Common Name: Snowy Mespilus

General Information

Amelanchier ovalis is a suckering, deciduous shrub growing from 50 - 200cm tall[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood. A very ornamental plant, grown in gardens and used in hedgerows[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, , ,

Range

Europe - Germany to Spain, east to Ukraine and Greece; W. Asia - Turkey to the Caucasus, south to Israel; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria

Habitat

Rocky places and stony woods[], mainly on limestone[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Hardy to about -20°c[].
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[].
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[].
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[].

Edible Uses

Edible fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour[]. Not very palatable, but it can be used for preserves etc[]. The fruit is dried and used as currants[]. The fruit is rich in iron and copper[]. The black fruits are about the size of a pea[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown in hedgerows[].

Other Uses

The reddish-white wood is fine grained, hard, very heavy. Only available in small sizes, it is used to make small articles[].

The following is a general description of the wood obtained from members of this genus:-
The heartwood is brown or reddish brown, it is usually absent from small specimens; the thick band of sapwood is slightly brownish. The texture is fine and uniform; the grain straight to irregular; lustre is medium; odour and taste are absent or not distinctive. The wood is hard, heavy, compact, tough, and strong, where formed the dark heartwood is durable. The appearance of the wood is usually marred by numerous brown lines (pith flecks). The wood is easily worked, taking a good polish. When of sufficient sice the wood is used locally for purposes such as tool handles and other small items - it is of no commercial interest, however, because of its scarcity and the small size of the plants[].

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[, ]. 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[].
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.