Coastal Serviceberry Amelanchier obovalis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Amalenchier canadensis var. obovalis
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-uh-LAN-kee-er OH-bo-VAY-liss
- Description
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Coastal Serviceberry is a drought-tolerant deciduous native shrub in the rose family found in NC in pocosins and savannas of the coastal plain. The showy white spring flowers appear in clusters and are followed by edible red to purple fruits in summer. Fall leaf color ranges from green to yellow and orange.
The compact form of this shrub makes it suitable for home gardens and it will spread over time to form colonies. It prefers moist to dry, acidic, loamy well-drained soils in part shade to full sun but is adaptable to other sites. It is drought-tolerant once established. Use as a hedge, in shrub borders, native plantings, naturalized areas and gardens for the birds- they love the fruit.
Insect and Disease Problems: None serious but rust, leaf spot, fire blight, powdery mildew and canker are occasional disease problems.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amelanchier
- Species:
- obovalis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- 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:
- Fruits are 3/8 inch, red to purple and edible. Mature in May-June
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch white flowers with 5 petals in upright clusters appear March-May
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Light to medium green oval leaves are up to 2 inches long, finely toothed with yellow to orange fall color
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
