Amelanchier sp., Serviceberry Shrub, Gallon pot

Amelanchier sp., Serviceberry Shrub

FS - PS, Zone 4, Blooms May-June, 25’ x 4-6’, medium moisture to dry

Serviceberries are among the first trees to bloom in the spring, bursting with beautiful white flowers that festoon the entire canopy.  The lovely veil of blooms gives way to small pome fruits that blush red and then darken to a ripe purple black in late summer.  These fruits show a large degree of variance in berry quality: some are juicy and sweet-tart - perfect for preserves and baking - while others can be dry and flavorless.  All are in high demand and difficult to pluck before the birds consume them.  This small tree is named for the particularly soft, fuzzy undersides on new leaves.  The foliage turns a coppery or burgundy color in the fall.

Remarkably hardy and surprisingly tolerant, Serviceberries grow in any type of sun exposure.  It is more likely to reach its full 25-foot height potential in full or partial sun.  This tree prefers drier sites but handles medium soil moisture as long as there is plenty of particulate matter for optimal drainage.  Although Serviceberries often produces several stems, this species does not colonize from the roots; it spreads primarily by seed.  Protect seedlings from rabbits.

The genus Amelanchier is considered a keystone tree; these species host a haven of ecological interactions, providing food and shelter for a staggeringly high percentage of pollinating insects, the birds and small mammals that prey upon them, and it creates a foundational site for countless food webs.  Cedar Waxwings, Baltimore Orioles, Hermit Thrush, and Hairy Woodpeckers are all drawn to the berries.