Peraphyllum ramosissimum
Squaw Apple
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Peraphyllum genus in the family Rosaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Peraphyllum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 1.8 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked[1]. Sour when unripe, the fruits are slightly bitter as they ripen and when fully ripe are sweetish but with a bitter after-taste[5][2]. Those fruits that have fully ripened and dried on the plant are the sweetest and most desirable[5][2]. Ripe fruits can also be used in making jellies or prepared like spiced crab apples[5][2]. Fruits are rarely borne in Britain[1][3].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America.
- Habitat
- Dry hillsides[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise as soon as stored seed is received. Stored seed is likely to require a period of cold stratification. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter, planting out in late spring. Layering in spring. Takes 12 months[4].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a good well-drained neutral or lime-free loam and the maximum possible sunshine in a sheltered position[1][3]. Does well in hot dry summers[3]. Closely related to the Amelanchier species[1].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9