The serviceberry (bot. Amelanchier) is a small genus of wild fruit trees, of which around 20 to 25 different species exist worldwide. The only variety native to Europe is the rock pear (bot. Amelanchier ovalis). The vigorous and robust bushes delight in spring with a lush display of numerous star-shaped, white flowers, in summer with equally numerous, blue-black and edible berries and in autumn with the strong autumn color of the leaves.
Origin and distribution
The undemanding wild fruit has almost been forgotten, but has been enjoying increasing popularity among many garden owners in recent years and is increasingly being planted. Most of the approximately 25 species come from North America; only the common rock pear, which grows to a height of around two meters, is native to Europe. This species grows wild primarily in calcareous and rather dry areas and can still be found at altitudes of up to 2000 meters. On the other hand, the copper rock pear (bot. Amelanchier lamarckii) is much more common in gardens and is significantly larger at around six meters tall and also forms an umbrella-like crown. This species originally comes from the east of the North American continent, but has long since been released into the wild here. In northern Germany the copper rock pear is also known as the “currant tree”.
Usage
Rock pears are primarily planted as solitary plants in the garden, although some species are also very suitable for hedge planting. Thanks to their umbrella-like, yet loose growth, most varieties can also be easily planted underneath, for which onion flowers are particularly suitable. However, you should avoid planting deeper-rooted plant species, because as they have shallow roots, root pressure and therefore the competition for water and nutrients are difficult for the rock pear to tolerate. The columnar varieties in particular fit very well into small gardens and front gardens, although some smaller varieties can also be used very well for pot cultivation.
Appearance and growth
In the garden, the North American species are more popular than the native European rock pear due to their higher decorative value. All varieties have elliptical, up to seven centimeters long and alternately arranged leaves, which in some species show a copper to bronze color during budding. In autumn, the summer green leaves turn bright copper to orange-red, depending on the location and soil conditions. The growth of the medium-sized to larger shrubs is always loosely upright at first, with most species developing a sprawling crown as they get older and becoming wider overall. The strikingly thin shoots are olive gray in color. In spring - depending on the species and variety between April and May - the numerous white star flowers appear, arranged in racemose inflorescences. By July, blue-black, edible berries develop from them - which are actually apple fruits. These are reminiscent of blueberries both visually and in taste.
Fruits
Between June and July, depending on the species and variety, the trees and bushes, which can be up to six meters high, are full of small berries that are up to one centimeter in size and turn blue-black when ripe. These are very popular with birds, but are also very tasty for many people - especially in the form of jams and jellies or in alcoholic form as liqueur. The taste of the berries is somewhat reminiscent of marzipan and contains many he althy ingredients, especially vitamin C, iron and other minerals as well as the flavonoids that are so he althy for the heart and blood vessels and anti-inflammatory tannins. In northern Germany, the rock pear is also known as the “currant tree” because people used to dry and use the fruits like raisins.
Harvesting
The fruits that look like berries are - like the aronia berries - actually apple fruits, as the genus name “Amelanchier” indicates. This comes from the Celtic language and means something like “little apple”. However, the fruits should only be processed when ripe. You can eat them directly from the tree, but also pick them for cooking, pickling or drying. However, you have to be quick because the juicy berries are also sought after by our feathered friends and they will plunder the bush covered with ripe berries in no time.
Processing
In most cases, the slightly bitter tasting and quickly perishable fruits of the serviceberry are not eaten raw, but rather processed immediately after harvest. They do not last long and should therefore not be stored temporarily. You can use the rock pears:
- process into jams and jellies
- Squeezing juice out of them
- soak in alcohol and plenty of sugar to create liqueur
- Make compote with it (with other types of fruit)
- drying (in the dehydrator or oven)
- freeze (good for not having to process harvested fruit straight away if you don't have time)
Dried rock pears taste similar to raisins and can be used in the same way, including for mueslis, cakes or desserts or just for snacking.read more
Toxicity
Today the serviceberry has been almost forgotten as a fruit bush, and many people also consider the blue-black fruits when ripe to be poisonous - which, as already described, of course they are not. Only the seeds embedded in the pulp contain small amounts of cyanogenic glycosides, which can react in the body to form hydrogen cyanide. However, this only happens if you chew the seeds instead of simply swallowing them. Furthermore, the amount of hydrogen cyanide contained is so small that symptoms of poisoning are not to be expected - apple cores contain approximately the same amount and are eaten by many people either intentionally or unintentionally. If you still want to be on the safe side, simply cook delicious jam from the rock pears, because cooking destroys the toxic components.
Which location is suitable?
The natural location of the rock pear is a sunny to partially shaded place on the edge of sparse deciduous forests, which is why the shrubs also require medium to high light in the garden. The trees thrive best in full sun to partial shade, but also do well in light shade. All species are resistant to both urban climates and wind and therefore do not necessarily need a sheltered place in the garden.
Floor
With regard to the soil, rock pears are quite undemanding, as they still grow well even on rocky ground and neither waterlogging nor drought bother them, at least in the short term. Ordinary, loose and well-drained garden soil is therefore perfect, with the pH value being in the acidic to calcareous range between four and nine. The shrubs thrive best on sandy-loamy substrates.read more
Planting rock pears correctly
Rock pears can be planted in both spring and autumn, although container products can generally be planted in the ground all year round - provided the ground is not frozen or there is a summer heat wave. Before planting, you should prepare the soil well by digging thoroughly, loosening the topsoil and improving it according to its composition:
- sandy soil: fold in compost
- barren soil: fold in compost and horn shavings
- heavy, clayey soil: create drainage, fold in sand and compost
- wet soil: create drainage, fold in sand and compost
Then place the rock pear with its root ball in a bucket filled with water so that the plant can soak up moisture. In the meantime, dig the planting hole, which should be about twice as wide and deep as the root ball. Place the shrub in the planting hole at the same depth as it was in the pot and then water it well. If necessary, a planting cut is then carried out in which you slightly shorten all side shoots and cut back any crossing, broken or otherwise injured branches.read more
Watering and fertilizing
Rock pears are very easy to care for and also thrive on dry and nutrient-poor soils. Only freshly planted specimens should be watered in the first few weeks when it is dry, otherwise well-established shrubs usually need neither water nor fertilization. You can only water young plants additionally if the dry period lasts for a very long time and/or it gets very hot. When it comes to fertilization, an annual addition of compost in early spring is sufficient.
Cut the rock pear correctly
As a rule, rock pears do not need to be cut back as they develop their picturesque umbrella crown on their own over time. A rejuvenation cut is also not necessary, especially since the flower and fruit set is not promoted by targeted pruning. Avoid radical pruning, especially on older bushes, as it is difficult for them to sprout again from the old wood and will then look quite unsightly for years. Only remove branches that are growing too close, diseased or dead using pruning shears directly at the base or at the base. It is best to take this measure in late winter.read more
Propagate rock pear
While the wild species of serviceberry are preferably propagated by sowing, certain varieties (such as the large-flowered variant 'Ballerina') are preferably bred by grafting. For this you need a suitable scion and either a wild serviceberry species or a strong rowanberry seedling as a base. Serviceberries grafted onto rowanberries often grow larger and more upright. When sowing, you should first stratify the seeds, i.e. H. expose to a cold stimulus in order to break the germination inhibition. All you need to do is store the seeds in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for four to six weeks.
Propagation from cuttings, on the other hand, is difficult because it is difficult for the shoots to form their own roots, even with the help of a rooting powder. If you still want to try it, cut young, flowerless shoots between April and May and cultivate them in a pot with a nutrient-poor growing substrate.read more
Wintering
Rock pears are completely hardy and do not require any additional protection during the cold season.
Diseases and pests
The wild forms of the serviceberry are very robust and not very susceptible to diseases and pest infestation. Like so many rose plants, however, the cultivated varieties in particular are plagued by fire blight, in which flowers and leaves turn brown to black and fall off. The only measure that helps is targeted pruning deep into the he althy wood. However, this disease is only encountered very rarely, with powdery mildew being a much more common danger. Prevent the fungal disease by not allowing the crown to become too dense and watering the bush with plant strengthening agents (e.g. a decoction of field horsetail).
Tip
Rock pears can also be cared for very well in large containers. Place the bushes in a humus-rich substrate mixed with sand or expanded clay and fertilize them once a year at the beginning of the growing season with a slow-release fertilizer, such as blue grain. Horn shavings or horn meal are also very suitable. It is moved to a larger plant pot every two to three years.
Species and varieties
The rock pears (bot. Amelanchier) are a plant genus that, like apples and pears, belong to the pome fruit family (bot. Pyrinae). It includes around 25 different species, almost all of which are found on the North American continent, with the exception of one European species and two in Asia. The following species and their cultivars are mainly used in the garden:
Tree rock pear (bot. Amelanchier arborea)
In contrast to the other rock pears, the ornamental tree does not grow like a bush, but as a small tree and as such reaches heights of between six and eight meters. The crown can be up to five meters wide, which is why the tree rock pear requires a solitary location with enough space. Amelanchier arborea grows between 40 and 80 centimeters per year. The species is native to the northwest of the United States, where it grows wild on river banks and in moist forests. The slightly fragrant, star-shaped flowers hang from the branches in multi-flowered clusters from April to May. The fruits are quite small, blue-black when ripe and serve as food for numerous birds - such as blackbirds and sparrows. We particularly recommend the vigorous cultivar 'Robin Hill', which is not yet very common here.
Broom rock pear (bot. Amelanchier spicata)
The species, also known as the spiked rock pear or spiked rock pear, grows like a bush and is only two to three meters high and just as wide. The frost-hardy tree is very suitable for planting in smaller gardens, in wild fruit and flower hedges and as a container plant. Amelanchier spicata develops a lot of root runners and therefore needs a greater distance from other plants. The fruits, which ripen in July and are a maximum of one centimeter in size, are edible and taste rather sweet.
True pear (bot. Amelanchier ovalis)
The only species native to Europe is the common serviceberry, which, after being almost forgotten, has been celebrating its comeback in the garden for several years. The medium-tall shrub reaches heights of between 150 and 300 centimeters and is about the same width. The species initially grows tightly and narrowly upright, but in later years the branches droop slightly. Depending on the location, young trees grow between 15 and 40 centimeters per year. The robust rock pear impresses with a sea of white flowers in spring, edible fruits in summer and pretty leaf coloring in autumn.
Alder-leaved serviceberry (bot. Amelanchier alnifolia)
This is the well-known Saskatoon berry, which is widely grown and marketed in Canada. The spherical, blue-violet fruits are reminiscent of cultivated blueberries in shape and size and also taste quite similar. However, the alder-leaved rock pear also thrives in our climate and is absolutely winter hardy. The species grows like a bush and can be up to four meters high and three meters wide. In addition to the lush flowers and numerous fruits, the large shrub also impresses with the beautiful, red autumn color of its leaves. In addition to the wild form, the 'Northline' variety is also highly recommended. This becomes slightly larger and usually grows with multiple stems. The 'Obelisk' variety, on the other hand, has a columnar, narrow growth, growing up to five meters high but not even two meters wide.
Bald rock pear (bot. Amelanchier laevis)
The fruits of the bald rock pear are also edible and tasty and can be made into a variety of delicious things. Even if its name might not suggest it, the “bald” serviceberry is densely foliage with olive-colored leaves that are initially reddish-brown when they shoot. In May, the usually multi-stemmed large shrub delights with numerous white flowers arranged in overhanging clusters. The species grows up to five meters high and just as wide. A popular variety is 'Ballerina', which grows even larger at up to six meters tall and looks particularly picturesque thanks to its arching, overhanging growth.
Copper rock pear (bot. Amelanchier lamarckii)
Probably the most commonly planted species in gardens is the copper rock pear, which grows as a large, multi-stemmed shrub up to six meters high and as wide and is considered very robust and undemanding. The species owes its name to its autumn color, which can range from copper-colored to flaming red depending on the soil composition and intensity of sunlight. Following the extremely abundant flowering in April, numerous, relatively large blue-black berries develop. These are edible and quite tasty. Many varieties of the copper rock pear have been bred. These varieties are recommended:
- 'Princess Diana': slender, multi-stemmed bush, slightly overhanging, growth height up to 600 centimeters, growth width up to 4.5 meters
- 'Prince William': narrow and compact growing shrub, height up to 250 centimeters, only up to two meters wide
- ‘Rainbow Pillar’: slender, columnar growth, height between 300 and 500 centimeters, only up to two meters wide