Amelanchier
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Amelancus
- Aronia
- Description
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Serviceberry prefers acidic evenly moist soils in the partial shade, with some morning sun. It tolerates clay. It is one of the first to flower in the spring, right before dogwoods. The common name serviceberry comes because it blooms as soon as the ground starts to thaw, and it is blooming when people were able to dig graves and bury their dead after the winter. The flowers and later fruits dropping can be high maintenance.
Form: A multitrunked shrub or small tree with a rounded crown.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It becomes chlorotic in alkaline soils and does not tolerate wind.
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amelanchier
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Africa, Northern America and Asia-Temperate
- Distribution:
- ME to IA, south to northern FL
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds. 120 species of Lepidoptera (caterpillars that turn into butterflies or moths) feed on the tree.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- mildly resistant to deer damage
- Edibility:
- Tasty fruits
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Pome
- Fruit Description:
- Edible berry-like pome starts green and turns to red and then blue-black
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Short lived (10 days) lightly fragrant white racemes 2"-4" long bloom early spring just before dogwoods.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, serrate margins, elliptical to ovate 1"-3" long. Has rounded to cordate base, acute apex. Good yellow-orange to red-orange fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Gray smooth with longitudinal fissures that are striated and ridged at maturity. Provides winter interest.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Pointed buds have overlapping scales
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Problems:
- Messy
- Amelanchier is often confused with:
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Amelanchier x grandiflora
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
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Crataegus nitida
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Cotinus coggygria
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Cornus kousa
