Serviceberries continue to ripen after picking. Most fruit of Amelanchier is absolutely delicious if you can beat the birds and other wildlife to the harvest. Photo credit: Kevin Kelly Serviceberry in the Kitchen It is beautiful in all seasons-spring airy blooms, summer fruit, beautiful fall color of yellows and oranges and reds, and winter interest with its gray bark and comely shape.Īmelanchier canadensis. Serviceberry belongs in every garden as it is quite versatile-as an understory tree, as a specimen tree and focal point, and as a provider of fruit for birds, other wildlife, and humans. ![]() Propagation is accomplished most often through stem cuttings. Like apples, the seeds are not true to the parentage. It is self-fruitful, meaning that the flowers can be pollinated by blossoms on the same tree. The shrub is a larval host, occasionally, for viceroy, Canadian tiger swallowtail, and striped hairstreak butterflies. The early white flowers are a source of nectar for butterflies and bees. The leaves are alternate, elliptical to oval. While considered a multi-stemmed shrub, some species/cultivars lend themselves to pruning into a single-stemmed small tree. (Note, serviceberries tend to bear larger crops every other year, which is true of most tree fruits.) Lastly, prune for ornamental shape-a bonus for the homeowner in the bare winter months. You can also prune to encourage new growth and greater fruit production as flowers (and therefore fruit) are found on two-to four-year-old wood. Some species sucker, so remove those as well. Prune for health: eliminate damaged or crossing branches. Powdery mildew can be a disease of serviceberry under favorable conditions. Prune when dormant to keep an open canopy for better airflow and light penetration. Mulch the area around the plant lightly and apply supplemental water during its first year and thereafter, when dry conditions warrant watering. It is tolerant of most soil types and soil pH but performs better in well-drained loamy soil. While it is considered an understory tree, berry production is better in full sun. Serviceberry should be planted in full sun to part shade. Serviceberries, apples, pears, and quinces are all pomes and are all botanically members of the family Rosaceae. A pome is defined as a fruit that has several small seeds surrounded by a membrane in the center of the edible flesh. A hybrid of downy and Allegheny serviceberry, Amelanchier x grandiflora (nicknamed apple serviceberry) has a cultivar called 'Autumn Brilliance' that is characterized as having enhanced flowering and brilliant autumn foliage.Īlthough the fruit is referred to as a berry, it is actually a pome. Among them are 'Smokey', 'Northline', 'Thiessen', 'Regent', and 'Pembina'. Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon serviceberry), is a native of northwestern North America but has many cultivars as it is considered to have the best quality fruit. Note that the fruit of the species Amelanchier arborea, downy serviceberry, is not considered very flavorful. The native running serviceberry ( Amelanchier stolonifera) is a small shrub at 4- to 6-feet tall and wide, but "runs" by underground stolons and will form thickets. Three varieties native to Pennsylvania - Amelanchier canadensis (shadblow serviceberry), Amelanchier arborea (downy serviceberry), and Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny serviceberry)-top out at between 15 and 30 feet tall and not quite as wide. The height and width of this shrub vary by species and cultivar. Cultivars and hybrids have been developed to enhance the many attractive features of Amelanchier-the plant's shape, fall coloration, and fruit size and flavor. Several species are native to Pennsylvania. Nantucket, Saskatoon, and coastal juneberry all reference the geographical range of the species. The common name shadbush or shadblow was given because the blooming of the shrub was at the same time as when the shad fish ran up the river to spawn. Juneberry denotes the timing of the ripe berries. When it blooms the ground is thawed enough for burials ("services") to happen after the long, frozen winter. Serviceberry, the most common nickname, refers to the timing of its early spring blooms. ![]() Some of these nicknames are specific to the characteristics of a particular species, some to geographical locations, and some to the historical use and timing of its flowers and fruit. All species grow in full sun to part shade, have small five-petalled white flowers that emerge before or at the same time as the leaves, and have small edible berries that darken to a deep reddish-purple to black when ripe.Īmelanchier is known by a variety of common names which attest to its widespread use and importance. There are many species of this native that have adapted to specific conditions from Canada to the southern United States, from the Atlantic coastal plains to the Mountain West. is a native North American shrub that is sometimes grown as a small tree.
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