Hi Canda, an ornamental herb garden sounds great! According to Martin Crawford’s UK website at Agroforestry Research Trust you could expect an Amelanchier to reach 3 m or so in 10 years. Some species will continue up to 5 m or so if left unchecked. The ’Obelisk’ variety is tall and slim so would cast less shade on other plants. So that is medium fast growth, I have pollarded ours at about 1.5 m and one branch is forming a main stem (see the video clip at the end of my post) so will need some further pruning! Most descriptions of Amelanchier species refer to it as multistemmed, probably because it can produce suckers, alternatively you could pollard lower down once a plant has established. If you want fruit then check out the Agroforestry Research Trust as they have some excellent cultivars!
Interesting article, thank you. And timely as a multistemmed amelanchier is on of the plants I’m considering for an ornamental herb garden. Can you tell me if they are fast growers. Also, am I right in assuming a multi stem form would be shorter than a tree form - I’m hoping for not more than 3 metres. Thank you again
Hi Canda, an ornamental herb garden sounds great! According to Martin Crawford’s UK website at Agroforestry Research Trust you could expect an Amelanchier to reach 3 m or so in 10 years. Some species will continue up to 5 m or so if left unchecked. The ’Obelisk’ variety is tall and slim so would cast less shade on other plants. So that is medium fast growth, I have pollarded ours at about 1.5 m and one branch is forming a main stem (see the video clip at the end of my post) so will need some further pruning! Most descriptions of Amelanchier species refer to it as multistemmed, probably because it can produce suckers, alternatively you could pollard lower down once a plant has established. If you want fruit then check out the Agroforestry Research Trust as they have some excellent cultivars!
Thank you Anne - very helpful. A low pollard might be the way to go
Interesting article, thank you. And timely as a multistemmed amelanchier is on of the plants I’m considering for an ornamental herb garden. Can you tell me if they are fast growers. Also, am I right in assuming a multi stem form would be shorter than a tree form - I’m hoping for not more than 3 metres. Thank you again