Shadeberries

Basic Information

Anatomy

The shadeberry plant is a small woody shrub, growing on average 3-4 feet wide and four feet tall. It has smooth rounded leaves that branch from woody stems, and will typically grow clusters of berries from its leaf nodes the year following pruning. These plants favor high shade and a wide variety of soil conditions, able to grow in most areas as long as it is not in direct sunlight. Fruits from the shadeberry bush are typically a dark purple or wine red in color, growing in tightly bunched clusters, and encircled by a gathering of leaves. Their taste is generally described as sour, tart, and juicy, not unlike the combination of sour grapes, blueberries, and raspberries, and for good reason: Shadeberries are an entirely artificial plant created by science using the combination of genes from many fruit bearing species.
The plant was developed to be extremely high in vitamin c, vitamin a, and to tolerate a massive array of environments to be planted in struggling agricultural areas. In particular, focus was put on developing strains that were extremely shade tolerant and needed little light in order be planted within orchards under fruit trees, as well as for extremely fast growth so they could be planted at the start of the season, and the whole plant harvested. Shadeberry bark and leaves are also edible, being high in tannins, fiber, and suitable for consumption by people and animals alike.

Variants

Golden Shadeberry- A lighter, sweeter breed of the plant that produces yellow berries. This variety is often favored for desserts, fermentation, and children's snacks.
Starlight Shadeberry- A designer breed emphasizing on white speckles on the shrub's leaves and fruit, said to look like stars. Its taste does not differ from the main breed.
Shadow Shadeberry- A tougher, cold hardy breed developed for extreme northern regions that do not receive much sunlight. This variant produces smaller leaves, fewer berries, and thicker bark, and is often used for tea or animal feed when harvested.

Growth Rate & Stages

The shadeberry is a fast growing shrub that needs regular pruning, often during the harvest. New bushes are planted at the very start of the growing season in orchards under the fruit trees, oftentimes apples, peaches, pears, or plums to take advantage of nutrients not used by the tree, as well as those left behind by rotten fruit. The bushes can grow so quickly that they are often producing fruit by summer, and by the harvest season, can safely be trimmed back to the soil without killing the main plant.
There have been concerns raised by ecologists about the species' hybridization and potential for it to reproduce with plants used to create it, such as raspberries, and their incredibly hardy nature. Due to the plants being so tough to kill, even on purpose, specimens that have not been properly trimmed or have grown outside of orchards could pose ecological risk.

Biological Cycle

This shrub blooms exclusively at night, producing small star shaped flowers that are a pale blue or cream in color. The flowers close when the sun begins to rise, allowing nighttime pollinators a food source away from other creatures. As a result, they are often pollinated by bats and moths, a great boon to farmers, as bats often eat pest insects attacking their other crops.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The main purpose of shadeberries is for their fruit production. Shadeberries are often eaten alone, though are also quite popular as a dessert item, being made into pies, tarts, syrups, and pastries in areas they are grown. Due to their high nutritional value, they are often used in manufactured foods such as children's snacks and breakfast items. Leaves and bark are also edible, though are oftentimes only used as animal feed or additives to teas.

Origin/Ancestry

Domestic GMO

Conservation Status

Domestic- No native or wild range