Shadblow Amelanchier
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Shadblow:
Previously known as:
- Amelancus
- Aronia
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-uh-LAN-kee-er
- Description
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Serviceberry is in the Roseaceae (rose) family and native to Europe, Africa, Northern America, and Temperate Asia. It is one of the first shrubs to flower in the spring, just before the dogwoods. It acquired the common name serviceberry because it blooms as soon as the ground starts to thaw, when people were able to dig graves and bury their dead after the winter. It also derives the common names of shadbush and shadblow from the fact that the masses of flowers tend to open at the same time that shad ascend the rivers in early spring to spawn.
Serviceberry is a multitrunked shrub or small tree with a rounded crown and grows 15 feet tall. In the wild, it can grow significantly larger than in the landscape. It forms root suckers, and if they are allowed to grow, it will result in the plant growing as a shrub rather than a tree. Over time, the suckers will cause the plant to form a small colony. Pruning should be done in the fall in order to avoid excessive loss of sap.
It does well in a broad range of areas, from lawns, patios, and ponds to meadows and woodlands. Include it in edible, native, pollinator, or drought-tolerant gardens as an accent plant, shade tree, or screening hedge.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fire blight and fungal leaf spot may affect the plant’s overall health. Rust and powdery mildew are also issues. It becomes chlorotic in alkaline soils and does not tolerate wind. The flowers, and later fruits, dropping on the ground can require high maintenance. Rabbits will often destroy the seedlings.
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:
- Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden, Durham Co.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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A. alnifolia
- ‘Autumn Brilliance’
A. arborea
A. canadensis
A. laevis
A. obovalis
A. spicata
- ‘Autumn Brilliance’
- A. alnifolia, A. arborea, A. canadensis, A. laevis, A. obovalis, A. spicata, ‘Autumn Brilliance’, A. x grandiflora
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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A. alnifolia
- ‘Autumn Brilliance’
A. arborea
A. canadensis
A. laevis
A. obovalis
A. spicata
- ‘Autumn Brilliance’
- A. alnifolia, A. arborea, A. canadensis, A. laevis, A. obovalis, A. spicata, ‘Autumn Brilliance’, A. x grandiflora
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amelanchier
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- 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. Attracts native bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Mildly resistant to deer damage
- Edibility:
- Tasty fruits, similar in flavor to blueberries, edible raw or cooked.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 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
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- 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:
- Edible berry-like pome starts green and turns to red and then blue-black. The fruit bears some resemblance to blueberries. They are edible and can be used in jams and jellies.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- 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:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Short-lived (10 days) lightly fragrant white, drooping racemes 2"-4" long bloom early spring just before dogwoods. Flower parts are in multiples of fives. The flowers appear in the spring just before the leaves.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, serrate margins, elliptical to ovate 1"-3" long; not very distinct. Has rounded to cordate base, acute apex. Good yellow-orange to red-orange fall color. The young leaves are covered with soft hairs that disappear as the leaf matures.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray, and smooth with longitudinal fissures that are striated and ridged at maturity. It often has a reddish, brownish cast. It provides winter interest.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Pointed buds have overlapping scales.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Problems:
- Messy