Home > Facts > Plants Facts > Juneberry Facts

Juneberry Facts

Juneberry Facts
Juneberry is a type of deciduous shrub or small tree that belongs to the family of roses. It originates from North America. Juneberry can be found in wet areas, usually near the rivers and streams. It grows on the moist, well-drained, acidic soil, exposed to direct sun or in the partial shade. People cultivate juneberry as a garden plant because of its ornamental, beautifully colored leaves and delicious fruit. Some types of juneberries can be cultivated in the pots as bonsai.
Interesting Juneberry Facts:
Juneberry can reach 20 to 50 feet in height. It has rounded crown composed of numerous arched branches.
Juneberry has smooth, grey or brown bark with longitudinal fissures that are especially prominent in older trees.
Juneberry produces simple, oblong leaves with serrated edges. They are alternately arranged on the branches. Upper part of the leaves is smooth. Bottom part is covered with fine hairs. Leaves are coppery pink when they appear on the tree during the spring. They change color into dark green during the summer. Yellow, orange or red-colored leaves are typically seen during the autumn.
Juneberry blooms from March to April. It produces white flowers arranged in the hanging clusters. Flowers emit strong odor which attracts bees, responsible for the pollination of this plant. In the case that natural pollinators are not available, flowers of juneberry are able to perform self-pollination.
Fruit of juneberry is a berry-like pome (type of fleshy fruit with numerous small seed). Fruit can be white, red, purple or black colored, depending on the variety.
Each juneberry produces 10 to 15 pounds of fruit per season. Majority of fruit ripens at the same time on the tree. Harvest of juneberries is performed manually.
Juneberry starts to produce fruit 2 to 4 years after planting and reaches the peak (greatest quantity of the produced fruit) between the age of 12 to 15 years. Under optimal conditions, juneberry produces fruit until the age of 30 to 50 years.
Fruit of juneberry ripens in June, hence the name - juneberry.
Seed of juneberry are red-colored, large, soft and shaped like teardrops.
Juneberry contains higher level of proteins, fat and fiber compared to other types of fruit. It is an excellent source of manganese, iron and vitamins H (B7) and B2.
Sweet, juicy juneberries can be consumed raw, dried or cooked. They are often used for the preparation of jams, jellies, syrups, sweetbreads and pies.
Juneberry is traditionally used for the preparation of pemmican, dish made of powdered meat, fat and juneberries.
Mockingbirds, cardinal and robins frequently visit gardens with juneberries to collect green and ripe fruit.
According to some scientific studies, compounds isolated from the juneberries have potential to decrease pain and inflammation.
Juneberry can survive up to 50 years in the wild.


Related Links:
Facts
Plants Facts
Animals Facts