but in winter time the bush can withstand frosts down to -30 °C without additional hilling.

Types and varieties of serviceberry for the Moscow region: photos and description

There are 18 species of serviceberry in total (there is also information that there are 25). The shrub is classified as a member of the Rosaceae family, most of which are distributed in the territory North America. He likes open sunny places, such as edges along forests, mountain slopes, can grow in tundra areas.

On the territory of our country, the following types and varieties of serviceberry are considered widespread:

Irga roundifolia ( Amelanchier rotundifolia)

Irga spicata ( Amelanchier Spicata)

Irga Canadian ( Amelanchier canadensis)

Irga blood-red ( Amelanchier sanguinea)

These varieties can be found wild in nature, which grow there thanks to birds who love delicious fruits.

The listed varieties of serviceberry are suitable for the Moscow region, they “take care of themselves” perfectly, the main thing is to plant the tree correctly. They are not afraid of drought strong winds and almost any unfavorable conditions, and all thanks to the root system, which penetrates to a depth of about 2 m and spreads within a radius of 2-2.5 m. It provides the plant with all the necessary nutrients and moisture.

What type do they have? various varieties irgi, look at the photo:

Let's consider more detailed description varieties of serviceberry with photo.

Round-leaved

This shrub has many trunks, grows up to 4 m. It has smooth bark, dark gray color, oval, sometimes almost round leaves, which makes them similar to alder leaves. In autumn they turn bright yellow. It blooms white with a slight fragrance. The berries are very sweet, large, dark blue with purple tint. The shrub can bear up to 10 kg of fruit per harvest, so it is considered the best variety of serviceberry.

Canadian

This plant is distinguished by its height, which can reach 8 m. It blooms with cream or white flowers that are odorless. The branches are thin, hanging down, the leaves are oblong, elliptical, and in autumn they become dark crimson, red, purple. The berries inside are dark pink, taste sweet, and you can harvest about 6 kg in one harvest.

Spiked

The bush is up to 5 m in height, has thick crown oval shape, gray shade bark and matte dark green leaves ovoid. The flowers have a bright pink or white hue and are placed in racemes. The berries are dark red, almost black, with a bluish bloom. The plant begins to produce crops from the age of 4 years.

Blood red

Its berries have an irregular spherical shape, reminiscent of blueberries. They taste like unripe fruits, which even birds disdain. Despite this, they are very juicy, so they are used to make juice based on other fruits.

Taking into account the description of the types of serviceberry, the best varieties for the Moscow region are Canadian or round-leaved. But it is necessary to pay attention to some nuances. Since this shrub has a powerful root system, you will have to fight shoots all the time, so you should not plant this shrub near paths and buildings or decorative landscape elements. You should not do this for the reason that falling fruits leave dark spots.

Planting and caring for irga in open ground

Before you start growing this shrub, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of planting and caring for irga. She loves sunny areas and soil that is rich in organic additives. Depending on preferences and care characteristics, you can form it into a bush or tree.

Planting and caring for irga in open ground has its own characteristics. For planting, seedlings 1-2 years old are taken and planted in prepared holes with a diameter of about 50 cm. The distance between plants should not be less than 1 m. After this, abundant watering parostkov, mulch with peat or humus. A trunk about 10 cm long with 4-5 healthy buds remains above the ground.

See photos for some stages of planting irgi:

Planting a seedling in a prepared hole.

after landing.

Serviceberry seedlings for sale.

How to plant shadberry in spring

Features of planting serviceberry and care in the Moscow region correspond to general recommendations to planting and caring for trees in general. It is advisable to plant seedlings of this shrub in autumn. According to some experts, this can be done in March, when the weather conditions are favorable.

It is necessary to trim weak branches in a timely manner. In general, there should not be more than 2-3 healthy shoots on one trunk. At 3 years old, the bush should have about 15 branches. More mature plants can be periodically rejuvenated.

For planting irgi and care features, see the photo below, which shows the annual method of combating the growth of this shrub:

Young shoots, or “zero” shoots as they are also called, should be removed not above the surface of the earth, but near the root of the plant, except for those from which the bush is subsequently formed or with the help of which its rejuvenation is carried out in the future.

How to grow shadberry from seeds

Planting irgi and caring for it, as well as propagation, is not a difficult process not only for professional gardeners, but also for beginners. The shrub can be propagated by seedlings, which can be purchased or grown from seeds. The seeds are planted in fertilized beds and then watered well. When the seedlings reach 1-2 years of age, they are planted in a permanent place.

Growing serviceberry does not require special skills, the main thing is that the plant begins to grow when planting; further care consists of feeding, forming the crown, pruning weak, old or dry branches, and thinning the bush.
If you are interested in how to plant shadberry from seeds, you need to know how to properly prepare them for planting. To prepare seed material Ripe fruits are taken, wiped and washed with cool water. Bad seeds usually float to the surface. The washing procedure must be carried out until the good ones remain at the bottom.
You need to know how to properly plant shadberry using seeds if you choose this method of propagation. About 300 seeds need to be sown in a one-meter-long furrow to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Sowing is done in early spring, sometimes at the end of winter, and you can wait almost a year for the shoots to appear.

Every gardener should know how to grow shadberry when the seeds have sprouted. Seedlings that grow 3-5 full leaves are picked and grown until they are 1-2 years old. Bushes grown from seeds are characterized by uniformity. Presumably this is caused by asexual reproduction (apomixis).
Propagation of irgi by cuttings and root shoots
The easiest way to propagate irgi is to use shoots from the roots for planting, which have to be removed every year. This bush requires a living area of 2.5-4 m, leaving 1.5-2 m between future shrubs. In nurseries, seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern.
The work consists of choosing suitable root shoots, the diameter of which should not be less than 0.5 cm and the length 10-15 cm. It is important that the roots are healthy and well developed. The buried seedlings are well watered so that the humidity is constantly at a high level.
For this method of reproduction, shoots that are no more than 6 years old are suitable. It is suitable for amateur gardeners who are interested in how to plant shadberry in the spring by dividing the bushes, because no more than 4-6 full-fledged cuttings are obtained. In nurseries, preference is given to propagation by seeds in order to obtain a larger number of seedlings.

Propagation of irgi by cuttings involves selecting branches that are no more than one year old and 12-15 cm long. It is necessary to prepare a special greenhouse with a special soil mixture. The bottom is covered with a layer of pebbles (30-40 cm), then a mixture of light soil with humus (25 cm) is poured, and the top is covered with sand (4-5 cm).
Planted and well-watered cuttings are covered with film until roots appear. This usually happens around the 25th day, depending on the variety. To speed up the appearance of roots on cuttings, they are treated with special solutions. Rooted cuttings are planted in open ground for next year.
Despite the fact that growing irgi and caring for this shrub do not require special effort, it is still necessary to carry out some standard actions, such as fertilizing, pruning and protection from pests and birds. Birds love to feast on ripe fruits, so when you want to get a harvest, you need to cover the bush with a fine net.

Growing and caring for irga consists of properly applying fertilizing in the summer. The nutritional composition should be liquid, prepared from ammonium nitrate, 50 g of which is used per bush or 5 liters of 10% bird droppings emulsion. Fertilizing should be done at night, when there has been heavy watering or it has rained.
How to prune shadberry in spring
In order not to harm the bush, you need to read the information on how to prune shadberry in the spring. You can start shaping the crown at 3-4 years of age. During this period it is important to remove basal shoots, leaving 1-2 shoots that grew near the main trunks of the bush.
Let's consider further how to properly trim the shadberry in order to rejuvenate it. “Rejuvenating” pruning is done when the bush is 8-10 years old. The need for rejuvenation is indicated by the condition of the bush, such as:
small growth per year (no more than 10 cm);
increased bush density;
the appearance of weak and dry branches.

If rejuvenation is not done, the bush begins to lose its decorative value, bears fruit worse and is susceptible to pests. How to prune irgu to rejuvenate the bush:
thinning (remove all unnecessary, weak shoots);
trimming overly elongated branches;
shortening long healthy shoots.

As a result, no more than 10-15 strong branches should remain. The cut site is treated with garden varnish.
Every amateur gardener, using basic information, will know how to care for shadberry correctly, what needs to be done at each “age” period of the plant, and what actions to take at different times of the year. At careful care it can safely grow and bear fruit for up to 70 years.

A white-fruited variety isolated during a survey of wild shadberry bushes.

A very decorative, vigorous, erect, columnar, sometimes pyramidal shrub. This is in to a greater extent decorative than fruit plant. It has attractive autumn leaf color, and the foliage remains on the bushes for quite a long time in the fall, changing color from dark green to dark purple, bright red, orange or yellow.

Starry night

A small tree or large shrub, 2-3 m high. Shade-tolerant.

The fruits are large, almost black, spherical or elongated, weighing 1.8-2 g. The yield per bush reaches 4.5-5 kg. The berries are suitable for processing and fresh consumption. Flowering and fruiting begin at the age of five. Ripening is average (first ten days of July).

In autumn, the leaves turn beautiful yellow-orange shades. Loves well-moistened soils.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness, drought-resistant, high-yielding. Resistant to diseases.

Disadvantages: uneven ripening.

Linnes

Obtained by Lloyd Lee by crossing the Pembina and Notline varieties.

The plant is low-growing (up to 1.8 m), compact.

The fruits are formed on the periphery of the bush.

Martin

Obtained as a result of selection of seedlings of the Thyssen variety. Highlighted for being beautiful appearance fruits They are larger and ripen more smoothly than those of the Thyssen variety. In other respects it is close to the original variety.

Relatively resistant to American elm aphid.

Notline

Bred and propagated by the Beaverlodge Nursery (Canadian province of Alberta).

The fruits are large (up to 16 mm in diameter), sweet, with a harmonious taste and strong aroma, resistant to cracking, in shape - from obovate to almost round, blue-black with a waxy coating, very dense, usually 7-13 per cluster. They ripen almost simultaneously.

The bush is erect, during the period of full fruiting it is arched, spreading, up to 1.6 m high, and forms a lot of shoots. Compared to other varieties, it begins to bear fruit earlier. Blooms for 3-5 days later varieties Smokey. Very productive, superior to the Smokey variety in this indicator.

Smokey

The most common industrial variety of serviceberry in Canada. Selected by Albright from the hedgerows on his farm for its large fruit, attractive appearance and excellent taste.

The fruits are large (up to 16 mm in diameter), round, fleshy, juicy, sweet, with a pleasant mild taste. Collected in brushes medium length. They are distinguished by the highest (among existing varieties) sugar acid index. Plants at a young age are erect, during the period of full fruiting - spreading, 1.8-2.4 m high. They form a lot of shoots, this allows you to quickly form hedge, but makes it difficult to care for.

The variety is very productive; individual bushes produce up to 4 kg of fruit. Fruits every year.

Thyssen

I. Thyssen isolated this variety from wild-growing massifs of serviceberry and transferred it to his farm.

This is the largest-fruited (average fruit diameter is 18 mm) variety of serviceberry. The fruit has a good taste, sweet, with a strong aroma, reminiscent of Smokey.

The plant is very vigorous, in maturity it can reach 5 m or more, and produces few shoots. Blooms earlier than other varieties. Productivity is high, but fruit ripening is not simultaneous.

Forestburg

Selected from wild areas of serviceberry by A. Nixon.

The fruits are large (up to 16 mm in diameter), almost round, blue-black with a waxy coating, usually 7-11 per cluster. The brushes are very dense, with almost simultaneous maturation, which is observed in more late dates than Smokey's. The taste is pleasant, soft, quite sweet, the flesh is juicy.

The bush is vigorous (4 m and above), at first erect, then spreading in an arched manner; it forms a small or medium amount of shoots. A highly productive large-fruited variety, more resistant to drought than other varieties of serviceberry.

Honeywood

A large-fruited seedling of a plant selected by E. J. Porter from wild massifs of serviceberry.

The fruits are large (more than 16 mm in diameter), in shape - from flattened at the base to round, blue-black with a slight waxy coating, usually 9-15 per cluster. The cluster is dense, the fruits ripen simultaneously. They are of good taste, with an excellent strong aroma and large seeds.

The bush is up to 2.5 m high, initially erect, during the period of full fruiting it is arched, spreading, and forms few shoots. Very productive, begins to bear fruit early. It blooms 4-8 days later than Smoky and also ripens at a later date. Relatively resistant to powdery mildew.

Widely known and popular in the Northern Hemisphere ornamental plant Canadian serviceberry. It is also called northern grapes or wine berries, as a tasty and aromatic low-alcohol drink is prepared from it. This crop does not receive the attention it deserves from our gardeners. Perhaps this is because little is known about her. But anyone who has ever seen a plant in bloom and tasted its delicious and healthy berries, will definitely want to plant Canadian shadberry in his garden.

Irga Canadian: features of the species

Ornamental shrub - Canadian serviceberry, depending on the variety, can grow from 2 to 7 meters in height. This is an upright crop with long, smooth shoots that droop slightly, forming a wide oval crown. Young growth is slightly reddish in color, while older branches are the usual brownish color.

The leaves of the Canadian serviceberry, ovoid in shape, grow up to 10 cm in length. They have an unusual color. When they bloom in spring they are brownish-green. In summer they acquire a bluish tint. And with the onset of autumn they become crimson-golden. At this time, the bush looks especially impressive. The leaves are soft to the touch, slightly rough, covered with a delicate fluff.

The Canadian serviceberry blooms in late spring with large snow-white flowers. The buds do not last long, from a week to 10 days. Individual flowers are collected in drooping clusters of 5-12 pieces. They go especially well with reddish young shoots. Almost every flower forms an ovary, so irga is one of the generously fruiting plants.

Irga Canadian produces excellent taste and healing properties fruits resembling rose hips in shape and size. They are round and, as they ripen, turn light pink and then dark blue with a purple tint. Ripe berries have a bluish, waxy coating. They are edible. Unlike other types of this crop, the fruits of Canadian serviceberry are sweeter than others, since they contain a large amount of sugar and very little acid. Birds love them. Therefore, in order to keep the harvest intact, you need to throw nets or other protection from birds over the bush.

The plant's berries look beautiful against the foliage all season long. At first these are pinkish beads, entwining the bush in an original way. Then deep blue drops splashed across the branches. If birds do not peck at them, they are stored until severe frosts, when the foliage has already flown off and bare shoots remain.

Irga Canadiana is one of the best representatives of its family. It is distinguished by excellent frost resistance, is unpretentious in maintenance, and undemanding to the composition of the soil. However, in order for the plant to bloom beautifully and luxuriantly and produce a harvest of berries with excellent sugar content, it must be placed in an open area that is well lit during the day. Although, having planted a bush in the shade of other plants, over time the gardener will observe that the serviceberry will outgrow everyone and rise above its rivals. And it grows quickly, reaching optimal sizes already for 3-4 years.

To emphasize decorative features Canadian serviceberry, trim it and give it a beautiful oval shape. This makes the plant even better; young shoots with fruit buds are formed.

Irga Canadian: popular varieties

Slate- the most famous variety among gardeners is Canadian serviceberry. This is an early crop with black juicy fruits, very large in size. Its berries are characterized by increased sugar content, therefore they have excellent taste and aroma.

The Slate bush must be protected from birds, otherwise you will not be able to taste the fruits. From a decorative point of view, this is a wonderful view. The plant is 1.5-2 meters tall and has a wide crown with slightly curved light gray shoots. The branches are covered with bright, green, slightly elongated leaves with a dense structure. In autumn, the bush changes its green outfit to a luxurious bright red dress.

Variety "Mandam" is one of the mid-season shrubs of Canadian serviceberry. The shrub grows up to 3 meters in height and has a spreading crown. Forms large, flat-round berries without sourness. It has high productivity even in unfavorable years. Winter-hardy and unpretentious.

Variety "Ballerina" bred by breeders on the basis of wild-growing Canadian serviceberry. It is a tall, deciduous, up to 6 m, shrub with long shoots that hang to the ground with age. The high decorativeness of the plant is achieved due to the color of the foliage, which turns from bronze at a young age to green, and by autumn becomes purple.

Magnificent snow-white flowers that look like large stars are collected in lush inflorescences. The flowers are replaced by dark red and then almost black berries. They ripen juicy and sweet at the end of July. This variety grows excellently in urban environments, withstands air pollution without accumulating harmful components in the fruits.

Variety "Krasnoyarsk"- a product of domestic breeders - specially adapted for cultivation in difficult conditions Middle zone, Siberia and North-West. Its most important advantage is its excellent winter hardiness. It belongs to the late-ripening varieties, in which the fruits ripen at the end of July.

This variety can be grown as a shrub or a low tree up to 4 meters. It has especially large berries, reaching a diameter of 1.5 cm. They are sweet, with a pleasant sourness. The Canadian serviceberry variety “Krasnoyarsk” is famous for its high yield.

Irga Canadian: application

The berries of the Canadian serviceberry contain a large number of useful substances that have a beneficial therapeutic effect for various diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They create a general strengthening effect, reduce high blood pressure and normalize cholesterol levels. Irga is an excellent product that saves from sclerosis.

The berry is eaten fresh at the moment of its ripening, frozen or dried in the oven, and used as a filling for pies. Wine made from serviceberry is especially tasty. It has a pleasant sweetness and delicate aroma.