What are the benefits of irgi leaves. We use the leaves of irgi for treatment correctly

Irga belongs to the shrubs of the Rosaceae family. There are about 200 varieties of this tree. According to the botanical description, the plant is distinguished by its height and dark green dense foliage. The fruits are round, small in size, red-violet in color. They have a pleasant sweet taste. Berries ripen closer to mid-summer. The shrub is quite unpretentious, grows in different climatic conditions, but loves warmth more. In warm regions, shrubs can grow up to 2-3 meters tall and bear larger berries. On average, the plant lives for about 60 years. Irga does not require special care.

Show all

Useful composition

The fruits of the tree are distinguished by a rich chemical composition. The high content of active substances in berries allows them to be classified as medicinal. For medical purposes, the bark and leaves of the tree are also used, which contain many useful substances.

The composition of the berries contains:

• phytosterols;
• pectins;
• vitamin C;
• bioflavonoids;
• riboflavin.

All these elements are important for the proper functioning of the body. The fruits of irgi are shown with:

• heart disease;
• increased pressure;
• a large amount of cholesterol in the blood;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• strong physical and mental stress;
• vascular obstruction;
• frequent colds;
• inflammation of the upper respiratory tract;
• purulent wounds;
• recovery after a serious illness.

Irga absorbs all the toxins and heavy metals that come from the external environment, therefore only those berries that have grown far from the highway are suitable for food.

Berries have a low calorie content, there are 43 kcal per 100 g of the product. Organism, the fruits of the plant bring irreplaceable benefits, especially with severe inflammatory processes, non-healing wounds. It is very useful for pregnant women to use the berry of the plant, as it will help weakened immunity to resist viruses and bacteria, and a large amount of vitamins will nourish the body of the expectant mother and ensure the proper growth and development of the fetus.



Contraindications

Despite the great benefits for the human body, the fruits of the tree can harm the body if consumed excessively, as well as alternative treatment without consulting a specialist. The main contraindications are:

• the presence of diabetes;
• obesity;
• low pressure;
• allergic reactions;
• blood clotting problems.

Children can eat berries in an amount of no more than 50 g per day, otherwise the risk of developing allergic reactions increases. The daily norm for adults is 100-150 g.

Excessive consumption of tea with a medicinal plant can lead to a decrease in concentration, as it has a strong sedative effect. You can not take the product together with milk, kefir, yogurt, as problems with the digestive system may occur.

Berries can be taken in the absence of contraindications or after consultation with a specialist. Irga is taken fresh, in the form of juices, tinctures. Medicinal teas, infusions, decoctions are prepared from leaves and bark.



flower infusion

In folk medicine, there are a lot of recipes based on irgi. All parts of the plant are used as medicinal raw materials. One of the popular home remedies is an alcoholic infusion of shrub flowers. Before preparing the product, prepare and dry the flowers in an open area.

Preparing the tincture:

• Pour 2-3 large spoons of dry vegetable raw materials into a saucepan;
• pour a bottle of vodka 0.5 l;
• insist a drink for 3 days;
• strain the medicine.



Irgi flowers

Take 15 drops three times a day. The medicine helps with inflammatory processes, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, problems with the heart and blood vessels.



healthy juice

Berry juice can be drunk freshly squeezed, diluted with water. You can also prepare canned juice and leave it for the winter as a prevention of beriberi. Useful properties of the fruits of irgi retain even after conservation. To prepare a health drink for the winter, it is enough:

• wash the berries;
• ceiling;
• squeeze juice with gauze;
• dilute with cherry, cranberry or currant juice;
• boil;
• pour into banks.

Use a drink of 50-100 ml before each meal. This medicine will help improve digestion. Contraindication is gastritis in the period of exacerbation, stomach ulcers.

Jam

Jam from the fruits of a medicinal plant is used for diseases of the throat and upper respiratory tract. Such a remedy effectively copes with angina. Such a useful preparation will be very popular in the winter. Jam will remove discomfort in the throat, saturate the body with essential vitamins, and help you recover faster.

For cooking, you need 1 kg of berries and 200 g of sugar. Pour the fruits with sugar, leave until they give juice. Then boil over low heat until boiling, remove the foam and boil for another 5 minutes. Arrange the sweetness in jars when it cools down.

Home wine

Homemade wine from this medicinal plant helps with diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Good for the health of men and women. Helps to improve blood flow, relieve spasm, relax the nervous system. For cooking you will need:

• 2-3 kg of sweet fruits;
• 1 kg of sugar;
• 2 liters of water.

The first step is to prepare the sweet syrup. It is made from water and sugar. Water must be put on a slow fire and when boiling, add sugar. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. The mixture will be ready in about 10-15 minutes.

Squeeze the fruits with a juicer or ceiling and squeeze with gauze. Irga gives a lot of juice. For wine, it will be enough to squeeze a liter of juice. To prepare the wort, it is enough to mix the juice and syrup.

Pour the preparation into a bottle with a narrow neck. Install the tube, lower one end into the bottle, bring the other out. The tube should not touch the drink, and its other end should be lowered into a glass of water to block the access of oxygen. It is necessary to remove the bottle in a warm, dark place where the temperature is approximately 18-23 C. The fermentation process itself lasts about 21 days. After it is completed, the drink from the irgi will brighten.

Irga prevents the development and formation of thrombosis, has an anti-sclerotic effect

A few years ago, I discovered a wonderful plant irgu. I liked its flowering and I decided to plant it myself. What was my surprise when the berries began to ripen - they were bluish blue and tart in taste.

When fruits appear and ripen, the tree has a palette of multi-colored scattering of berries of all shades - from pink-violet-burgundy to lilac, depending on the degree of maturity. Their collection stretches in several stages, and you can pick fresh berries for a very long time, throughout the warm season.

It is very important to know and remember that irga has an anti-sclerotic effect. In addition, it reduces blood clotting, and what is most interesting and unique - prevents the development and formation of thrombosis.

Irga is a low tree or fruit shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family and the apple subfamily. Irga is a perennial plant, this tree-like bush can grow up to five meters in height, and be about two meters in diameter. The game is an unpretentious plant, it is distinguished by excellent winter hardiness. However, for full growth and development, this plant needs excellent illumination.

Wild irga grows in the Crimea and the Caucasus. A cultivated plant can be found in garden farms in Kazakhstan, Siberia and the Urals. Moreover, irgu can be grown as an ornamental shrub in parks, and as a honey plant in gardens. Irgi blooms in April and May. Due to the structure and shape of the brushes of cream or white flowers, the game is often confused with bird cherry.

It is also literally strewn with bird cherry in the spring, abundantly covering the crown with small flowers. In the spring period of the year, the shoots of the irgi are omitted. The leaves of this plant are whole, rounded, serrated at the edges, closer to autumn they become dark red. The wood of the shadberry is strong, gray in color and with red veins.

Despite the fact that the types of irgi have very slight differences from each other, the most common cultivated species are Irga round-leaved, Irga ordinary, Irga Canadian and Irga spiky.

Description of the fruit of the irgi

The fruits of the shadberry are very similar in shape to the small fruits of an apple tree, the diameter of which is usually about 10 mm, the only difference is that there are sepals on the top of the shadberry fruits, which are often simply called cinnamon. Cinnamon fruits ripen every year, at the end of summer, but this does not happen evenly, so the crop is harvested gradually as the irgi ripens.

For full-fledged flowering and ripening of shadberry fruits, high illumination is needed. Rounded fruits are usually purple-red and dark blue in color, with a whitish waxy coating on thin skin. The core of the fruits of irgi is distinguished by juiciness, a pleasant pronounced smell and sweetness.

The benefits of irgi

Perfectly enduring the cold Russian winters, the unpretentious and useful irga tree is valued by gardeners, its juicy apple fruits are to the taste of both the adult population and children, and even birds, from which the irga has to be additionally protected. The rich healing composition of shadberry berries and the possibility of their processing makes shadberry an invaluable product during periods of seasonal beriberi.

Irgu is consumed both fresh and in the form of jam, jam, jelly, juice, compote, marshmallow, jam, jelly. This berry is dried, fruit wine and liqueurs are also prepared from it. The juice squeezed from the shadberry has a very low acidity, so it goes well with sour red-currant berries. Interestingly, before getting juice from the shadberry, the berries are dried under the sun to increase their sugar content and improve the flavor.

Valuable composition of irgi fruits

The sweetness of irgi is due to the fact that its fruits contain a lot of sugar, which is determined to be more than 10%. Of the organic acids, irga contains almost one malic acid, vitamins C and P, provitamin A, B vitamins (especially vitamin B2). The fruits contain tannins, coumarins, sterols, flavanols (P-active compounds, natural antioxidants), as well as valuable trace elements: cobalt, copper and lead.

In the practice of folk healers, not only the fruits, but also the leaves, as well as the bark of the shadberry have found their application.

The healing properties of irgi

Irga is rightfully considered an excellent multivitamin preparation. Moreover, elements with a pronounced anti-sclerotic effect were found in its fruits. The use of irgi helps to reduce blood clotting, also preventing the development of thrombosis in the vessels. With the help of irgi fruits, not only atherosclerosis is treated, but also other vascular and heart diseases, and beta-sitosterone found in irgi fruits is a cholesterol antagonist.

Using irga as food, you can not only strengthen the immune system, but also normalize the process of falling asleep and sleeping. Moreover, the juice from these berries has long been used by traditional healers as an enveloping and astringent medicine. In addition, the bark and leaves have astringent characteristics, which also contain a high content of tannins. These parts of the plant are used in the ratio of one part of plant material to ten parts of water.

The ability of irgi to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and increase their elasticity is due to the content of vitamins C and P in these fruits. This property of irgi helps prevent the development of myocardial infarction, as well as varicose veins, which is especially important for older people. Both the juice and the irgi fruits themselves are recommended for use by both people with heart and vascular problems, and those who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, especially if they are provoked by digestive disorders.

Irgi juice is also used externally, it is used to gargle during the treatment of sore throats, and is also used to get rid of purulent wounds. Freshly picked irga perfectly calms and has a beneficial effect on the activity of the central nervous system, therefore it is useful for restless sleep and insomnia, especially because it can be used by both adults and children.

A beneficial effect on the heart and lowers blood pressure and tincture on the flowers of irgi.

The use of irgi in cooking

Irgi fruits, having a sweet taste, are used in cooking both fresh and dried and cooked in a thermal way. Interestingly, dried irgu is often compared to blueberries and used like this berry.

For making juice from irgi, due to the very low acidity of these fruits, it is combined with a rather acidic juice of white and red currant varieties. Pre-dried berries are first crushed, then the juice is squeezed out of them, combined with currant juice and after pasteurization (at a temperature not exceeding 80 ° C) poured into glass containers.

To get fragrant and tasty jam from irgi, washed berries should be pre-blanched (no more than 2 minutes), then combined with ready-made sugar syrup and boiled. After eight hours, the jam should be boiled again, adding one gram of citric acid per kilogram of berries at the end of cooking. The calculation of sugar is made as follows: a kilogram of sugar is taken per kilogram of irgi.

For making puree from irgi, ripe fruits are blanched in boiling water for no more than 2 minutes, drain the water and pass the irga through a meat grinder (you can rub it through a sieve). Then the berries are combined with sugar in a ratio of 1:1. Mixing the fruits with sugar, you need to ensure that all the sugar is dissolved. It will be possible to shift the puree into a glass container after about six hours. Such a product should be stored in a cold place.

Harvesting irgi for the future

Useful berries of shadberry are gaining more and more popularity in Russia, they are used to make desserts, they are dried and dried, heat-treated and frozen, and used as a filling for pies. Dried irga got the name - "northern raisins".

It is difficult for the ignorant to make juice from the shadberry on their own, since it is practically not squeezed out of fresh berries. However, by laying the fruits of the shadberry in a layer of about five centimeters, in about a week (maximum - 10 days) it will be possible to squeeze out almost 70% of the valuable juice from the fruits. This process is called the drying of berries of irgi.

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the irga tastes insipidly sweet, due to the low content of organic acids in the fruits, therefore it is advisable to combine the game with other sour fruits, or add citric acid during processing.

Irga is not only a good honey plant and an excellent fruit tree, it is also a popular ornamental plant and is used for hedges.

Infusion and decoctions from the first inflorescences are taken for hypertensive painful conditions, and for diseases of heart failure - this is one of the best folk antihypertensive and cardiotonic remedies from mother nature.

In the modern world, all over the planet, irga is widely used as a food product. Fruits are eaten in any form - dried, dried, frozen. They make jam, prepare compotes and fruit drinks. Dried berries are familiar to consumers under the name "cinnamon", in the literature you can find the name as "northern raisins".

Given that the shadberry has a reduced content of all organic acids, it is recommended to add more acidic fruits to the shadberry when cooking jam.

For example, compote of irgi with apple, currant (black or red), raspberry. The general proportions for preparing 1 liter of drink are 700 g of shadberry and 300 g of currant. Washed berries are placed in jars, poured with syrup (1 liter of water: 400-500 g of sugar).

Jam.

The berries are sorted, blanched for 2-3 minutes; fall asleep in ready-made 60% sugar syrup, bring to a boil over low heat. Let it brew overnight. They add more. When ready, it is recommended to add citric acid (1 g: 1 l).

Natural juice from irgi.

It is advisable to keep the berries in a dry room for 5-6 days. Squeeze out the juice, mixing it with sugar (per 1 liter: 300 g of sugar), heat until completely dissolved, pour into containers, roll up with lids.

However, you should always remember that irga has an excellent calming effect. It can be taken in any form at night, for a restful and healthy sleep. Accordingly, it is not advisable, after taking compote or jam from shadberry, to drive or engage in vigorous activities, breaking and violating the internal mood of the body.

The shade-tolerant tree-like shrub of the common irga from the pink family boasts a lush crown, sweet berries, and unpretentiousness to the composition of the soil. Irga feels comfortable, successfully bears fruit where other garden crops die. In addition to taste, these berries are also medicinal, like flowers and leaves. Useful properties of irgi and contraindications to its use will be described in this article. Other names for irgi: yurga, pyrus or karinka.

The plant itself (especially flowering) has a very attractive appearance, thanks to which it is used to decorate a garden plot, for example, as a living fence.

What is irga, plant photo, planting and care

This shrub gives a good yield in sunny places, reaches a height of 6-7 meters, is resistant to frost. Bushes grow quite quickly, begin to give color in May, and fruits in early July. Full ripening of the berry occurs by the end of July - beginning of August. Pirus flowers are predominantly white in color, delight the eye with lush flowering for 2 weeks (May-June).

Irga flowers, photo:

Berries are widely used by traditional healers, as well as culinary specialists. They have a slightly sugary taste, but are equally liked by adults and children. Outwardly, the pyrus berry is somewhat reminiscent of black currant, and in terms of taste it is more like raisins (in dried form). Northern raisin - so often it is called.

Irga - berries, photo:

The seedlings of this shrub go deep into the ground according to the same principle as similar fruit crops - gooseberries or currants. Landing, care is not difficult. Pirus is planted in spring or autumn. But the best option is planting shadberry in the fall - in deep holes 40-50 cm deep, 60-80 cm wide. The fruits can be seen already in the second or third year after a properly carried out planting.

Irga, benefit and harm

First, let's define the useful characteristics of this plant. It is noteworthy that even the bark of pyrus has healing qualities. Flowers, berries, leaves, bark are used by healers, both fresh and dried. irgi are also confirmed by official medicine.

Flowers with leaves are used for the prevention, treatment of various diseases: decoctions, teas help with heart disease, manifestations of hypertension, sleep problems. Leaves, flowers can be brewed alone or together with berries - this tea can be consumed throughout the day.

Irgi berries are more popular: they contain fructose, glucose, nicotinic, ascorbic acids, vitamins E, B, carotene, useful trace elements. The use of fruits helps to remove excess cholesterol, salts of heavy metals, and other toxins. There is a general positive effect on the nervous system, a decrease in blood pressure, the risk of blood clots is reduced, and blood vessels are strengthened.

• strengthening of immunity, antioxidant properties, due to the carotene contained in the fruits;
• soft removal of toxins, heavy metals from the body, thanks to pectin;
• overall improvement in heart function, reducing the risk of heart attack;
• with hepatic, renal ailments;
• cancer prevention;
• for sore throat, sore throat (fruit juice, gargle);
• brewing bark, leaves to alleviate the effects of burns, pustular skin diseases;
• strengthening gums, treatment of various diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, periodontal disease);
• with indigestion;
• for the prevention of varicose veins.

It is also necessary to mention contraindications, the possible harm that irga can cause. If there is a tendency to allergies, then the gifts of this shrub should be used with extreme caution. Irga is a strong allergen. It is not recommended to take pyrus in case of manifestations of hypotension (low blood pressure).

If a person suffers from blood diseases (hemophilia, clotting problems), Irga should not be consumed. She thins the blood. Do not combine the use of decoctions or fruits with the intake of milk - they are not compatible (an upset stomach will not take long). You should also take into account the inhibition of actions, which can be observed from excessive use of irgi.

If the shrub grows in an ecologically unfavorable zone, then all that remains is to admire it, since the irga very actively “pulls” harmful components from the earth, air, and water.

Irga, the use of berries in cooking

Most often, irgu is used for treatment, but fresh berries, jams, liqueurs, wines, compotes from it are incredibly tasty. Baking with irga is a real delicacy, its berries go well with shortcrust pastry, cottage cheese.

To get juice from fruits, the harvested crop must first be kept out of sunlight - so the berries will become sweeter, juicier. The fruits ripen in stages, they are also harvested in stages. Irga itself is a perennial bush, lives for about 50-70 years - it depends on environmental conditions. She is resilient, practically not afraid of garden pests, she does not need spraying. The shrub is decorative at any time of the year.

If you decide to plant an irgu in your summer cottage, then you need to consider that you will have to protect it from birds, as they love to feast on it. To prevent the feathered inhabitants from reaching the harvest, gardeners prudently cover the bushes with a special bird net that can be bought.

In any case, anyone can try the medicinal properties of this plant. Today you can buy dried fruits or flowers of irgi - they are offered by pharmacies, online stores of medicinal herbs. This dark blue berry has a low calorie content (45 kcal), practically does not contain fats, proteins. The carbohydrate value of irgi is 12 g per 100 g of fruit.

Taking into account the beneficial properties of irgi and contraindications, one should take into account the factor of individual intolerance, and also observe the measure.

"Irga vulgaris" - this unusually hardy, weather-resistant, easy-to-care and beautiful fruit shrub can only be called so in the dry language of botanical reference books. In spring, irga pleases with lush flowering, in summer it gives a generous harvest of tasty, vitamin-rich, healing berries, and in autumn it changes the color of the foliage and literally transforms the garden. We will tell about the useful properties, features of planting and growing irgi of various varieties in the article.

Irga in bloom

Irga with blossoming foliage

Irga during fruiting

Autumn transformation of irgi

Irga (another popular name for the plant is “cinnamon”, the official botanical name is Amelanchier) belongs to the genus Maleae (T rib Yablonev); family Rosaceae (Pink). It is a tree-like deciduous shrub or compact tree with a spreading branched crown.

The homeland of the irgi is North America. In European countries and in Russia, this fruit shrub has been actively grown and cultivated since the middle of the last century. Irgu of some varieties is used as a reliable and hardy stock for apple and pear trees. At least 25 cultivars and hybrids of the plant are known today. Due to its decorative effect, frost and drought resistance, early fruiting, useful composition and medicinal properties, the popularity of irgi among amateur gardeners and professional landscapers has only been growing over the years.

The flowering time of the common shadberry, or oval-leaved, is mid-May. The flowers are racemose, creamy white, sometimes with a greenish or pinkish tint. The fruits in the process of ripening are rich pink, red. Ripe berries become dark blue, with a purple or purple tint, color. They have a pleasant sweet, without any sourness, taste. Rich in vitamins, amino acids and other valuable substances. The fruits of shadberry reach full ripeness in July-August.

Irgi has a slender, structural, abundantly leafy decorative crown. The bark is velvety, grayish brown. The branches are graceful and thin; upright or drooping, depending on the type of shrub. Irgi leaves are quite dense, glossy, malachite-green by the end of spring and summer, turning bright yellow, pinkish-orange, red-carmine and purple in autumn.

Useful properties of irgi

Irga is not only tasty, rich in valuable vitamins and minerals, but also helps in the treatment of a number of ailments. For medicinal purposes, in addition to berries, buds, flowers, leaves and bark of the shrub are used.

properties of berry berry

Ripe fruits of irgi contain:

• healthy carbohydrates - over 11%;
• vitamin C;
• carotene;
• B vitamins;
• vitamin P;
• organic acids;
• antioxidants;
• bioflavonoids;
• fiber;
• pectins;
• fruit sugars;
• tannin components.

Vitamin C, carotene and bioflavonoids present in cinnamon fruits have a positive effect on vision, are useful for hypovitaminosis and beriberi, cardiovascular diseases, improve sleep, have general strengthening properties, and prevent thrombosis.

B group vitamins in interaction with vitamin P, fiber and pectins contribute to good digestion, activate intestinal motility, and normalize metabolic processes in the body. Decoctions of irgi berries are recommended for inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Organic acids and antioxidants contained in the fruits of shadberry have immunostimulating and oncoprotective properties. Regular consumption of fresh berries and juices from cinnamon gives a persistent hypotensive (reducing and maintaining blood pressure at a normal level) effect.

Irga has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Juice diluted with water, infusions and steams from ripe (fresh and frozen) berries of shadberry are prescribed for therapeutic rinses for stomatitis, acute and follicular tonsillitis. Healing remedies from cinnamon are also effective in recovering from food poisoning.

The calorie content of irgi, despite the significant content of fruit sugars, is not too high - only 40-45 kcal per 100 g of berries. Therefore, fresh irga, multivitamin juices and drinks from its fruits, in the absence of individual contraindications, are often recommended in diets.

In cooking, cinnamon berries are used as a delicious vitamin supplement for cereals, cottage cheese, and dairy desserts. Thick jams and jams are cooked from the shadberry, healthy compotes, jelly, sauces are prepared, its sweet berries are used as a filling in baking. Dried berries of irgi are an excellent substitute for raisins.

medicinal properties of irgi flowers

Along with shadberry berries, the beneficial properties of shrub flowers are also widely used in folk medicine. They also (although in lower concentrations) contain vitamins, valuable organic acids, trace elements, flavonoids and tannins. From the inflorescences of shadberry, homemade medicines are prepared that give anti-inflammatory, astringent, hypotensive, tonic effects.

Healing decoctions and steams and inflorescences of irgi are shown:

• with hypertension;
• with inflammatory diseases of the throat;
• with inflammatory processes in the gums;
• with periodontal disease;
• with gastrointestinal diseases;
• with digestive disorders;
• with general weakness;
• in case of sleep disturbance;
• with depression;
• when overtired.

Important: In a number of chronic diseases, irgu (as well as folk medicines from its leaves, buds, inflorescences) is undesirable to use. In addition, the substances contained in the plant can interact with certain medications and cause side effects. Therefore, before being treated with home remedies from irgi, you need to consult a doctor.

Irgi contraindications

Irga should be used with caution:

• with a tendency to food allergies;
• with problems with blood clotting;
• with uterine and intestinal bleeding;
• with persistent hypotension;
• with chronic constipation.

Irgi varieties:

irga lamarck, variety description

Irga Lamarck (Latin name Amelanchier Lamarckii)- large-flowered and large-leaved, ornamental fruit shrub. Irga Lamarka is able to reach over 5-7 m in height. The massive crown of the plant has an interesting umbrella configuration. The direction of the shoots of the Lamarck irgi is upright, slightly inclined.

The leaves of the shrub of this variety are large, oval, ovoid.

Flowering time for Amelanchier Lamarckii is mid to late May. The approximate ripening period is the beginning of August.

Young bushes of Lamarck's irgi grow rapidly. They bear fruit in 4-5 years. Mature shrubs grow at a moderate pace. This shadberry cultivar is highly frost-resistant, undemanding to soil and humidity: it develops without problems on calcareous soils, tolerates slight salinity, air pollution. Amelanchier Lamarckii is recommended as an ideal plant for vertical gardening in gardens and urban landscapes.

irga canadian, variety description

Irga Canadian (lat. Amelanchier canadensis)- a large multi-stemmed shrub, less often - a tree with a voluminous, dense, highly decorative crown. The plant reaches a height of 5-6 m, some subspecies - up to 8 m. An ideal choice for a solitary landscape planting. Canadian Irga is one of the varieties of centenarians, the shrub is able to develop and bear fruit for more than half a century.

The leaves of Amelanchier canadensis are large (up to 10 cm long), ellipsoid. This variety of irgi blooms with drooping tassels. In inflorescences - up to 9-10 star-shaped flowers.

There are about 50 varieties of Canadian shadberry. Species representatives begin to bear fruit in 4-5 years, varietal - as early as 2-3 years after planting. In the process of ripening, the rather large fruits of the Canadian shadberry change many shades: from pale cream and pinkish-beige to deep purple.

Amelanchier canadensis is photophilous, very undemanding to other growing conditions. Able to develop on poor soils and withstand severe winter frosts up to 45 °. A fully rooted shrub does not need complex care in abundant watering.

irga large-leaved, variety description

Irga large-leaved (lat. Amelanchier ovalis)- compact shrub with a wide domed crown. In height, a shrub of this variety can reach no more than 2.5-3 m. Young shoots are pale green with a slight silvery pubescence, mature ones are greenish-brown.

The leaves of Amelanchier ovalis are of medium density, elliptical, with a finely serrated contour.

Large-leaved irgi flowers are boiled white, without color shades. The beginning of flowering of numerous apical brushes of the shrub falls on the middle-end of May. Amelanchier ovalis bears fruit in July-August.

Irga large-leaved is quite winter-hardy only in the middle and southern strips of Russia. The shrub is sun-loving, drought-resistant. Prefers fertile soils containing a slight concentration of lime.

irga smokey, variety description

Smokey (lat. Amelanchier smokey)- one of the cultivars of Canadian shadberry. This variety is valued for its decorative structural form of a sprawling crown, unusually abundant and beautiful flowering, large-fruited and high yield. The smokey irgi bush is not too high - a maximum of 3 meters.

Amelanchier smokey leaves are small (up to 5 cm long). Flowering time is the end of May. Amelanchier smokey bears fruit closer to mid-August.

Despite the fact that Irga smokey is a varietal shrub, the plant is not inferior to wild-growing species in endurance and resistance to frost. Perfectly adapts to any, even not too fertile, soils.

irga spiked, variety description

Irga spiked, or spike-shaped, (lat. - Amelanchier spicata) — fairly tall tree-like shrub or tree. It reaches a height of 4.5-5 m. Its diameter approximately corresponds to the height of the shrub.

The leaves of the irgi spiky are oval, pointed at the top, with a finely toothed contour. Flowering time is mid-May. Irga spiky bears fruit 4-5 years after planting.

Seed germination of shadberry of this variety is low. It is better to propagate by shoots or by dividing the bush. Frost resistance of Amelanchier spicata is average. The irga spiky is absolutely undemanding to the soil. A normally rooted shrub practically does not need watering.

irga alder-leaved, variety description

Irga alder-leaved (lat. - Amelanchier alnifolia)- compact tree or woody shrub, up to 4 m tall. The crown of the shadberry shrub of this variety is not too dense and voluminous (up to 2-2.5 m in diameter).

Like alder, the leaves are elliptical, with a serrated contour, relief veins and fleecy linear stipules. Amelanchier alnifolia blooms in late April. The berries ripen by the end of July. Irga alder-leaved fructifies from about 5 years of age.

How to plant irgu:

landing site, sun or shade

Irga is quite photophilous. Therefore, for planting it is better to choose a sunny or only slightly shaded area. In the shade, shrub shoots grow rapidly upwards, and the lower part of the table can become ugly bare. In addition, sun-ripened shadberry berries are juicier and sweeter, and their harvest is richer. It is advisable not to choose wetlands and places with a high level of groundwater for irgi.

Irgu is planted both in autumn and in spring. Professional landscapers recommend autumn planting. The germination of seeds of shadberry is low, so planting 1-2 year old shrub seedlings should be preferred.

It is better to prepare a place for irgi from spring. The site is freed from weeds, stones, after which they dig up and keep it under black fallow until the very autumn - they loosen it many times, periodically moisten it. This allows you to save soil moisture and ensures the penetration of air into its lower layers. Before planting, the site for irgi must be dug up again (depth - 15-20 cm), adding potash and phosphorus fertilizers. Quantity - about 35-40 g per 1 m² of soil.

Irgu is planted in a specially prepared hole, 50 x 65 x 65 cm in size. Before planting, the top, arable, layer of soil is taken out. In approximate proportions of 1: 3: 3, the soil is mixed with rotted compost and sand. Then about 1.5 buckets of humus are poured into the pit, 150 g of potash and 350 g of phosphate fertilizer are added.

At the bottom of the pit, a mound is formed from the prepared soil, after which the seedling of the irgi is immersed, the roots are straightened, covered with the remaining soil, the surface is leveled, and it is easily tamped. When planting, it is important to ensure that the root neck of the irgi is not buried. The seedling is watered very abundantly. The soil around the planted shadberry is mulched with peat.

soil, acidity

Irga is unpretentious to soil conditions. For successful cultivation of shrubs, light sandy and loamy soils are best suited. The more fertile the soil, the less root shoots will form around the bush. The optimal acidity for the full development of irgi is pH 4.5-6.

Care, pruning, pests and diseases

Irga is so undemanding to any special care that after proper planting and successful rooting of the shrub, you can forget about it until the fruit ripens. It is enough to water the plant from time to time.

Irga also does not need regular and complex pruning. After planting, the aerial part of the shrub is cut to 15-17 cm. It is important to do this in such a way that 3-5 well-developed buds are preserved on each shoot. The next pruning of the irgi is performed no earlier than after 2 years.

The best time for pruning shadberry is very early spring. In the first years of shrub growth, only five to seven of the strongest "zero" shoots are left during pruning. In the future, the irgu is pruned only as needed, removing the root shoots, several old and overly thickening shoots.

Irga is quite resistant to pests and diseases. However, sometimes it can suffer from tuberculosis (drying and atrophy of shoots) and septoria (the so-called "gray rot"). The diseased branches of the irgi are carefully cut off and must be burned, after which the shrub is treated with copper sulphate or Bordeaux mixture. The main pests of the shrub are moth and seed-eater. To save the irgu, it is sprayed with actellik, karbofos, fufanon.

Watering

Irga is quite drought-resistant, since the roots of the shrub are able to penetrate deep into the soil by about 2.5-3 m. Therefore, Irga is watered only on the driest and hottest days. It is necessary to moisten not only the root part, but also the crown. To do this, it is convenient to use a hose with a sprayer. Watering is carried out after the decline of the daytime heat, not earlier than five or six in the evening. The next day, the moistened soil around the bush is not loosened too deeply, while weeds are removed.

In the summer, when there is a large amount of fresh fruits and berries, many people try to choose the most useful of them in order to strengthen the immune system and replenish the supply of vitamins in the body. One of these delicious berries is irga, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which are of interest to many.

What is irga

Irga is a very sweet medium-sized berry that has a purple or blue color. It is not very large in size from 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters. Inside this berry there are several small seeds (seeds), which are surrounded by juicy and sweet pulp.

Irga grows on a shrub, the height of which can reach five meters. Its leaves are whole, medium-sized, most often have a pointed shape. This wonderful plant blooms very early, usually in May or June. And by the middle of summer, its fruits are already ripening, and they can be eaten.

What is useful irga

The useful properties of irgi are very diverse and, despite such a small size, it contains a lot of vitamins and trace elements that are so necessary for the human body. So, why is it useful?

These berries contain many vitamins, for example, those belonging to group B, as well as vitamins PP and C. There is also a lot of carotene, microelements, organic acids, pectins and flavonols in irga. It is worth considering in more detail some of the properties of this berry.

Who is contraindicated in the use of irgi

Such a berry as irga is very useful. But, unfortunately, she, like many other berries, has a number of contraindications. So, it is not advised to eat it for people who have low blood pressure. But this does not mean that they absolutely cannot eat this berry. The fact is that a small amount of it will be very useful. It’s not for nothing that they say that everything is good in moderation.

This berry is also not advised to be eaten by those people who have low blood clotting (for example, patients with hemophilia). This also applies to workers whose work activities are associated with a high risk of injury. The fact is that irga thins the blood and, as a result, its low coagulability. It will be very difficult to stop the bleeding.

Irgi berry contraindications are also associated with its sedative effect. However, it manifests itself if you eat berries very often and in large quantities. In this case, lethargy and drowsiness may be observed. This condition is especially dangerous for people who drive a vehicle or those whose work activity involves a quick reaction.

And this berry has a laxative effect. If a large amount of irgi is eaten by a person on an empty stomach, then most likely this will lead to intestinal upset.

How to use irgu correctly

Useful properties and contraindications of irgi are now known to you, it remains only to find out how to use it correctly.

Irgu is used to prevent beriberi, as well as seasonal diseases such as flu and colds. To do this, you will need to eat irgu in small quantities daily. And for this purpose, not only fresh berries, but also dried, frozen ones are suitable. For a change, compote can be made from it.

If a person has hypertension or heart failure, then he is recommended to take a tincture made from dried irgi flowers. She prepares quite simply. To do this, you will need to pour a full large spoonful of dried flowers into a glass of freshly boiled water. The infusion is left for a couple of hours, and then filtered. Use the resulting tincture should be regularly one or two tablespoons at least 3 times a day.

Irga is a very useful plant with amazing properties. However, in order for it to certainly benefit, you need to eat berries little by little and do not do this on an empty stomach.