Description
Osteomeles –
There are 3 species of deciduous, semi evergreen, or evergreen shrubs or small trees in this genus. They occur in river valleys in China, Japan, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. They have alternate, finely pinnate leaves composed of many rounded leaflets. From mid spring to early summer it bears terminal corymbs of small, cup shaped, 5 petaled, slightly fragrant, white flowers followed by spherical to ovoid, red brown, black, or blue-black fruits, to 3/8″ across. They are best grown in a sheltered shrub border or against a wall.
Grow in any fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade, shelter from cold winds.
O. schweiniae – This deciduous or semi evergreen shrub from Southwestern China grows 5-10′ feet tall and wide. From arching, long, slender shoots it carries ovate to oblong-ovate, pinnate leaves, to 3″ long, consisting of 15-31, 1/4″ grayish, downy ovate-oblong leaflets. In early summer, it bears small cup shaped white flowers with prominent stamens, to 3/4″ across, are held in corymbs, to 3″ across, they are followed by spherical, red brown fruit that ripen to bluish black.
Zones 7-11
