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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Aesculus sylvatica Aesculus sylvatica
Amelanchier arborea Form in the spring, flowers appear before the leaves.
Symplocos tinctoria Symplocos tinctoria
Amelanchier canadensis has some common insect problems:
Scale Insects Found on Flowers and Foliage
Amelanchier canadensis has some common disease problems:
Apple Powdery Mildew

Shadblow serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis

Previously known as:

  • Amelanchier lucida
  • Amelanchier oblongifolia
Phonetic Spelling
am-eh-LAN-kee-er kan-ah-DEN-sis
Description

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.   

More information on Amelanchier.

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See this plant in the following landscape:
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', 'Pyramidalis', ‘Rainbow Pillar’, ‘Spring Glory’, 'Trazam' also known as 'Tradition'
Tags:
#gold#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#specimen#shrub#native tree#native shrub#fall interest#showy fruits#small mammals#highly beneficial coastal plants#fire low flammability#NC native#large shrub#deer resistant#small and large mammals#native garden#naturalizes#pollinator plant#flowers early spring#larval host plant#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#red-spotted purple butterfly#viceroy butterflies#vhfn#vhfn-f#wildlife friendly
 
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', 'Pyramidalis', ‘Rainbow Pillar’, ‘Spring Glory’, 'Trazam' also known as 'Tradition'
Tags:
#gold#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#full sun tolerant#specimen#shrub#native tree#native shrub#fall interest#showy fruits#small mammals#highly beneficial coastal plants#fire low flammability#NC native#large shrub#deer resistant#small and large mammals#native garden#naturalizes#pollinator plant#flowers early spring#larval host plant#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#red-spotted purple butterfly#viceroy butterflies#vhfn#vhfn-f#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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