Amelanchier laevis Allegheny Shadberry PFAF Plant Database

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Amelanchier laevis - Wiegand.

Common Name

Allegheny Shadberry

Family

Rosaceae

Synonyms

A. canadensis. non (L.)Medik. A. confusa.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Dry to moist thickets, woodland edges and edges of swamps in cool ravines and on hillsides[43, 82]. Naturalized in Britain on light acidic soils[17].

Range

Eastern N. America. Naturalized in Britain.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Amelanchier laevis is a deciduous Shrub growing to 9 m (29ft) by 6 m (19ft).
It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Apr to May, and the seeds ripen from Jun to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.The plant is self-fertile.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future

Habitats
Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit. Edible Uses: Edible fruit - raw or cooked[2, 11, 105, 159]. Succulent and sweet[82, 183]. This is one of the nicest fruits in the genus, it can be eaten and enjoyed in quantity[K]. The fruit can also be dried for winter use[183]. Up to 18mm in diameter[200]. The fruit is rich in iron and copper[226].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Miscellany. An infusion of the bark was used by expectant mothers[257].

Other Uses
Miscellany; Wood. Wood - heavy, exceedingly hard, strong, close grained. Used for tool handles etc[82].

Cultivation details

Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[1, 200] but thrives in any soil that is not too dry or water-logged[11]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Found in the wild on light acidic soils[17]. 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, this species is worthy of especial attention because of the quality of its fruit. 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[K]. Trees come into bearing in about 12 years from seed[98]. Considerable confusion has existed between this species and A. arborea, A. canadensis and A. lamarckii, see [11] for the latest (1991) classification. It hybridizes with A. sanguinea, A. huronensis, A. wiegandii, A. stolonifera, A. canadensis, A. arborea and A. bartramiana. Grafting onto seedlings of A. lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is sometimes practised in order to avoid the potential problem of hybridizing[1].

Propagation

Seed - it is best harvested 'green', when the seed is fully formed but before the seed coat has hardened, and then sown immediately in pots outdoors or in a cold frame. If stored seed is obtained early enough in the autumn, it can be given 4 weeks warm stratification before being left out in the winter and it should then germinate in the spring. Otherwise seed can be very slow to germinate, perhaps taking 18 months or more. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a sheltered outdoor position, planting them out once they are 20cm or more tall. If there is sufficient seed it is best to sow it thinly in an outdoor seedbed[78, 80]. Grow the seedlings on for two years in the seedbed before planting them out into their permanent positions during the winter. Layering in spring - takes 18 months[78]. Division of suckers in late winter. The suckers need to have been growing for 2 years before you dig them up, otherwise they will not have formed roots. They can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required.

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Expert comment

Author
Wiegand.

Botanical References
1143200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.

Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.

A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.

A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[43]Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany.

A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.

A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[80]McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed.

Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.

[82]Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America.

Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.

[98]Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

Very comprehensive guide to growing trees and shrubs from seed. Not for the casual reader.

[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.

The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[159]McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana.

A nice pocket guide to this region of America.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[226]Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada

Very good on identification for non-experts, the book also has a lot of information on plant uses.

[257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany

Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Chex	Thu Dec 27 2007

USDA Amelanchier Laevis Page Map of the native range of Amelanchier Laevis the "Allegheny serviceberry"

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