AFFN has been trying to find rust resistant serviceberry trees for places with high heat and humidity. This is defined in terms of this search as Zone 7a, and higher.
I am seeking serviceberry trees in Zone 7a+, in known proximity to cedars or junipers, from which people enjoy the fruit, which I think is „the key indicator“ of rust resistance.
Does anyone know of any serviceberry trees in Zone 7 and higher (in other words, from hot and humid locales) from which people get fruit? My goal is to find a substantial number of different trees (20-50?) and get a grove of truly rust resistant trees established.
To date, successful propagations of serviceberry have been digging of suckers. Layering, air layering, sucker ligature and grafting have all been wholly unsuccessful.
Please reach out to me through AFFN, or respond here, if you know of trees and can work with me on propagation.
I got one good haul of delicious serviceberries near my city hall a few years ago and ever since they are covered in CAR.
I wish I could grow them, so, wishing you luck.
What do you define as rust resistence? Mine gets some but the bulk of berries are still edible (and I like them). I do do preventive work of pruning any early signs i see? Ill ask in my local groups as well
Im surprised you say grafting isnt successful. Arent most culitvars sold as grafts? Like autumn brilliance
Long island new york, pretty damn humid, especiallt this spring was very wet. Extremely high prevalence of cedars. My neighbors all have them and i routinely get cedar volunteers sprouting up in my yard (well not real cedars, i think technically theyre junipers. But eastern red cedars which are the real culprit)
Im in levittown if it helps.
I can try and dig up suckers but havent had any suckering (besides low growing branches, but none growing like a few feet away) that ive noticed in this tree. May be best to try and do air laying or send cuttings again. I am about 70% sure its A. arborea. Its only been in the grounf about 3 years but it has been bearing quite well even losing about maybe 20% of the fruit to rust.
That sounds great, snarfing. If you are successful propagating using any method, I‘d like to add your serviceberry to the starter grove to see what we can get growing and fruiting here.
What I see with Amelanchier and Juniperus (the Rust can use any of the Juniper species, not just Red Cedar), is that I can sometimes still get a decent pick from the first ripening fruits, including the terminal fruit which is almost always the largest.
In a year with a lot of Rust, i.e. one with a wetter than usual month of June (iirc Rust biology here), the later ripening fruits farther up the raceme are impacted.
So I have been thinking that a whole other way to approach this challenge is to try to find early flowering-ripening Amelanchier selections to maybe try and stay ahead of the local Rust development and get at least some fruit that way. This would increase frost risk however.
I’m working on two candidate Serviceberry trees, which bear fruit here in the rust laden South. One is from Spartanburg, SC and one is from Mayland, TN.
I’ve gotten dug suckers to (weakly) take root from the Spartanburg tree. Working on grafts and getting cuttings to take root from the Mayland tree. (And will dig suckers if it sends up any.)
If anyone has rust resistant trees (as evidenced by enjoying fruit from the tree in the humid South, with cedars or junipers in the vicinity), please reach out to me.
@AFFN … Mayland TN.. is in the Eastern part of TN.. up on the Cumberland plateau.. 1000 ft higher elevation than my location. I am also quite a bit south of there.
Even if it does well there.. my location would really put it to the test.