Dwarf Shadbush Amelanchier spicata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Amelanchier stolonifera
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-uh-LAN-kee-er spi-KAY-tuh
- Description
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Dwarf Serviceberry is a small, native, deciduous shrub in the rose family found in disturbed sites, meadows, forest edges and fields. It is native to the coastal and Piedmont regions of NC. This shrub grows 3-5 feet tall and wide and can form dense thickets. It is drought tolerant once established.
Grow this shrub in average somewhat dry well-drained soils, preferably acidic, with full sun to partial shade. Use as a hedge, in naturalized areas, native gardens and to attract pollinators and birds.
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:
- spicata
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The fruits were an important food source for Native Americans and settlers
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada, central and eastern U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits attract birds.
- Edibility:
- Fruits can be eaten raw or cooked. Have a sweet flavor.
- 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:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- 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:
- 3/8 inch fleshy fruits start out red and mature to purple/black. Great food source for birds. Fruits are available late summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch white flowers with 5 petals have green sepals between the petals and bloom in dense clusters in March-April
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1.5-3 inches long, simple, alternate leaves. Margins toothed on the upper 2/3s. Tip forms an abrupt point and base is rounded or slightly heart-shaped. Color is medium green, undersides paler with many hairs. Fall color variable from green to yellow or orange
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Mature bark is thin, smooth and ash gray with slightly darker strips
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are reddish-brown. Winter buds have scales that overlap like shingles (i.e. one of the edges is covered and the other edge is exposed)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
