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Irga alder-leaved, the photo and description of which varieties are given in this article, is one of the most underestimated garden plants. But this perennial shrub can become a real decoration of the backyard.
It is not only beautiful during the flowering period, but also able to generously endow the gardener with a harvest of tasty and healthy berries.
Distinctive characteristics of the species
Irga alder-leaved is a perennial shrub of the Rosaceae family. His homeland is North America. In the wild, in addition to the original places of growth, it is found in the Crimea and the Caucasus. The main data on this plant are presented in the table.
Parameter | Value |
Culture type | deciduous shrub |
Root system | Powerful, well developed, depth of penetration into the soil up to 2 meters |
Shoots | Straight, smooth, dark gray, up to 6 meters high |
Leaves | Green, matte, oval or almost round, up to 5 cm long, the edge has a characteristic serration, the veins are clearly readable, light |
Flowers | White, 2-3 cm in diameter, collected in large inflorescences up to 20 pieces per brush |
pollination | self-pollinated |
Fruit | Large (up to 1,5 cm in diameter), oval, blue-black |
In comparison with other types of shadberry, alder-leaved has both advantages and disadvantages. It is less frost-resistant, more demanding on watering. Its positive qualities are:
- higher yield;
- lack of uncontrolled root shoots;
- long life (up to 70 years);
- high shade tolerance;
- high shoot growth rate.
Like other species, the alder-leaved irga is undemanding to the type of soil. Its fruits are just as tasty, and the content of vitamins and microelements in them is no less.
Irgi berries contain:
- sugary substances;
- pectins;
- carotene;
- B vitamins, ascorbic acid;
- tannins.
A photo of an alder-leaved shadberry during the flowering period is in the photo below.
The shrub is an excellent honey plant. No wonder in her homeland, in North America, this type of plant is called Saskatoon or Amelanch, which means “bringing honey”.
What varieties belong to the type of shadberry alder
Under the common name “alder-leaved irga” several varieties with similar species characteristics are combined. These include:
- Starlight Night;
- Smokey;
- Forestburg;
- Obelisk;
- Krasnoyarsk;
- Slate.
A brief description and characteristics of each of the varieties are presented below.
Krasnoyarskaya
The description of the Krasnoyarskaya irgi variety can begin with its berries, since it is a high-yielding super-large-fruited variety. Its fruiting is really plentiful and regular. Berries weighing up to 2 g, dark blue, with a characteristic haze. The taste of the fruit is sweet, with a pleasant sourness. An adult tree can reach 4 m in height. A description of the Krasnoyarsk shadberry would be incomplete without mentioning its amazing winter hardiness. Thanks to this ability, the Krasnoyarsk shadberry can be grown on the territory of the Urals and Southern Siberia.
Slate
Irga Sleyt (Sleyt) – a productive variety with large black berries weighing up to 1,1 g, with a high sugar content. It is an improved variety of Canadian shadberry. Shrub of medium height, 1,5–2 m. The shoots are slightly curved, the crown is dense. Winter-hardy. Requires mandatory crop protection from birds. In autumn, the crown turns bright red, the shrub can also perform decorative functions.
Starlight Night
The first and only variety of selection, included in the State Register in 2016. A large-fruited fruitful variety with a mass of berries up to 2 g. A distinctive feature is the ripening of berries in the brush almost simultaneously, so that fruiting is not extended in time. The skin of the fruit is denser, the transportability is improved. Resistant to diseases and pests.
Smokey
Irga alder-leaved Smokey was bred in Canada. Differs in powerful vertical shoots, as the bush grows, it becomes sprawling. Gives numerous basal shoots. Large-fruited, high and stable yield. The berries are dark blue, with a bluish bloom, 12–15 mm in diameter. The taste is bright, sweet. Requires bird protection. Resistant to both drought and frost. Not susceptible to disease.
Forestburg
Another variety of Canadian selection. Like Smokey, it has powerful vertical shoots, but unlike the latter, it forms much less root shoots. Winter hardiness is very high, drought resistance is increased. No diseases or pests were noted. The fruits are large, 12–17 mm in diameter, collected in dense brushes. The taste is pleasant, sweet. Berries are suitable for consumption both fresh and processed.
Obelisk
Irga alder-leaved obelisk (Obelisk) is a shrub with an original narrow vertical crown. Description of the Obelisk irgi can be found in books on landscape design, as the shrub is widely used as an ornamental, thanks to its bright green color in summer and bright orange and red in autumn. It is winter-hardy, not affected by diseases and pests. Grows well in urban environments. It bears fruit annually and abundantly, the berries are dark blue with a bluish bloom, sweet in taste. Reviews about the Obelisk irga are mostly positive.
Blooming irga varieties Obelisk – in the photo.
Reproduction of irgi alder-leaved
All the same methods are suitable for propagation of the alder-leaved irgi as for berry bushes. It can be done:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- basal processes;
- division of the bush.
Seeds must be extracted from ripe fruits, planted in nutrient soil and covered with foil. They germinate quite quickly, providing an annual growth of about 15 cm. The cuttings are cut from young strong shoots, kept cut in a root growth stimulator and planted in the soil under a film. Layers are obtained by bending side shoots to the ground and filling them with soil. Regular soil moisture in these places leads to rooting and growth of shoots. Sprouted seedlings are then separated from the mother bush and planted.
The basal processes formed by the root system of the shrub are the best seedlings. In this case, they are simply separated from the root along with a clod of earth and transplanted to a new place. Planting by dividing a bush can be used when transplanting a shrub to a new place. To do this, the bush is completely dug out of the ground and divided into parts along with the roots.
Planting shadberry alder
Planting shadberry can be carried out both for decorative purposes and for obtaining berries.
Site selection and preparation
When choosing a landing site for alder-leaved irgi, a number of factors must be taken into account. The main thing to take into account:
- In order for the shrub to feel good, the groundwater level at the landing site should not rise above 2 meters.
- To get a good harvest, it is better to choose a place with good sunlight.
- The shrub will be tall, spreading and will create a large shade.
- You can transplant an adult bush until it reaches the age of 7 years.
- An adult bush can live up to 60-70 years.
- A highly developed root system will sprout even after the bush is completely removed from the site, so it is unlikely that it will be possible to completely get rid of the irgi.
- Berries will attract many birds to the site.
- Carrion is heavily painted, so you should not plant irgu next to white stone paths, light wooden arbors, etc.
If the decision to land is made, you need to take care of the landing pits in advance. It is better to dig them out one and a half to two months before the planned planting. Their depth should be at least half a meter. The distance between adjacent bushes should be at least 2,5 m, when landing in a row, it can be reduced to 1,5 m.
Below is a video about planting and breeding irgi:
When to plant alder-leaved irgu: in spring or autumn
Irga alder-leaved has an excellent survival rate, so it can be planted both in spring, before the first leaves appear, and in autumn, after the end of leaf fall.
How to choose seedlings
As a rule, alder-leaved irgu is planted with seedlings of the second year of life. By this time, they should be at least 30–35 cm long and have well-developed roots.
Landing procedure
A mixture of soddy soil and humus is poured into ready-made planting pits in a ratio of 1: 1. As a top dressing, it would be advisable to add 1 tbsp to the mixture. a spoonful of potassium sulfate and 2 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate.
The seedlings are placed vertically in a pit and the roots are covered with soddy soil, while deepening the root neck by 5–6 cm. The trunk circle is lightly tamped, watered at the rate of 30 liters per bush, after which the soil is mulched with peat, humus or sawdust.
Care for the alder-leaved irga
No special measures for the care of alder-leaved irga are required. Bushes need to be trimmed periodically for both sanitary and decorative purposes. To get a good harvest of berries, you need to do regular watering and fertilizing.
Watering
Irga alder-leaved loves water and responds well to watering. This is especially necessary during the period of setting and ripening berries. If there is enough precipitation, watering can be completely abandoned.
Weeding and loosening the soil
Loosening and weeding can be done periodically, clearing the near-stem circle from weeds. A completely near-stem circle is usually dug up in the fall, while fertilizing.
Top dressing of alder-leaved shadberry during the season
Alder-leaved irga responds well to the application of organic fertilizers: peat, humus. In addition, it can be fed during the season.
Deadlines | Fertilizer |
Spring, before the leaves start to bloom | Nitrophoska or other nitrogen fertilizer – 50 g per 10 liters of water, applied by watering the trunk circle |
Early summer | Infusion of chicken manure or slurry 0,5 l or urea 30–40 g per 10 l of water, applied to the root zone |
In autumn, after leaf fall | Superphosphate 40 g, potassium sulfate 20 g per 1 sq. m simultaneously with digging the soil |
Trimming
Alder-leaved irgu is cut for sanitary purposes, to rejuvenate plantings and to form a crown. Sanitary pruning is done in the fall after the leaves fall and in the spring before the buds swell. First of all, broken, dry and thickening branches are cut out. After the third year of life, three vertical annual shoots are usually left, the rest are cut out at the root. In total, the bush is formed from 10–15 branches of different ages.
Preparing shadberry alder-leaved for winter
The winter hardiness of the alder-leaved irgi is sufficient to survive frosts of -40 degrees and below. No special protective measures need to be taken.
What diseases and pests can threaten the culture
Alder-leaved irga is very resistant to diseases. Despite this, sometimes on the bushes you can see both traces of diseases and pests. Here is a small list of them.
Disease/Pest | As manifested | Treatment and prevention |
Fallisticosis | On the fallen leaves, characteristic brown spots are visible. | The affected foliage is destroyed, the bushes are treated with Bordeaux liquid |
Gray mold | Gray mold on berries and leaves | Reduce watering; Bordeaux mixture treatment |
Shrinking branches | Leaves and tips of branches darken and dry | The affected areas of the bush cut and burn. In the spring, treat the bushes with copper sulphate. |
Irgov moth | Moth caterpillars secrete substances that destroy the leaf plate | Spray with karbofos |
Irg seed-eater | The seed-eater larva eats the seeds in the berry |
Conclusion
Irga alder-leaved, the photo and description of the varieties of which are given in this article, is a real find for the gardener. Caring for her is extremely simple, and an abundance of berries can please even in lean years. Blooming irga is very beautiful, and many sweet dishes can be prepared from its fruits.