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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Amelanchier arborea Form in the spring, flowers appear before the leaves.
Amelanchier arborea var. laevis Amelanchier arborea var. laevis
Amelanchier canadensis Amelanchier canadensis

Common Seviceberry Amelanchier arborea var. arborea

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Amelanchier oblongifolia
Phonetic Spelling
am-eh-LAN-kee-er ar-BOR-ee-ah vah-RYE-eh-tee ar-BOR-ee-ah
Description

Common Serviceberry is an early flowering native multi-stemmed shrub or single-trunked small tree.  The trunk is typically short and may be up to 16" across. It will form several trunks, making the pruning of the central leader necessary to grow as a tree.

One of three natives,  Amelanchier Arborea, var. Arborea is the one generally known as common serviceberry.

Its seeds are spread by birds.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  Occasionally, rust, leaf spot, fire blight, and powdery mildew may occur.  Insects include sawfly, borers, leaf miner and scale.

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Amelanchier arborea.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#gold#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#white flowers#orange leaves#pink flowers#red leaves#fall interest#flowering tree#air pollution tolerant#cpp#gold leaves#deer resistant#native garden#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant
 
Amelanchier arborea var. arborea
Flowers Kerry Woods CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Amelanchier arborea
Bark Paul Wray, Iowa State Univ. CC BY 3.0
Amelanchier arborea
Fruit John Ruter, Univ. of Georgia CC BY 3.0
Amelanchier arborea var. arborea
Shrub Form Dan Mullen CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Amelanchier arborea
Tree form John Ruter, Univ. of Georgia CC BY 3.0
Amelanchier arborea
Fall color John Ruter, Univ. of Georgia CC BY 3.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#gold#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#white flowers#orange leaves#pink flowers#red leaves#fall interest#flowering tree#air pollution tolerant#cpp#gold leaves#deer resistant#native garden#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Amelanchier
    Species:
    arborea
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern America
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX., VA, VT, WI, WV
    Wildlife Value:
    The fruit attracts birds, a nectar plant for butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    dry soil, mildly resistant to damage by deer
    Edibility:
    The fruit is edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Multi-trunked
    Rounded
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The plant has small, reddish-purple, apple-like fruits. The fruit, which appear after flowering, attracts birds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    This plant has drooping racemes of 6 to 14 star-shaped, white to pale pink flowers that bloom in early spring. Individual flowers are under 1" is size.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are hairy on the underside until maturity. They become less hairy as they mature. Mature leaves do have some hairs, but not as hairy as when young. The light green petioles are up to 1.5" in length and while young, covered with wooly hairs. Nice fall color.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Bark Description:
    Trunk bark is gray. As the plant ages, it develops shallow furrows and flat ridges.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Flowering Tree
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil