Amelanchier arborea
| Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Amelanchier arborea |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Order | Rosales |
| Genus | Amelanchier |
| Native range | Eastern and central North America |
| Habit | Deciduous shrub or small tree |
| Typical height | Usually 15–25 ft |
| Habitat | Wooded slopes, cliffs, riverbanks and swamp edges |
| Fruit | Red to purple; ripens late summer to fall; edible raw or cooked |
Amelanchier arborea is a deciduous serviceberry in the rose family, Rosaceae. The accepted name is Amelanchier arborea; Amelanchier canadensis is a distinct species that is nevertheless used as a nursery name for this plant in some trade contexts.[1][2] Downy serviceberry, Juneberry and Shadbush are documented common names.[2]
Description[edit | edit source]
The species is a shrub or small tree usually reaching about 15–25 ft, with white flowers in spring and small fruit that changes from red to purple as it ripens.[2] Its native range extends across eastern and central North America. Natural settings include wooded slopes, cliffs, riverbanks and the edges of swamps.[1] A botanical description also notes reddish-purple berries, gray bark with longitudinal fissures and wine-red fall foliage.[3]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In its native settings, Amelanchier arborea occurs on wooded slopes, cliffs, riverbanks and swamp edges. It grows in acidic to neutral sand, loam or clay when the soil is moist and well drained, while also tolerating occasional wet or dry conditions.[2] A planting site should therefore drain freely without being kept permanently saturated; the species' documented range of conditions allows some seasonal variation in soil moisture.
The plant can produce root suckers, and the species profile notes slow rooting after transplant. Give a moved plant careful establishment handling and avoid treating a recently transplanted specimen as equivalent to an established one.[2]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Full sun to partial shade is suitable.[2] The combination of wooded native habitats and open cliff or river-edge settings is consistent with a plant that can use both open exposure and lighter shade, rather than requiring dense canopy cover.[1][3]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Amelanchier arborea is deciduous. White flowers appear in spring, followed by fruit that ripens from late summer into fall.[2] In cultivation, expect a leafless dormant season and a spring flowering sequence; the fruiting season follows in late summer and fall.
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Root cuttings, seed and stem cuttings are listed as propagation routes for the species.[2] Root suckering is also part of its growth habit, but plants moved after rooting can establish slowly, so transplanting should be handled with care.[2]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
The white flowers open in spring. The species is described as self-fruitful, and its small fruit ripens from late summer into fall, changing from red to purple as it matures.[2] Fruit color and the local seasonal progression are more useful harvest cues than a single calendar date.
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The fruit is described as edible and suitable for eating raw or cooked.[2][3] The red-to-purple berries are small, and the ripe color range can vary during the late-summer-to-fall harvest period.[2]