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Pyrus - (Pursh.)DC.

Common Name Roundleaf Serviceberry, Gaspé serviceberry
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Open woods, rocky slopes and river banks on neutral to slightly calcareous soils[43].
Range Eastern N. America - Maine to New Jersey, west to Minnesota and Iowa.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Pyrus Roundleaf Serviceberry, Gaspé serviceberry


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 293.
Pyrus Roundleaf Serviceberry, Gaspé serviceberry

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Pyrus is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in April. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Pyrus sanguinea.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible fruit - raw or cooked[101, 105]. A sweet flavour[177]. The fruit is produced in small clusters and is up to 11mm in diameter[229]. The fruit is rich in iron and copper[226].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[1, 200, but thrives in any soil that is not water-logged[11]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates dry soils[200]. 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[K]. Plants produce suckers and form thickets[200]. Hybridizes with A. stolonifera, A. laevis and A. bartramiana. Grafting onto seedlings of A. lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is sometimes practised in order to avoid the potential problem of hybridizing[1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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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[78, 80]. 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[78]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cyperus giganteusPiripiri, Mexican PapyrusPerennial1.5 9-11 FLMHNWeWa023
Cyperus papyrusPapyrus. Papyrus sedgePerennial5.0 9-12 FLMHNWeWa222
Pyrus acidula Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Pyrus amygdaliformis Tree10.0 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Pyrus autumnalis Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Pyrus balsanae Tree15.0 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Pyrus betulaefoliaBirch-Leaved PearTree7.5 4-8  LMHSNM211
Pyrus bretschneideriChinese white pearTree6.0 4-8  LMHSNM400
Pyrus calleryanaCallery PearTree15.0 5-9 FLMHSNM202
Pyrus calleryana dimorphophylla Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Pyrus communisWild Pear, Common pearTree13.0 4-9 FLMHSNM213
Pyrus communis sativaPearTree5.0 4-8  LMHSNM503
Pyrus cordataPlymouth Pear, PearTree0.0 8-10 MLMHSNM20 
Pyrus elaeagnifolia Tree10.0 4-8  LMHSNDM20 
Pyrus elaeagnifolia kotschyana Tree0.0 4-8  LMHSNDM20 
Pyrus faurei Tree0.0 8-11  LMHSNM30 
Pyrus glabra Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Pyrus macrostipes Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Pyrus maximowicziana Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Pyrus nivalisSnow PearTree10.0 5-9  LMHSNDM20 
Pyrus pashiaIndian Wild PearTree9.0 4-8  LMHSNM312
Pyrus persica Tree6.0 6-9  LMHSNM20 
Pyrus phaeocarpa Tree7.0 4-8  LMHSNM201
Pyrus prematura Tree0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Pyrus pyraster Tree7.0 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Pyrus pyrifoliaSand Pear, Chinese pearTree10.0 5-9  LMHSNM410
Pyrus pyrifolia cultaAsian PearTree10.0 5-9  LMHSNM41 
Pyrus regellii Tree9.0 5-9  LMHSNDM201
Pyrus salicifoliaWillow-Leaved PearTree7.5 4-8  LMHSNDM202
Pyrus serrulata Tree10.0 5-9  LMHSNM10 
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

(Pursh.)DC.

Botanical References

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Subject : Pyrus  
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