Irga ( Amelanchier) family Rosaceae ( Rosaceae)

Description of irgi:

Irga is a deciduous shrub or small tree; twenty species are distinguished. This shrub grows in the temperate climate of the northern hemisphere and is distributed wild in North America, in some areas of Europe, in a small part of North Africa and Asia Minor, Eastern China, on the Korean Peninsula and on the Japanese Islands. In our country, serviceberry grows in the Crimea and the Caucasus. Irga is a very unpretentious plant that can tolerate frosts down to minus 45 degrees, during flowering up to 5 minutes. It can grow on any soil except swampy soils with low groundwater levels. The main condition for yield is the presence of sun, then the berries ripen large, juicy and tasty. In the wild, it can be found in thickets of small bushes, in sparse forests, on forest edges, and in the mountains at an altitude of up to two kilometers above sea level. On the territory of Russia, the round-leaved serviceberry (A. rotundifolia) and the Canadian game (A. canadensis) are widespread; they are grown as a cultivated fruit (yield per bush is 8 - 15 kilograms, fruiting is extended over time, so the fruits are collected in several stages or at a time, ripe the fruits do not fall off), a melliferous plant (blooms early and abundantly in spring) and an ornamental plant.

Reproduction of irgi:

Irgu is propagated by seeds, grown from cuttings, root shoots and dividing the bush. Serviceberry bushes grow very strongly, due to root suckers. It is better to propagate the shadberry one - two-year-old seedlings, in spring or autumn; when planting, they are buried to a depth of 8 - 10 centimeters for better rooting. The distance between seedlings depends on what you will use this shrub for. If it is a hedge - the distance is from 0.5 - 1.5 meters. If shadberry is grown as a fruit shrub, the distance is 3-4 meters. A hole for planting a bush is dug with a depth of 40 centimeters and a diameter of 70 - 80 centimeters. After planting, the plant is watered - about a ten-liter bucket of water per plant, then mulched with earth or peat. The above-ground part is cut to a distance of 15 centimeters from the ground for better regrowth of side shoots.

Properties of serviceberry:

The fruits, bark and leaves of the serviceberry have many positive properties; because of this, the serviceberry is used in folk medicine, therapeutic and dietary nutrition, winemaking and cooking.

Irga is superior to grapes in the amount of vitamin C, contains up to 12% sugars, malic and other organic acids, is rich in carotene, has a high content of tannins and coloring substances, flavonols, vitamins P, group B, microelements, fiber, pectins; the seeds contain fatty oil, and the bark and leaves contain tannins.

Irga in folk medicine is used as:

1. A sedative that improves sleep and strengthens the body;
2. Improved vision;
3. Improving digestion and strengthening the stomach;
4. For the prevention of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases;
5. To strengthen the walls of blood vessels and increase their elasticity;
6. To improve heart function and lower blood pressure.

Video about shadberry, its properties and cultivation on the site:

Irga photo

Plant irga, or currant (lat. Amelanchier) belongs to the genus of the Apple tribe of the Rosaceae family and is a small tree or deciduous shrub. The Latin name irgi is of either Provençal or Celtic origin and is translated as “to bring honey.” The British call the serviceberry a shady bush, a June berry, or a healthy berry, while the Americans retained the name given to it by the indigenous inhabitants of the country, the Indians, “Saskatoon.” In the nature of the Northern Hemisphere of the planet, according to various sources, from 18 to 25 species of serviceberry grow, and most of them are in North America. In nature, irga grows on the edges of forests, on rocks and even in the tundra zone. About ten of its species have been cultivated, grown both as ornamental plants and for their healthy, sweet berries, which children love very much.

Listen to the article

Planting and caring for irga (in brief)

• Landing: Both spring and autumn planting are possible, but preference is given to autumn planting.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• The soil: loamy or sandy loam, fertile, with deep groundwater.
• Watering: only in severe drought.
• Feeding: from the fourth to fifth year of life, the soil in the tree trunk circle is dug up annually with humus and mineral fertilizers, and from spring to mid-summer, the shadberry is fed on pre-moistened soil with solutions of liquid organic matter at the rate of 5 liters for each bush.
• Trimming: from the third year of life after leaf fall for sanitary purposes.
• Reproduction: species plants can also be propagated by seeds, but varietal plants can only be propagated vegetatively: by suckers, green cuttings, layering, dividing the bush and grafting.
• Pests: seed eaters, moths, spider mites, aphids.
• Diseases: septoria, phyllosticosis, tubercularosis.

Read more about growing serviceberry below.

Serviceberry berry - description

The shrub of serviceberry looks attractive when the leaves bloom - it seems to be shrouded in pubescence, like silver-white frost, but when numerous flowers begin to appear on the serviceberry after the leaves, it miraculously transforms, and in front of you appears a magical densely strewn with white or pink flowers in graceful racemose inflorescences. a vision worthy of an artist's brush. The leaves of the serviceberry are also delightful - green or olive-pink. As soon as the flowers of the serviceberry fall, the pubescence on its leaves disappears, and nothing distracts the eye from the slender bush with a well-leafed crown and velvety gray-brown bark with a pink tint on the trunk. When the time comes for fruiting, small “apples” appear on the serviceberry, collected in brushes - at first they are creamy-white with a pink blush, then gradually darken to a dark purple, red-purple or violet color. The fruits of the serviceberry are pleasant to the taste, juicy and sweet; children eat them with pleasure and birds peck them, spreading the seeds around. With the arrival of autumn, you will again look with admiration at the serviceberry bush, when its foliage sparkles with autumn colors of a rich color palette from a bright yellow tint to pink-orange and red-scarlet tones with purple-violet highlights against the background of some preserved green leaves . In addition to its impeccable decorative characteristics, serviceberry is distinguished by drought resistance, early fruiting, winter hardiness and rapid growth; it blooms and bears fruit most abundantly on the apical shoots of the previous year. Irga serves as a reliable and hardy rootstock for dwarf apple and pear trees. The serviceberry bush lives for 60-70 years; over time, its stems turn into real trunks, capable of reaching 8 meters in height. Irga is one of the best honey plants. Against the backdrop of all these wonderful qualities, the only drawback of serviceberry is its abundant root growth, which will have to be fought constantly. But irga is worth the effort spent on growing it, because in addition to its beauty, it also attracts gardeners with its healing properties, which we will discuss in a separate chapter.

Planting serviceberry

When to plant shadberry

Planting of irgi is carried out both in spring and autumn, although many experts recommend autumn planting. Find a bright place for the serviceberry so that its shoots do not stretch out in search of light and bear fruit in full force. The soil for serviceberry is best sandy loam or loamy, and although serviceberry is not capricious in this matter, the soil must be fertile so that less root growth forms around the bush, because if the roots have enough nutrition, they will not “scour” around. And there will be more berries on the bush than leaves if the irga grows in humus-rich soil. The acidity of the soil does not play a special role for serviceberry, but in areas with high groundwater levels it is better not to plant this plant - its root system goes 2-3 meters deep. They begin to prepare the area for autumn planting in the spring - they clear it of weeds and keep it under black fallow until the fall. Before planting, the area is dug up with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers at the rate of 40 g of each per m². Digging depth is 10-15 cm.

How to plant shadberry

There are no difficulties in this matter either. Serviceberry seedlings should be planted at one or two years old. They are placed on the site in a checkerboard pattern (if you decide to plant several bushes), the distance between the specimens is maintained from half a meter to one and a half meters. The size of the pit is approximately 60x60x50 cm. Planting irgi is carried out according to the same principle as planting berry bushes such as gooseberries, currants, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, actinidia and honeysuckle: the top arable layer of soil removed from the pit is mixed with sand and rotted compost in a ratio of 3:1:1, pour a bucket or two of humus into the hole, add 150 g of potassium fertilizer, 400 g of phosphate. Then, at the bottom of the hole, a mound is formed from the prepared soil, a seedling of the serviceberry is placed on it, the roots of the plant are straightened and the hole is filled with soil mixed with compost and sand, compacting it slightly. The root collar of the seedling should not be buried. After planting, the bush is watered with a large amount of water - 8-10 liters, and when the soil settles, soil is poured into the hole so that the planting site is level with the surface of the site. The soil around the bush is mulched with peat, humus or dry soil. After planting, the ground part of the bush is cut to 15 cm, leaving 4-5 well-developed buds on each shoot.

Irga care

Growing serviceberry

Irga is so easy to care for that after planting you could forget about it until harvest. But, like any other plant, it still needs a minimum of your attention. In addition, if you take care of the plant, it will pay for your efforts with a bountiful harvest and well-groomed beauty. All you need to do is water the shadberry, weed the weeds around it, sometimes trim the shrubs and apply seasonal fertilizing. Since serviceberry is drought-resistant and its root system goes deep into the soil, where there is always moisture, watering the shrub is carried out only during the driest season, using a hose with a diffuser to simultaneously wash away dust from the leaves. It is better to do this after the heat of the day has subsided - after 16:00. After moistening the soil, remove the weeds and loosen the soil around the bush.

Serviceberry fertilizer

From the age of four to five, annually 300 g of superphosphate, 200 g of potassium fertilizer that does not contain chlorine, and 1-2 buckets of humus are added to the tree trunk circle for digging, 20-30 cm away from the root collar. From spring to mid-summer, shadberry is fed with liquid organic matter - five liters of a ten percent solution of chicken manure for each bush. Liquid fertilizers are applied at night after heavy watering or rain, and dry fertilizers are scattered around the tree trunk, 30 cm away from the bush, embedded in the soil, and then the area is watered. As the serviceberry grows, the amount of fertilizer is increased.

Transplanting serviceberry

It is difficult to replant an adult shadberry - its roots go too deep into the ground, so be responsible when choosing a site for the plant so that you do not have to replant it later. But if the need for replanting nevertheless arises, keep in mind when digging up the plant that the root system of middle-aged serviceberry extends in depth and width to approximately 2 meters. For a seven- to eight-year-old bush, the diameter of the earthen clod necessary for painless rooting of the bush in a new place should be a meter to a meter and a quarter, and the depth should be about 70 cm - the remaining peripheral roots can be left in the ground, the shadberry will quickly grow them in a new place. The older the bush, the larger the diameter of the earthen ball should be when removing the plant from the ground. Dig up the bush, move it to a new place along with a lump of earth, lower it into the prepared hole, add soil to the hole and compact it. Do not forget to water the transplanted bush abundantly and mulch the tree trunk circle.

Irga in autumn

In the fall, after fruiting is completed, carry out sanitary and thinning pruning of the serviceberry, replant the bushes if necessary, apply fertilizers by digging up the area and removing fallen leaves from it - that’s probably all you can do for the plant in end of the growing season. The plant overwinters without shelter, as it can easily withstand 40-degree frosts.

Pruning serviceberry

When to prune shadberry

Despite the apparent ease with which the serviceberry tolerates pruning, it is best to carry out this procedure only when necessary. And so that such a need arises as rarely as possible, remember a few rules:

• plant the irgu in a sunny place so that the light penetrates into the very thick of the bush;
• it makes sense to prune only short varieties of serviceberry, since a high-grade bush, when it grows, you will not be able to trim even from a stepladder;
• Pruning begins a year or two after planting the bush in early spring before sap flow begins.

How to trim shadberry

During the first years of growth of serviceberry, leave only a few of the strongest zero shoots from the root shoots, remove the rest. When the bush has a sufficient number of stems, annually remove the two oldest ones and leave the same amount in return from the root growth - this will allow you to rejuvenate the bush every year without reducing the yield. In young bushes, all vertical shoots are shortened by a quarter of last year's growth. In subsequent years, trim the side branches to stimulate the crown to grow wider, otherwise soon you will not be able to harvest even from a stepladder. Cuts on annual shoots need not be treated, but treat cuts of older branches with oil paint on natural drying oil - garden varnish should not be used in the cold. In addition to the formative function, pruning serviceberry has a sanitary function: remove broken, dry and thickening shoots, that is, those that grow inside the bush. Don't forget to fight root growth. If you need to rejuvenate an old bush, cut it, as they say, “to the stump.”

Reproduction of serviceberry

How to propagate irgu

The most common oval-leaved shadberry can be propagated both by seeds and vegetatively. The large-fruited varietal shadberry reproduces vegetatively - by suckers, grafting and green cuttings. But in general, serviceberry species reproduce by seeds, and varieties reproduce only vegetatively.

Reproduction of irgi by seeds

Serviceberry seeds can be extracted from ripened fruits and immediately planted in well-fertilized beds to a depth of no more than 2 cm, watered generously and mulched with straw or dry leaves. Seeds that have undergone natural stratification over the winter will sprout next spring, but don't panic if they germinate in the fall. In the spring, seedlings are planted more freely and cared for - watered, weeds removed from the garden beds, and fed with nitrogen fertilizers. In the first year, the seedlings grow in height to only 10-12 cm, and in the second - up to 40-50 cm. In the third year, the strengthened serviceberry seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place.

Reproduction of irgi by grafting cuttings

In the fall, prepare rootstocks, that is, two-year-old rowan seedlings that grow in large quantities in parks and plantings - just pull them out of the ground after the rain. You can go the long way by growing rowan seedlings yourself - you sow them in the ground in the fall, get vigorous shoots in the spring, and rootstocks in the second year. You need to graft shadberry cuttings onto mountain ash in the spring, during the period of sap flow, at a height of 10-15 cm from the root collar. This is done like this:

• dig out the grown scion, wash the roots and cut the rootstock horizontally at a height of 10-15 cm from the root collar;
• the cut is split in the middle with a knife to a depth of 3 cm;
• on the scion cutting, an upper oblique cut is made, and below 15 cm, a lower cut is made in the form of a double-sided flat wedge up to 4 cm long - one side of the wedge is just below the bud, the second - on the side opposite to it;
• The scion wedge is tightly inserted into the split of the rootstock, but the upper part of the wedge is not included in the split;
• the junction is wrapped with tape, and the upper cut of the scion is treated with garden pitch;
• the rootstock is planted in a box with a mixture of sand and peat, deepening it to the grafting site, and the box is placed in a cold greenhouse or greenhouse: the higher the temperature in the room, the faster the scion will take root;
• when callus begins to form on the part of the wedge that did not fall into the split, the film is removed, and the grafted shadberry is planted in open ground;
• The rowan shoots formed on the rootstock below the grafting are cut out.

Propagation of irgi by green cuttings

Cuttings are taken from the tops of any branches of well-developed five- to six-year-old bushes in the first half of summer. The length of the cutting is 10-15 cm. Remove the lower leaves from the cuttings, leaving only 1-2 pairs of upper ones. Place the lower sections of the cuttings for 6-12 hours in a root-forming agent, then rinse them with clean water and plant them at an angle at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other in a cold greenhouse in clean soil, sprinkled with a layer of sand 7-10 cm thick on top. The greenhouse dome should be 15-20 cm higher than the cuttings. After planting, water the cuttings through a fine sieve so that the water splashes rather than flows. After watering, cover the greenhouse. The temperature in the greenhouse should not rise above 25 ºC, so you should regularly ventilate the cuttings by removing the greenhouse dome. Keep the soil slightly moist. After two to three weeks, the cuttings take root, so the greenhouse dome is removed during the day, and when the cuttings get a little stronger, the greenhouse is left open at night. Three-week-old cuttings develop a strong fibrous root system, and they are planted for growing on a training bed, and as soon as they take root, they are fed with slurry diluted with water 6-8 times, or with mineral fertilizer - 30 g of ammonium nitrate dissolved in a bucket of water. The cuttings are cared for as if they were an adult plant, and next fall they are transplanted to a permanent location.

Reproduction of irgi by layering

For this method of propagation, developed annual shoots or biennial branches with strong growths are chosen. It is better to dig in layering in early spring, as soon as the soil warms up. The top layer of soil under the bushes from which you will take cuttings needs to be dug up, fertilized and leveled. Then make furrows in the soil, place low-growing shoots in them and secure them in the furrow, and pinch out the tops. Wait for young shoots 10-12 cm high to develop from the cutting buds, and sprinkle them halfway with fertile soil or humus. After 2-3 weeks, as soon as the shoots grow another 10-15 cm, sprinkle them halfway again. Rooted cuttings are separated from the bush in the fall or next spring and transplanted to a permanent place.

Reproduction of irgi by dividing the bush

This method of propagation is used if the bush has to be transplanted from place to place. The best time is early spring before the buds swell or autumn, a month before frost. After removing the bush from the ground, it is pruned, removing old branches, and, having freed the roots from the ground, the rhizome is divided into several parts. Sometimes you have to use an axe. Each division should have a healthy ground part, consisting of at least two shoots, and a well-developed root system. It is better to remove the old roots, trim the rest, after which parts of the bush can be planted in prepared holes.

Pests and diseases of irgi

In general, serviceberry is quite resistant to diseases and pests, but sometimes it suffers from tubercular disease (drying of branches), septoria (gray rot) and phyllostictosis leaf spot. Tubercular disease is manifested first by browning and drying of the leaves, then the branches wither and red bumps form on them. Diseased shoots are cut off and burned, and the plant is sprayed in the spring with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. Phyllostic blotch can be diagnosed by brownish-brown spots on drying and falling leaves. Leaves damaged by spotting are removed, and the bush is treated before and after flowering with Bordeaux mixture. Gray rot also manifests itself as brown spots on the leaves, which gradually blur, the leaves turn yellow, become covered with gray fluffy mold and fall off. A plant that suffers from excess moisture in the roots gets sick with septoria, so before the plant dies, normalize the watering of the serviceberry or replant it where the groundwater is deeper. As a treatment and prevention, the plant is treated with the same Bordeaux mixture, as well as topaz, oxychome, cuproxate.

The main pests of the serviceberry are the serviceberry seed eater and the moth. The seed eater damages fruits by feeding on the seeds of the serviceberry, and it pupates in the fruits. And moth moth caterpillars mine the leaves of the plant, causing them to dry out and crumble. In the fight against these pests, treatment of serviceberry with actellik, karbofos or fufanon is used.

Types of serviceberry

As already mentioned, more than ten species of serviceberry have taken root in culture. We will briefly introduce you to some of them.

Irga spicata (Amelanchier spicata)

– a deciduous shrub or tree up to 5 m high with numerous shoots forming a dense oval crown. Mature branches are dark gray, young ones are reddish-brown. The leaves are ovate, up to 5 cm long and up to 2.5 cm wide - at the time of opening they are white-tomentose, dark green in summer, and different shades of red-orange in autumn. Fragrant pink or white flowers are collected in short, woolly, erect inflorescences. The fruits are round, purple-black with a bluish bloom, sweet, up to 1 cm in diameter. The plant is winter-hardy; it is also resistant to drought, smoke and gas. The growing season is from April to early October, it bears fruit from the age of four. Irga spica is native to North America.

Amelanchier alnifolia

also native to North America, from its western and central regions, where it lives on hillsides, in forests, along the banks of streams and rivers. Shade-tolerant. Young leaves, shoots and buds in racemose inflorescences are pubescent, flower petals are directed vertically upward, which is why their centers are not visible. The fruits are spherical, slightly elongated, black. In culture since 1918.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

also lives on the slopes of rocks, the banks of ponds and rivers. This is a large shrub up to 6 m tall or a tree reaching 8-10 m. The shoots are thin, slightly drooping, the leaves are ovoid, up to 10 cm long, at first brown-green, as if felt, bluish-green in summer, and in autumn they acquire crimson-golden shades of different intensity. Drooping racemes consist of 5-12 white flowers, which create a contrast with the reddish shoots. The fruits are round, dark purple with a bluish bloom, and have a sweet taste. The species is frost-resistant, undemanding to soil quality and humidity levels, and has high decorative properties. In culture since 1623.

Irga Lamarckii (Amelanchier lamarckii)

It is distinguished by its beauty and attractiveness throughout the season, therefore it is often used for landscaping both as a solo plant and in group plantings. Both Canadian serviceberry and Lamarck serviceberry are excellent rootstocks for pears and apple trees, increasing the winter hardiness of the scion and its ability to grow on too wet soils, which is not typical for stone fruit trees.

Irga oval, or common (Amelanchier ovalis)

native to Central and Southern Europe. Grows in dry places - in forests, pine forests, on rock slopes. This is a shrub up to 2.5 m high with young shoots that are silvery with pubescence, which after a while become bare, shiny and acquire a red-brown tint. The leaves are ovate, dense, serrate along the edge, up to 4 cm long - immediately after opening they are like felt, in the summer they are dark green, and with the onset of autumn they turn reddish-purple. White flowers up to 3 cm in diameter are collected in apical racemes. The fruits are blue-black with a bluish tinge. This species is drought-resistant and prefers rich calcareous soils. Overwinters without shelter only in the southern regions. In culture since the 16th century.

In addition to the described species, low, smooth, round-leaved, profusely flowering, pleasant, Asian, Bartram's, Kuzika, obovate, blood-red, Utah and Jack's serviceberry are grown in culture.

Properties of irgi - benefits and harms

Useful properties of serviceberry

How is irga useful? Serviceberry fruits contain pectins, mono- and disaccharides, vitamins C, P, A, B vitamins, trace elements lead, copper, cobalt, tannins, flavonols, fiber, malic acid and many other substances necessary and beneficial for humans. The fruit of the serviceberry contains ascorbic acid and a large amount of carotene, which are the strongest antioxidants that increase the body's resistance to stress and infectious diseases, prevent the development of cancer and slow down the development of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, carotene contained in serviceberry fruits prevents the development of cataracts, cures night blindness and improves vision. The pectins contained in shadberry lower cholesterol levels in the blood, remove radionuclides, heavy metal salts and other toxins from the body, having a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart. Saskatoon juice, due to its astringent and anti-inflammatory effect, helps in the treatment of colitis and enterocolitis. The fruits of serviceberry, which have a sedative effect, are taken to treat insomnia and increased nervous excitability. Serviceberry is used for diabetes - a decoction of its bark is used to rinse the mouth, and a paste of serviceberry leaves is applied to ulcers.

After this article they usually read

In the summer, every person enjoys the gifts of nature - fresh vegetables, fruits and, of course, berries. This period allows us to enjoy the pleasant taste and aroma of fresh fruits and berries, as well as saturate our body with useful substances and vitamins. Today we will talk about the benefits of irga and how it can be used.

Serviceberry berry - composition, types

Irga - plant Rosaceae family. It is also called yurga, yarga, and pirus, the names are different, but this bush looks the same everywhere. It is classified as both trees and shrubs. The shape of the leaves is round-oval, and the color is dark green. In autumn, the leaves turn red and only then fall off. Almost every gardener knows about the benefits of serviceberry for the human body. But not everyone uses its positive properties; some, on the contrary, use it only as a decoration for their summer cottage.

The plant blooms truly beautifully. Its flowers are small and collected in inflorescences light color. They do not emit aroma and are mainly located at the ends of the shoots.

After flowering, the tree begins to bear fruit. Serviceberry berries are small in size. To some extent they resemble small apples. They are no more than 1 centimeter in diameter, and sepals are located at the base. The shrub usually bears fruit at the end of summer every year. Fruits ripen unevenly, it is for this reason that harvesting occurs several times during the summer. In order for ripening to occur immediately, the bush must be well lit.

It is not difficult to understand that the berries are ripe. Their color dark purple or blue depending on the type of tree. There are also varieties of serviceberries on the fruits of which you can find a small coating, for example, like plums.

The ripe berry tastes tender, juicy and sweet. By taking proper care of the tree, you will get the maximum benefit in the form of a large harvest for yourself.

Today, you can find a large number of varieties of serviceberry in the world. Gardeners account for approximately about 25 species, but despite the great diversity, only a few are grown in Russia.

Each type is beneficial for the human body in its own way. They all survive the winter well and are easy to care for considered unpretentious. So, the most common species that our gardeners grow is the common serviceberry (round-leaved). It reaches approximately 2.5 meters in height. Its fruits are black and have a slight coating.

Canadian species serviceberry- tree height 6 meters. The berries are large, but, as a rule, they are used as decoration.

Spike serviceberry, 5 meters high, is planted as a hedge structure.

Alder serviceberry reaches 2.5 meters in height. The berries are black, tasty and juicy. Such a plant can bear fruit even in a shaded place.

Unique composition of berries

The berries contain a large amount of useful substances and vitamins, as well as micro and macroelements. So, let’s look at what is included in the fruits of the serviceberry tree:

Not only berries, but bark, leaves and inflorescences are used for medicinal purposes. The seeds of serviceberry are also considered useful. They contain fatty oils.

Irga benefits and harm

Let's consider the benefits of irgi for the human body:

• Reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood;
• Reduces the risk of developing diseases of the urinary system and liver;
• Acts as a preventative against cardiovascular diseases, as well as atherosclerosis;
• Used as an anesthetic for disorders of the digestive system;
• Eliminates various diseases of the oral cavity, has a disinfecting effect;
• Reduces the risk of varicose veins;
• Prevents heart attack;
• Facilitates the course of diseases of the respiratory system;
• It is an antibacterial agent and treats purulent wounds.

As already mentioned, not only the fruits, but also other components of the plant have beneficial properties: bark, flowers, leaves. So, let's look at what their benefits are:

Despite such a large number of beneficial properties, irga can also be harmful to the human body. To prevent this from happening, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a number of contraindications:

1. Manifestation of an allergic reaction to the components of the tree;
2. Children under 2 years of age;
3. You should not eat fresh fruits with milk drinks, as such mixing can lead to stool problems;
4. With a large intake of berries, a person may experience a condition such as difficulty in acting and lethargy. That is why it is necessary to consume berries in moderation;
5. Contraindications include diseases such as low blood pressure, hemophilia, and individual intolerance.

Application of serviceberry

It is used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. Let's consider each type of application separately.

Medicinal properties - use in folk medicine

Using shadberry, you can prepare a huge number of medicines that help with most diseases. Let's look at some of them.

Use in cooking

What to cook from irgi? This is a question that beginners in gardening ask. From this berry you can cook fruit drink, compote, jam, pudding and other various delicious and unusual desserts. Let's look at a more detailed description of preparing dishes from serviceberry berries.

Making compote from shadberry at home is not difficult. To do this, you need to prepare the following components:

• Granulated sugar - 2.5 tbsp;
• Pure filtered water - 1.4 l;
• Ripe berries of the bush - 1.5 cups;
• Slice of lemon.

Pour the water into a small saucepan and add granulated sugar. Place it on the stove and bring to a boil, stirring from time to time until the bulk product is completely dissolved. As soon as the sugar water boils, add the berries, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Strain the finished compote and put it in a cool place. The drink is served chilled. At the end of cooking, it is recommended to add a slice of lemon.

You can cook delicious food from berries jam for the winter:

• Fresh fruits - 5 cups;
• Granulated sugar - 1 kg;
• Water - 200 ml.

The collected berries are sorted and spoiled and unfit for food are removed. Pour liquid into a small saucepan and add sugar.

We place it with its contents on the stove for slow heating, wait for the bulk product to completely dissolve, do not forget to stir from time to time so that the sugar does not burn. As soon as the sugar has completely dissolved, add the berries and mix gently, it is advisable to use a plastic or wooden spoon so as not to mash the berries. Cook over low heat for an hour.

And also, from the fruits of the serviceberry you can make very many delicious dishes. Especially if you combine it with other garden berries. From this combination you can make juice or jelly for the winter. Experienced housewives add the fruit to confectionery products.

What to cook from irgi?

Irga is a shade-tolerant and drought-resistant shrub. It can be planted along the fence on any soil, but it develops better on fertile soil with a neutral environmental reaction.

Saskatoon grows quickly and reaches full productivity at 8-10 years of age. The average yield of a 10-12 year old plant is 8-14 kg per bush. Irga is a long-lived fruit shrub, lives up to 60–70 years, the productive period is 20–30 years.

The fruits of the serviceberry do not ripen simultaneously on the cluster. Harvesting is carried out in several stages, as the berries ripen. Berries for fresh consumption can be stored for 2–3 days at room conditions. When stored in a refrigerator at 0 °C, this period increases significantly.

The fruits are dark purple in color with a thick bluish coating, sweet and very juicy.

Benefits of irgi for the human body

The fruits of the common serviceberry and Canadian serviceberry are used fresh, dried, and used to prepare jam, pastille, jelly, jelly, compotes, puddings, and wines.

The fruits of serviceberry are a good multivitamin; they are used to treat hypo- and avitaminosis, for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. Juice from fresh fruits has astringent properties.

The plant has long been used in folk medicine: juice - for gargling for sore throats, inflammation of the oral cavity, decoctions of bark and leaves - as an astringent and enveloping agent for gastrointestinal diseases and the treatment of purulent wounds.

Tincture and infusion from the flowers of the Canadian serviceberry are recommended as a means of reducing blood pressure and improving heart activity.

Saskatoon is also valued as a beautiful ornamental shrub: many beautiful leaves, abundant flowering and fruiting, as well as the general decorative appearance that the bushes retain from the beginning of the growing season until the end of leaf fall, allow it to be used to decorate gardens and areas around the house.

It tolerates conditions of constant smoke well, therefore it is recommended for landscaping industrial enterprises.

The gray serviceberry with reddish veins has strong and elastic wood. It is easily polished and is used to make canes, cleaning rods and other small products. The bark and leaves are used in medicine.

Varieties of serviceberry with description and photo

Also check out these articles

Irga roundifolia, or common. Shrub or small tree 2–4 m high. Blooms in mid-May, white flowers. The fruits (from round to obverse pear-shaped) with a diameter of 1–1.5 cm, during the ripening period (second half of July) are red, when ripe they are purple, almost black, with juicy sweet pulp and a characteristic taste, they do not ripen at the same time.

Irga spicata. A bush or tree 3–6 m high. It blooms in May, 2–3 days earlier than the round-leaved serviceberry. Flowers with white or bright pink petals. The fruits are smaller than those of the round-leaved one, ripen about a week later, purple-black, with a bluish tint, and taste like the fruits of the round-leaved serviceberry.

In nature, it grows on rocky, gravel-covered coastal areas of rivers, cliffs, sandstones and limestones.

Irga canadensis. Tree from 2 to 18 m. Blooms in mid-May. The flowers are white or yellowish-white. In spring the leaves are pinkish and silvery white. In autumn, the plant changes its outfit to intense red. The fruits of the Canadian serviceberry are round, large, dark purple, almost black, with a bluish coating, sweet and juicy, of the highest taste.

In nature, the Canadian serviceberry grows along the banks of rivers and swamps, on moist soils, and on the slopes of high rocks. It bears fruit from the age of four. It enters the growing season at the end of April, blooms in the second half of May and early June for 15–18 days, the fruits ripen in August, the leaves become colored in mid-September, and fall in the first half of October.

Irga smooth. Bush up to 8 m high with slightly drooping branches. The flowers are white. The fruits are juicy, red or bluish-black. Smooth serviceberry prefers slightly acidic soils.

Irga alnifolia. Multi-stemmed shrub up to 4 m high with smooth dark gray bark. The flowers are white. The fruits are purple, medium size, very sweet. With proper care, a 7-8 year old plant can produce up to 10 kg of berries.

Irga blood-red. Slender shrub up to 3 m high. The flowers are large. The fruits are sweet, dark, almost black. Yield up to 5 kg per plant.

The center of breeding work over the past 60 years has been Canada, where the following varieties were obtained: “Altaglow” and “Smoky” with white berries, large-fruited “Forestburg”, and aromatic “Pembina”. Winter-hardy and sweet varieties have proven themselves well: “Moonlake”, “Nelson”, “Sturgeon”, “Slate”, “Regent”, “Honeywood”. Hence the popularity of the Canadian serviceberry. Several varieties have been developed in our country and are being tested.

How to propagate shadberry at home

The irga reproduces independently by root shoots and seeds.

In culture, shadberry is propagated by seeds, layering, root suckers, root and green cuttings, and grafting.

As a rule, species forms of serviceberry are propagated by seeds. Seeds are selected from the largest, ripe berries and kept for several days in a cool room, then they are crushed and the seeds are separated from the pulp.

Seeds can be sown immediately after harvesting or in the spring, after 90-100 days of stratification in moist sand at a temperature of 0+2 °C in boxes in a light soil mixture consisting of humus, turf soil and sand, taken in equal quantities. When sowing in autumn, the boxes are dug in and covered with leaves for the winter. Plants grown from seeds bloom 3-4 years after sowing.

Serviceberry varieties are propagated only vegetatively, since the characteristics of the variety are not preserved during seed propagation. The simplest method is propagation by root shoots, which can be done in early spring or autumn.

Irga propagates quite easily by root cuttings. To do this, in the fall or early spring, root cuttings with a diameter of 1–1.5 cm and a length of 10–15 cm are prepared and planted vertically on ridges, mulched with peat or humus and watered abundantly. During the growing season, high soil moisture is maintained and by autumn annual plants are obtained, which, depending on the vigor of development, are planted for growing or in a permanent place.

A very effective way to propagate irgi: etiolated shoots. To do this, in early spring, the mother plants are cut very short and a simple tunnel is built over them, covered with black plastic film. When the etiolated shoots grow 15–18 cm, they are used for propagation, like ordinary green cuttings.

Reproduction by grafting is used quite rarely. The most preferred rootstocks are rowan and hawthorn seedlings. It is better not to use shadberry seedlings, as they produce abundant root shoots. The grafting can be done at different heights from the soil level, depending on what kind of plant you want to get - a standard one or in the form of a multi-stemmed bush.

Plants grafted onto rowan are distinguished by moderate growth and earlier and more abundant fruiting; they do not produce shoots, and the standard forms are also very decorative. Grafting (budding or grafting with cuttings) is carried out in the usual time frame, but grafting with cuttings is more effective than budding.

Irga is one of the reliable and hardy rootstocks for dwarf pears and apple trees in the northern regions of the country.

Soil preparation and planting Irga in open ground

The technique for planting irgi is the same as for other shrubs. The method of preplant soil preparation is the same as for currants and gooseberries.

It is advisable to allocate moderately moist areas on the site, but with good air permeability of the soil. At the same time, overmoistening is undesirable. We must try to avoid planting in swampy lowlands, in places with high groundwater levels, as well as with prolonged stagnation of water in spring and autumn.

The leveled soil is dug up onto the bayonet of a shovel, that is, to a depth of 20–22 cm, having previously applied fertilizers per 1 sq.m: organic - 3–4 kg, granulated superphosphate - 100–150 g, potassium sulfate - 20–30 g. A very good potassium fertilizer is wood ash in the same doses.

Acidic soils are undesirable, therefore, at a pH of 4–5.5, lime is added evenly during digging at a dose of 0.3–0.8 kg/sq.m.

Saskatoon is planted as 1-2 year old seedlings in spring or autumn, 5–8 cm deeper than they grew in the nursery, to grow a larger number of strong root shoots. The usual planting pattern for serviceberry is 4–5 x 2–3 m. It is also often planted as a hedge in a checkerboard pattern, with distances between plants in rows ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 m.

Planting is done in deep furrows. On a personal plot, it is usually enough to plant 1–2 plants, allocating about 16 sq.m. for each on loamy fertile soils and up to 6–9 sq.m. on poorer sandy loam soils. Seedlings are placed in planting holes 50–80 cm wide and 30–40 cm deep.

After planting, the plants are watered (8-10 liters of water per planting hole), the soil surface is mulched with the same soil, peat or humus (a mixture of earth and humus in a ratio of 3:1, or add peat to the hole, additionally adding 300 g of phosphorus to each hole and 150 g of potash fertilizers), and the above-ground part is shortened to 10 cm, leaving 4–5 well-developed buds above the soil level.

In the garden or on a personal plot, it is better to plant shadberry in places blown by northern winds, because its bushes retain snow. It is good to plant raspberries and currants next to the irga, for which it will be an additional protection. When creating hedges, plants are planted in one row every 1–1.5 m.

How to care for irga

For the first 3 years, the plant requires timely loosening of the soil, weeding and fertilization at the same rates as for currants (40–50 g of superphosphate, 10–15 g of potassium sulfate and 4–6 kg of organic fertilizer per bush). With the beginning of fruiting, in the 4th year, it may be necessary to tie the bushes with various materials to prevent the shoots from bending too much under the weight of the harvest. With age, the trunks become stable and the need for garter disappears.

It is best to form shadberry in the form of a multi-stemmed bush from strong basal shoots. Weak shoots are completely cut out.

Irga takes a lot of nutrients from the soil into the berries. Therefore, every year, with loosening and digging, you should add compost or humus mixed with mineral fertilizers at the rate of 0.5–1 bucket of compost mixed with 2–4 tablespoons of nitrophoska (or 2 tablespoons each of superphosphate and potassium sulfate) and 1 glass ash per 1 sq.m..

In summer, liquid fertilizers made from ammonium nitrate (50 g per bush) or a 10% solution of bird droppings are useful for Irga bushes. Fertilizing is carried out at night after rain or after heavy watering. During the period of pouring berries, shadberry is very responsive to watering. In dry weather, regular watering is required, otherwise you can completely lose the crop.

A sign of full ripening of the fruit is the slight release of juice when pressing on them with your fingers. Irga berries are tender and juicy, so they are collected in baskets. For processing, the berries are picked ripe, but under normal conditions they can be stored for no more than 2–3 days. This period can be significantly extended if you store serviceberry berries at a temperature of about zero degrees.

The name of this product, unfortunately, does not mean anything to many. It is a pity that people do not know about more plants that grow, bloom and smell right under their windows.

This is a rather unusual plant that can actually be found under the windows of houses, in parks and even in your gardens. Many simply have no idea what it grows, what it blooms and what kind of fruit it bears.

The plant can also be called currant, Celtic apple tree or northern raisin. This is a small tree, or rather even a shrub, on which small berries up to 1 cm in size ripen. These berries are apples, if we consider the plant from a botanical point of view. The berries have a bluish coating - that is, they are matte, not shiny, making them more like berries. The fruits, sweet and edible, ripen in the second half of summer.

The irga blooms with small but very beautiful white or beige flowers.

There are about 19 varieties of serviceberry around the globe. The plant adapts very easily to environmental conditions, easily becomes wild and spreads quickly. The spread, by the way, is not complete without the help of birds.

The calorie content of serviceberry is 45 kcal/100 g. Among them, only carbohydrates are 11.4 g and the product also contains vitamin C, A, B, B2, mineral salts, tannins, carotene, microelements - copper, cobalt, iron, manganese and iodine .

Irga are berries that contain an incredible amount of useful elements. They can be eaten to cure atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, vitamin deficiency and gastrointestinal diseases. Or simply to prevent such diseases.

Thanks to vitamin P in the product, berries will be incredibly beneficial for older people. This will help them with the prevention of varicose veins, normalization of sleep, myocardial infarction, help strengthen the walls of blood vessels and make them more elastic and simply strengthen the entire body as a whole.

In folk medicine, to cure varicose veins, a bandage is soaked in a decoction of the leaves and bark of the plant, and the area with the veins is tightly tied.

The juice of the product will have an astringent effect if necessary, and will also help with inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, colitis and enterocolitis. In addition, serviceberry juice is quite often consumed as a dietary product.

Pods will help normalize the nervous system, calm you down and improve sleep. Make it long and strong. It will improve your mood and relieve depression and stress, if necessary.

The product contains a large amount of vitamin A, which has a very beneficial effect on the visual system. Thanks to this, you can cure night blindness, improve the quality of vision and prevent the development of cataracts.

If you squeeze the juice from fresh berries, they will relieve sore throat and even purulent stomatitis. Berry juice has a general strengthening effect and has a good effect on the entire body in terms of strengthening.

To cure stomatitis, you need to make a puree of berries and apply it to the painful areas of the mouth after eating. Hold for about 15 minutes and continue until the stomatitis goes away.

In cases of suppuration on the skin, you can also prepare a porridge from berries and put a certain amount on the wound. Wrap the area and leave for a while. Repeat twice a day until good effect occurs.

In addition to berries, leaves, bark of the plant and its flowers are also used for treatment.

If you prepare a decoction of irgi flowers and let it brew, then with the help of the infusion you can normalize heart function and even lower blood pressure.

Irga is used not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. Masks, creams and various other cosmetics are prepared based on the product. With regular use, your skin will become smooth, soft and more elastic.

Wine has been made from serviceberry for a very long time, and compotes can be made from fresh fruits. You can dry the fruits to cook uzvar or eat them as dried fruits.

Berries can also be used to prepare sauces for meat and fish, jam, jelly, marshmallows and various creams. You can prepare vitamin cocktails based on dairy products (yogurt, kefir, milk, cottage cheese) and even homemade liqueurs and tinctures. Also add to baked goods, use as a dye or flavoring additive in the confectionery part of cooking.

If you dig deeper into the sweet part of cooking, then fresh berries can be added to biscuits, used as decoration for sweets, prepared jams, fillings for baked goods - croissants, buns, pies, cakes and so on.

The product is contraindicated for people who suffer from low blood pressure or other problems related to blood pressure. It is also better not to use it before driving or before responsible work. The product is very relaxing and it is better not to take risks before doing things that require concentration.

In addition, the product may be prohibited for use if there is an individual intolerance or allergy. In the second case, you need to contact a specialist and if everything is fine, then you can continue to eat the berries, but start with very small portions.

The product, by the way, is allergenic. So people who are prone to allergies should use it very carefully, again, starting with a small amount, constantly and gradually increasing the portion.

Another thing about irgi is that it is best not to combine it with dairy products. Of course, this can be done, but then you should expect serious stomach upset.

People who tend their gardens can plant shadberry on their territory solely for the purpose of “cleaning” the air, land and water.

This means that this plant accumulates harmful substances that it finds in the soil, water and air. And therefore, using berries for culinary and medicinal purposes is strictly not recommended. This could be garden decor or a personal “filter”.

To properly grow such an assistant in your garden, it is important to know that the best time for planting is spring and autumn. But many people believe that it is still better to plant only in the fall. The plant must be planted in a well-lit place, in an open area. The serviceberry must have constant access to light, and from each side. If you plant it in a closed place, the branches will begin to reach towards the light on their own, which will make the plant crooked. By the way, it is also important to know that the more illuminated the shadberry, the more fruit it will produce.

The soil at the planting site must be fertile so that the roots do not “look for a better life” somewhere on the side. There should be enough humus in the soil for the bush to grow well. If the groundwater flows very high in the place chosen for the shadberry, then it is better to change the place, since the roots of the plant will go about 3 meters underground.

The area for planting must be prepared in the spring - it must be cleared of weeds and kept fallow until the fall - until the tree is planted. Before planting, the area must be dug to a depth of 15 cm with the addition of fertilizers.

If there are several bushes, then it is better to plant them in a checkerboard pattern so that there is enough space for everyone. The distance between seedlings is from 50 cm to 150 cm. Planting should be done according to the principle of planting gooseberries, blueberries, raspberries and so on. After planting, cut off the above-ground part of the plant to 15 cm, leaving several buds on each of them.

Then you can forget about shadberry almost until the harvest. She does not need careful care. You just need to water it if necessary (if there is no rain), dig up the weeds around the bush and sometimes (seasonally) add the necessary fertilizers.

You can expect fruits by the second half of next summer if everything is done correctly with planting the bushes and you take good care of them. Don’t forget about shadberry completely; it needs support, like any other plant.

Irga is an unusual plant that few people know about. Here's a little more about him:

1. The product has been known in Europe since the 16th century. Its homeland is England, and then the irga “moved” to Holland;
2. Amelanchier is the full, botanical name of the plant;
3. The taste of serviceberry is similar to blueberries and it has a cinnamon flavor;
4. The Canadian serviceberry can reach a height of 18 meters;
5. If you eat a kilogram of berries at once, then you can immediately fall asleep;
6. Dried shadberry can be stored for no longer than two years.

Irga is a strange plant that few people know about. It is very useful and necessary for health. Therefore, you should definitely be interested in this product.