Cottagekaren22's Garden
Amelanchier alnifolia ‘Obelisk’
Beautiful and beneficial, June Berry (Latin name Amelanchier Alnifolia Obelisk) is a small, elegant tree with interesting foliage and fragrant, star-shaped, white blossoms. Able to withstand harsh winter conditions, this Canadian native is equally popular for its attractive appearance and edible, nutritious fruit. The upswept branches of June Berry bear interesting foliage. When young, the oblong leaves unfold bronze coloured, maturing to green and then warm yellow, red and orange in the autumn. In mid-spring, this bushy tree is overladen with clusters of upright racemes bearing perfumed, pure white flowers. The blossoms of Amelanchier Alnifolia Obelisk are denser than other June Berry varieties and give way to plump, dark blue berries. The berries appear in late summer through to autumn, changing colours from scarlet to deepest black-blue as they ripen. Completely edible, these highly nutritious berries are harvested in the autumn and can be eaten raw or used for making jams, jellies or wine.
Although quite adaptable, Amelanchier Alnifolia Obelisk prefers moist, lime-free, well-drained soil. It tolerates full sun to full shade, but more exposure to sunlight is preferential, as it will encourage prolific flowering and vivid foliage colour in the fall. This deciduous tree grows at a medium rate and can grow to be between 4 and 8 metres tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide, over a period of 5 to 10 years. Fully hardy in all of UK, June Berry can easily survive extreme cold.
Relatively pest and disease free, June Berry is susceptible to fireblight and leaf scorch, if planted in dry soil. When provided with adequate conditions for growth, this plant is long-lived and incredibly easy to care for. It doesn’t require pruning, but if you want it to have a shape that resembles a tree, rather than a conical, multi-stemmed bush, remove lower side stems in late winter or early spring.
Versatile and sturdy, June Berry can be used as a part of a mixed border, combined with flowering shrubs or shrubs with fruit interest. When planted in a row, it makes an impressive hedge, with dense, interesting foliage for the better part of a year, embellished with fragrant flowers in the spring. It can also be planted near a patio or sitting area, as it provides light shade and a sweet scent during the flowering season.
