Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Serviceberry:
Previously known as:
- Amelanchier lucida
- Amelanchier oblongifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-eh-LAN-kee-er kan-ah-DEN-sis
- Description
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Shadblow serviceberry is a deciduous, early-flowering, large shrub or small tree in the rose family that is native to eastern North America and is found in the coastal and Piedmont of NC. It is an understory tree, often found growing in clumps in swamps, bogs, lowlands, and thickets and grows 15 to 25 feet tall. In spring the showy, fragrant flowers bloom in clusters before leaf-out. The purple berry-like drupes follow and are attractive to wildlife and edible by humans. In fall the leaves turn showy red and orange.
This tree prefers part shade and moist well-drained sandy loam but is adaptable to both wet and dry sites and various soil types. It is somewhat clay tolerant. It will grow in full sun but appreciates afternoon shade especially in the south and will require moister soil. It is somewhat tolerant of salt but not of urban conditions.
It has three seasons of interest, making it a good small tree to use as a specimen or in small groups. It is a fine addition to naturalized or woodland sites or pollinator gardens. It can also be used along lakes, streams, ponds or other wet sites.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Rust, leaf spot, blight, and powdery mildew can occur. Insects include the sawfly, leaf miner, borers and scale.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" 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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- 'Prince William'
An 8'-12' multistem large shrub; not a tree. Berries abundant, large, resembling blueberries, Fall color a dull yellow. - 'Pyramidalis'
Foliage glaucous, hairless at maturity;green late to fall. To 30' X 12' wide. - ‘Rainbow Pillar’
Dense, usable as hedge. Nice fall color - ‘Spring Glory’
Heavy flower production, Orange fall color - 'Trazam' also known as 'Tradition'
Maintains a central leader.
- 'Prince William'
- 'Prince William', 'Pyramidalis', ‘Rainbow Pillar’, ‘Spring Glory’, 'Trazam' also known as 'Tradition'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Prince William'
An 8'-12' multistem large shrub; not a tree. Berries abundant, large, resembling blueberries, Fall color a dull yellow. - 'Pyramidalis'
Foliage glaucous, hairless at maturity;green late to fall. To 30' X 12' wide. - ‘Rainbow Pillar’
Dense, usable as hedge. Nice fall color - ‘Spring Glory’
Heavy flower production, Orange fall color - 'Trazam' also known as 'Tradition'
Maintains a central leader.
- 'Prince William'
- 'Prince William', 'Pyramidalis', ‘Rainbow Pillar’, ‘Spring Glory’, 'Trazam' also known as 'Tradition'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amelanchier
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used to make wooden handles, walking sticks, and fishing rods
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- USA: AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WV Canada: NB , NS , PE , QC
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a host plant for the Red-Spotted Purple and the Viceroy butterflies. Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms. The fruits are eaten by songbirds and both small and large mammals. Moderately deer resistant.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Edible berries are similar to blueberries and are used in jams, jellies and pies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- 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:
- Berry-like pome starts out green then turns red and finally matures to dark purplish-black from May to June.
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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:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Showy, upright, 5-petaled, slightly fragrant, white flowers with up to 20 stamens in drooping racemes that appear before the leaves emerge from March to April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Medium to dark green leaves (1-3" long) that change to orange-red in autumn. The leaves are alternate, simple, oblong, finely-toothed, rounded at base and apex with a small, sharp projection at the apex. Young leaves have fine hairs but become smooth with age. The undersides have fine hairs.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is smooth when young. As the tree ages, the bark develops rough long ridges and furrows.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The twigs are hairy when young, becoming smooth with age. They are reddish-brown in the winter and produce reddish-purple leaf buds. The buds are long and pointed, with scales that have reddish-yellow to reddish-green margins and usually hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Shade Tree
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Wet Soil
