Amelanchier / Serviceberry
Amelanchier / serviceberry
Whether you call the Amelanchier by it's most common name of Serviceberry or one of it's more exotic names such as Saskatoon, Shadbush, Shadblow, Indian Pear, Juneberry or May Cherry, you'll fall in love with this northwest native plant.
Plant some of the extraordinarily fine Amelanchier alnifolia in your landscape this spring for years of enjoyment. It's a fine ornamental with sprightly flowers and delicious fruit. In Canada where it's usually called "Saskatoon Berry," the fruit is so much enjoyed the plant is grown commercially for the fruit.
Birds are particularly fond of this native. It is not unusual for a whole flock to alight on a Serviceberry when the fruit is ripe. They have quite a conversation as they noisily enjoy the fine berries, chatting and chirping and singing little trills. You might plant an extra shrub or two so there will be enough fruit to share. You won't want to miss out on a Serviceberry pie or some jam. Delicious! If you have enough berries, try a batch of homemade wine.
AUTUMN BRILLIANCE SERVICEBERRY
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance'
This tremendously popular tree offers white blossoms in spring, followed by showy, sweet purplish-black fruit. Heavily branched, the tree has an interesting spreading branch pattern, and attractive light gray bark. The brilliant fall leaves are quite persistent. Own root.
This "juneberry" tree form makes a fantastic addition to the landscape. Attracting wildlife to feed on it's fruit.
Height: 20 - 25 ft
Spread: 15 - 20 ft
Fall Color: Rich Gold to Red
USDA Zone: 3 - 8
CARE: POSITIVES & DRAWBACKs
POSITIVES:
From attracting wildlife to your landscape to the uses for human consumption, the positives of this plant abound! A tough easy to grow plant there is much to be liked about the Serviceberry. This plant is commonly known as juneberry because the fruit ripens usually at the end of June here in North Dakota. Just in time for that summer juneberry pie treat.
RIPE FRUIT OF SERVICEBERRY
FLOWERS OF SERVICEBERRY
drawbacks:
There are no serious disease problems associated with this plant however, since it is in the Rose family it is again subject to the common but treatable Fireblight disease. A bacterial infection introduced by rain or insect pollinators if left unchecked this disease can cause severe harm to this plant. For more information on this disease, see our page on diseases.
PRUNING:
The optimal time to prune these plants is in spring before the new growth emerges.
For more information, see our page on pruning.