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Amelanchier arborea (Downy Serviceberry)

Downy Serviceberry, Juneberry, Shadbush, Service-Tree, Sarvis-Tree, Amelanchier Tree

Amelanchier arborea, Downy Serviceberry, Juneberry, Shadbush, Service-Tree, Sarvis-Tree, Amelanchier Tree, Shrub, Fall color, Shrub with berries
Amelanchier lamarckii, Juneberry, Snowy Mespilus, Amelanchier botryapium, Amelanchier canadensis, Amelanchier laevis, Shrub, Fall color, Shrub with berries

Early-flowering, Amelanchier arborea (Downy Serviceberry) is a large deciduous shrub or small tree of rounded habit boasting a profusion of 5-petaled, showy, slightly fragrant, white flowers in early to mid-spring. Borne in drooping clusters, they appear before the leaves emerge. They are attractive to pollinators and followed by small, round, tasty, dark purplish-black berries in early summer. Resembling blueberries in size and color, they taste like those of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and are often used in jams, jellies, and pies if not eaten by the birds.

Serviceberry trees are a beacon for a diverse array of bird species, notably the American Robin, Baltimore Oriole, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, and various warblers. With their nutritious berries and welcoming branches, serviceberries provide vital sustenance and habitat.

The foliage of finely-toothed, obovate leaves emerges covered with soft, woolly hairs that disappear as the leaves mature (hence the common name). Rich green in summer, the leaves, up to 4 in. long (10 cm), turn fiery shades of yellow, orange, apricot, or dusty red in the fall. The smooth, gray bark is streaked with longitudinal fissures and provides an excellent effect in winter. Native to eastern North America, Downy Serviceberry grows on a variety of sites, from swampy lowlands to dry woods and sandy bluffs. It also grows on rocky ridges, forest edges, and open woodlands and fields. Very easy to grow, Downy Serviceberry provides year-round interest in the garden and is most effective in naturalistic plantings and along wood edges, ponds, and streams.

  • Grows up to 15-25 ft. tall and wide (4-8 m).
  • A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in moist to dry, well-drained, acidic soils. Best berry production and fall color occur in full sun. Tolerant of a somewhat wide range of soils, including loamy, sandy, or rocky.
  • Low maintenance, this plant is also generally pest and disease free, but keep an eye out for fire blight.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant or shrub borders. Great in naturalized or native plant gardens and along ponds and streams.
  • Propagate by seed and semi-hardwood cuttings.
  • Native to eastern North America.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 4 - 9
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Amelanchier
Common names Downy Serviceberry, Serviceberry, Juneberry
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 15' - 25'
(4.6m - 7.6m)
Spread 15' - 25'
(4.6m - 7.6m)
Spacing 180" - 300"
(4.6m - 7.6m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Midwest, Missouri, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Dry Soil, Clay Soil
Attracts Birds, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (Serviceberry)
Amelanchier utahensis (Utah Serviceberry)
Amelanchier stolonifera (Running Serviceberry)
Amelanchier ovalis (Snowy Mespilus)
Amelanchier lamarckii (Juneberry)
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny Serviceberry)

Recommended Companion Plants

Mertensia virginica (Virginian Bluebells)
Tulips
Narcissi (Daffodils)
Trillium
Azalea and Rhododendron
Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

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Small Trees, Big Impact: Maximize Your Garden’s Potential
Spectacular Trees for Vibrant Fall Colors: A Gardener’s Guide
Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
Choosing Your Ideal Hedge: A Guide to Top Shrubs for Any Garden
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For the Love of Butterflies: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
6 Reasons You Should Create a Butterfly Garden
Amelanchier (Serviceberry)
For the Love of Bees: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
Trees with Four Seasons of Interest for Your Garden
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 4 - 9
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Amelanchier
Common names Downy Serviceberry, Serviceberry, Juneberry
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 15' - 25'
(4.6m - 7.6m)
Spread 15' - 25'
(4.6m - 7.6m)
Spacing 180" - 300"
(4.6m - 7.6m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Midwest, Missouri, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Dry Soil, Clay Soil
Attracts Birds, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
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Do I Need?
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