Pidgeon berry Amelanchier alnifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Pidgeon berry:
Previously known as:
- Amelanchier florida
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-eh-LAN-kee-er al-nih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
-
This variety of serviceberry is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 30 feet tall, although typically its height will be in the 3 to 18-foot range. Before it leafs out in the spring, clusters of small, white flowers emerge. The fragrant blooms may last as long as a month.
Its small, sweet berries, that ripen in early summer, are edible by both humans and wildlife. It has been developed for commercial fruit production. It can be eaten fresh, or in the preparation of pies and muffins, or dried similar to raisins. It can also be used in jellies, wines, and cider. Birds, including ruffed grouse, dove several varieties of woodpeckers, and mammals enjoy the fruit and use the dense growth for shelter. The twigs and leaves contain cyanide compounds and if eaten in large quantities by animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep, it can be a fatal poison.
Suckers can form colonies. The suckers can also be used as a means of propagation through layering or separation.
Arrows and pipe stems can be made from the shoots of this plant.
Its natural habitat includes moist stream banks, drier hillsides, swamps, thickets, and open wooded areas.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Cedar-apple rust, leaf spot, fireblight, brown rot, canker, powdery mildew, and black leaf can damage this plant. Insects include apids, thrips, mites, bud moths, and sawflies.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs, and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Altaglow'
Narrow hatbit to 23' tall. Seldom suckers. Self-sterile. Berries creamy-white, sparse. Fall color magnificent golden,red,pruple. - 'Northline'
Medium shrub, 6-10' - 'Regent'
Compact shrub - 'Smoky'
15' tall, suckers freely, large fruit - 'Thiessen'
To 16' tall; columnar, becoming roundish. Fruit abundant, juicy and large.
- 'Altaglow'
- 'Altaglow', 'Northline', 'Regent', 'Smoky', 'Thiessen'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Altaglow'
Narrow hatbit to 23' tall. Seldom suckers. Self-sterile. Berries creamy-white, sparse. Fall color magnificent golden,red,pruple. - 'Northline'
Medium shrub, 6-10' - 'Regent'
Compact shrub - 'Smoky'
15' tall, suckers freely, large fruit - 'Thiessen'
To 16' tall; columnar, becoming roundish. Fruit abundant, juicy and large.
- 'Altaglow'
- 'Altaglow', 'Northline', 'Regent', 'Smoky', 'Thiessen'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amelanchier
- Species:
- alnifolia
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western and Central North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds, bees, butterflies and small mammals
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The fruit is edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Juicy, sweet, edible fruit ripens in early summer, are 0.3 to 0.5 inches, and are bluish-purple in color.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The compact clusters of white flowers appear in spring and are 0.75 inches. The flowers emerge before the shrubs leaves appear.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The light green leaves have a variable fall color of red/ yellow, which remains for an extended period of time. Wedge-shaped to sub-cordate at the base, rounded at the tip. Gray-pubescent on the lower surface.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- A single-trunked shrub, reaching up to 30' tall.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Specialized Bees
- Problems:
- Short-lived
