Common Name:

General Information

Amelanchier sinica is a deciduous tree with an open grown; it usually grows 3 - 5 metres tall, occasionally reaching 15 metres[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China

Habitat

Slopes, among shrubs; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Amelanchier sinica is found in warm temperate to subtropical zones of China, where it can be found at elevations up to 2,000 metres[].
Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[, , but thrives in any soil that is not water-logged[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates dry soils[].
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[].
Grafting onto seedlings of Amelanchier lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is sometimes practised in order to avoid the potential problem of hybridizing[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Usually juicy and sweet[]. The bluish black, subglobose or depressed-globose fruit is around 10mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

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.