Sarvis-tree Amelanchier arborea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- A. canadensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-uh-LAN-kee-er ar-bor-EE-ah
- Description
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Serviceberry is a deciduous tree that typically grows 15 to 25 feet tall, however, it can reach heights of 40' in the wild. It is typically found growing ion wooded slopes and cliffs, open woods, wooded bluffs, rocky woodlands, limestone glades, riverbanks, and edges of swamps. It is a multistemmed small tree or if the root suckers are not removed, it will attain a more shrubby like form. In the spring, fragrant 5-petaled, white flowers mature. The flowers are followed by leaves that are alternate with a finely toothed margin and hairy underside. The bark is smooth when young. As the tree ages, long, vertical splits and furrows develop. The small tree produces a red to purple berry that matures in the late summer to fall. The berries have some resemblance to blueberries.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Insects include leaf miner, pear sawfly, spider mites, aphids, peach borer, and scale insects. Diseases affecting the plant are cedar apple rust, glomerella leaf spot-fruit rot, fire blight, powdery mildew, witches' broom, and leaf blight. This plant is slow to root after transplant. Its suckering habit may also lead to the plant being somewhat invasive.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" 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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- Amelanchier x grandflora 'Autumn Sunset'
Orange fall color - 'Cole'
- 'Robin Hill'
Tolerates partial paving, good street tree.
var. arborea
var. laevis
- Amelanchier x grandflora 'Autumn Sunset'
- Amelanchier x grandflora 'Autumn Sunset', 'Cole', 'Robin Hill', var. arborea, var. laevis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Amelanchier x grandflora 'Autumn Sunset'
Orange fall color - 'Cole'
- 'Robin Hill'
Tolerates partial paving, good street tree.
var. arborea
var. laevis
- Amelanchier x grandflora 'Autumn Sunset'
- Amelanchier x grandflora 'Autumn Sunset', 'Cole', 'Robin Hill', var. arborea, var. laevis
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amelanchier
- Species:
- arborea
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for Red-spotted purple and Viceroy butterflies. Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, small and large mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire in the landscape. This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
- Edibility:
- Edible fruit used to make jams, jellies, and pies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The small, fleshy green apple-like fruits will turn red. In the summer, they will mature to a purple-black. They have a similar taste as highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), but slightly sweeter. Fruits display from May to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- 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:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Drooping racemes of star-shaped, white to pale pink flowers bloom from March to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- 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:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Young leaves are covered with hairs on the underside, an almost pussy willow effect. As the tree matures, the leaves are less hairy. At maturity, the green leaves may be covered with hairs.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is smooth when young, more fissured as it ages. As the tree ages, long, vertical splits and furrows develop.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Mass Planting
- Shade Tree
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
