Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Introduction: Downy serviceberry is one of the largest serviceberries, growing up to 30 feet tall.It can grow into a single or multistemmed plant. The best time to apply mulch is in the early spring. Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) The fruit contains a few small seeds at the centre, it has a sweet flavour with a hint of apple[1, 2]. These leaves change to a brilliant gold to red in the fall. Sam Bahr, photographer A slightly smaller tree, this serviceberry has similar features to the downy serviceberry. The most flavorful amelanchier is the Saskatoon serviceberry (A. alnifolia). Although they will grow well in both part shade and full sun, planting in full sun is recommended if you want the best tasting and largest harvest of fruit. These plants are hardy from zone 4 to 9. In fall expect to see the leaves transition to a beautiful hue of Yellow, orange and red. Similar … Care of serviceberries planted in sandy soils requires more frequent watering, as it drains quicker than loamy soil. Organic fertilizer applied around the drip line in six week intervals during the growing season will keep growing serviceberry trees looking their best. The Downy Serviceberry does well or is tolerant in Moist, Well-Drained Acidic, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy soil. Irrigate when the top 3 or 4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Good for baked goods and jams. June berries are prized by wildlife and edible by humans. Well, Downy serviceberry is that plant. Planting in the spring will give the trees a lot of rainfall and time to get settled before the heat of the summer hits. KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF DOWNY SERVICEBERRY White blooms in early spring attract pollinators and provide a pop against bare branches. And don’t forget sorbet, pudding, wine, fruit leather, or syrup. While all serviceberry fruit is edible, the tastiest fruit is found on the Saskatoon variety. A member of the genus Amelanchier, serviceberries reward homeowners with a spectacular display of showy white flowers that look like lilacs in the spring, attractive fall foliage and pretty gray bark. In fall expect to see the leaves transition to a beautiful hue of Yellow, orange and red. The flowers are white, fragrant and followed by red-purple fruit. Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp. For more information on food preservation check out the upcoming Fill Your Pantry webinar series (, https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0uf-2grjotH9a3CtIIWzlfEpNMdaiwmqmG. With proper conditions they will produce Fruits that are edible to humans. Tolerates a wide range of conditions. Range map for Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea). all serviceberry fruit is edible, the tastiest fruit is found on the Saskatoon variety. Serviceberries are trees or bushes, depending on cultivar, with a beautiful natural shape and edible fruit. Nets are often used to protect fruit from hungry birds. Trees and shrubs should be pruned in later winter (February and early March) before they start to form new leaves. This Missouri native tree offers edible small berry-like fruit, usually quickly eaten by birds, that changes color throughout the seasons. These become sweetly fragrant white blooms in the spring (April). United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) growing zones 2 through 9, What Is A Saskatoon – Learn About Growing Saskatoon Bushes, Allegheny Serviceberry Care – What Is An Allegheny Serviceberry Tree, Care For Serviceberry Trees: Growing Autumn Brilliance Serviceberries, DIY Flower Pot Christmas Tree: Making A Terra Cotta Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Allergen Info: Am I Allergic To My Christmas Tree, Seniors And Houseplants: Indoor Senior Gardening Ideas, Lizard’s Tail Care – Learn About Growing Lizard’s Tail Plants, Picking Apricots: When And How To Harvest An Apricot, What Is Ethylene Gas: Information On Ethylene Gas And Fruit Ripening, Caring For Pickerelweeds – How To Grow Pickerel Rush, Evergreen Favorite: Container Grown Olive Trees, Evergreens In My Heart – Three Must Have Evergreen Trees, Decisions, Decisions: Choosing An Evergreen In The Landscape, Spruce Trees For Landscaping - Spruce It Up With Evergreens. Known also as the Common Serviceberry. Small dark red fruit follows in summer. Be on the lookout for Japanese beetles, spider mites, aphids and leaf miners, as well as borers. Fruit: Showy, Edible Tolerate: Clay Soil. Cole’s Select apple serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Cole’s Select’): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, spreading habit; orange-red fall color; thick, glossy summer foliage. No matter what you call them, trees and shrubs of the … Edible fruit - raw or cooked[101, 227]. Serviceberries are not overly sensitive to soil type but prefer a pH of 6.0 to 7.8. Downy Serviceberry. The flowers are white, fragrant and followed by red-purple fruit. A. laevis (Allegheny serviceberry). ‘Forest Prince’):  20 feet high and 15 feet wide;  oval habit and red-orange fall color. There are several different varieties of serviceberry with variations in height, fruit ripening time, and fall color. To avoid serious problems with insects and disease, keep your serviceberry as healthy as possible. Usually, the birds beat me to the fruit, but this year my tree has such a large crop that I was able to share. YES. Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea). Plants benefit from a mulch layer to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures. (https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2016-03-30-plant-tree ; https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/fall-planting-trees-and-shrubs). Smooth bark has "stretch marks," adding to visual interest all year. The Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a large shrub or small tree which reaches 15-20 feet in height. The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs. In fall expect to see the leaves transition to a beautiful hue of Yellow, orange and red. The Common serviceberry or the downy serviceberry produces larger fruit. Most species bloom in spring with five-petaled, white flowers. ‘Princess Diana’):   20 to 25 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide; upright habit, excellent red fall color. Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) – One of the first plants to burst into bloom each year, this small woody tree gets its name from the downy silvery-colored leaves.The “serviceberry” refers to the Appalachian tradition of honoring memorial services for the dead in January at the same time the serviceberry blooms in clouds of tiny white flowers. I often see them growing along streams and rivers. Fall is also the time of year plants put energy into their root system growth so this is perfect for establishing new plants. When leaves first appear, they are fuzzy, before transforming to yellow, red, and orange leaves in fall. You should always wash your produce well before consuming it. Recently I picked several fruits to eat with cereal and freeze for smoothies. One of the great bonuses of this member of the Rose family is that it does not have thorns. Birds will be your biggest problem. They also perform best in soil that is lighter and not loaded with clay, as this prevents adequate drainage. Most provide delicious and nutritious fruit, but many also have edible leaves, seeds, flowers, stems or roots, or they yield edible or useful oil. Like downy serviceberry, its bark is gray and striped, but it holds its flower clusters more upright. Leaving some old growth is important, as the flowers form on old wood. Description: Plant Size: Generally … Arbor walk #40. Amelanchier alnifolia, the saskatoon, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, alder-leaf shadbush, dwarf shadbush, chuckley pear, or western juneberry, is a shrub with edible berry-like fruit, native to North America from Alaska across most of western Canada and in the western and north-central United States.Historically, it was also called pigeon berry. And this lovely tree leaves you with a nice silvery gray bark for the winter months. Serviceberries are beautiful native trees with tasty edible fruit. Noteworthy Characteristics. Native. ‘Robin Hill’):  20 to 25 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide ; upright-oval habit, red to yellow fall color. - 25 ft. 0 in. Mammals that either eat the fruit or browse the twigs and leaves of downy serviceberry include squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, mice, voles, foxes, black bears, deer, and elk. Serviceberries are beautiful native trees with tasty edible fruit. In general when pruning you want to start by removing broken or dead branches, then remove unwanted base shoots and branches along the bottom main stem (if growing a tree), and then step back and make your final cuts to create the shape, size, and thickness desired. These tend to grow to a large shrub size with lots of purple edible berries that are similar to blueberries. Usually, the birds beat me to the fruit, but this year my tree has such a large crop that I was able to share. Fall colour ranges from orange to rust. Check out this YouTube video for more on tree pruning (, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ZwfqMCT0E, Serviceberries can be eaten raw; in my opinion, they taste a bit like a pear. Other names: French name: Amélanchier arborescent. Downy Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea, also called Downy Juneberry, is a deciduous, early-flowering, large shrub or small tree which typically grows 15-25 feet tall in cultivation but can reach 40 feet in the wild. The serviceberry is in the rose family so it can suffer from the same type of problems as roses do. Edible fruit/nut tree? The ample flowers and pollen resources attract pollinators in the spring. Inspect the tree for deadwood, diseased wood and crossed branches. Reaching from six to twenty feet (2-6 m.) or more at maturity, serviceberries grow in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) growing zones 2 through 9. I often see them growing along streams and rivers. https://thelandconnection.org/blog/edible-native-landscaping-serviceberry The red or dark purple fruit are typically sweet and juicy, although some, like Amelanchier arborea are drier and don’t have as much flavour. Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp. On most, the berries are sweet and juicy, some (like the Downy Serviceberry) the fruit is dry and tasteless. Delicate clusters of white flowers are some of the first to appear in the spring, then plumy-red leaf buds unfurl into fuzzy roundedfoliage. Autumn Brilliance apple serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’):  20 to 25 feet high and wide;  red fall color. Since the serviceberry can be a shrub or a small tree you need to have your end shape in mind from the very start. Plant trees 9 feet (2.5 m.) apart as a hedgerow for serviceberry fruit production. The Downy Serviceberry (. ) Amelanchier arborea, or Serviceberry, is a deciduous tree that typically grows 15 to 25 feet tall with a narrow, rounded form; however, it can reach heights of 40' in the wild.The trunk can range from 6 inches for a small tree to 18 inches. Trees and shrubs can be planted in the spring or the fall. You can freeze services berries for use in smoothies or pies (https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze.html). However, its fruit turns purplish-black at maturity and are also quite delicious. Allegheny serviceberry is a small native understory tree with four-season interest. Occurs most often in open rocky woods, wooded slopes, and bluffs. For jam making, it is always good to have some of the fruit be under-ripe because underripe fruit has more pectin. The Downy Serviceberry does well or is tolerant in Moist, Well-Drained Acidic, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy soil. Growing Serviceberry for Fruit and Beauty April 7, 2020 7:25 pm The summer fruits of serviceberry are tart and sweet.. Well-loved plants tend to collect lots of descriptive common names. Recently I picked several fruits to eat with cereal and freeze for smoothies. The fruits taste similar to blueberry – they are eaten fresh or cooked in pastries or puddings. Downy Serviceberry. The berries change from green, to pink, to red, and then a dark purple when they are fully ripe. They are not salt tolerant so planting too close to a driveway, sidewalk, or road can cause stress to the shrub or tree. They are all edible although, with local conditions such as soil and weather dictating their exact taste and juiciness. Status. The flowers last only a few days and give way to juicy berries that resemble blueberries in size, color and flavor. Because service berries are native they don’t have many insect pressures or diseases a healthy tree can’t fight through. You can also can the berries in juice, syrup, or water or make jam with the berries (https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/usda/GUIDE02_HomeCan_rev0715.pdf). All are edible, none are poisonous, so if you know it is a Serviceberry, you can try the berry. Be sure to dispose of infected limbs properly; don’t put them in the compost pile. This is also helpful for picking the berries before the birds get them. by Erin Harper, University of Illinois Extension. Serviceberry is considered a derivative of sarvisberry, which in turn comes from a Latin word for a European tree with similar-looking fruit. Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Fruit, Native Plants, Native Species, Serviceberry, 206 North Randolph Street, Suite 400 - Champaign, Illinois 61820 217-840-2128. Serviceberries are beautiful native trees with tasty edible fruit. Some people think it tastes like blueberries, and they are also a bird favorite. Check out this YouTube video for more on tree pruning (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ZwfqMCT0E). If you want a shrub, leave several branches coming from the base; if you want a tree trim all of the branches around the base except for one, this will become your tree trunk. There’s a lot of overlap and interbreeding, along with variation within species. Dimensions: Height: 15 ft. 0 in. Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk of the tree. Robin Hill apple serviceberry   (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’):  20 to 25 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide ; upright-oval habit, red to yellow fall color. It starts out green, turns red, then blue-black in June. PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State. - 25 ft. 0 in. Its berries are dark blue or nearly black when they are ripe. The fruit is good to eat but is not as juicy as some (drier). With proper conditions they will produce Fruits that are edible to humans. The summer can stress the tree in long stretches of no rainfall. All of them have small, elliptical leaves with fine teeth along the edges. Names. Shadblow serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) grows 6 to 30 feet in height. No … have amassed quite a few, including Juneberry, shadbush, shadblow, May cherry, servicetree, and sarvisberry. Fall planted trees (September-October) will have time to take up water and establish before winter. ‘Cole’s Select’): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, spreading habit; orange-red fall color; thick, glossy summer foliage. is a small deciduous tree or shrub with attractive white spring blossoms, that provides year-round interest in the landscape, as well as producing edible fruits. The native downy serviceberry produces a small red fruit edible for people and wildlife. One of the great bonuses of this member of the Rose family is that it does not have thorns. ), also called Juneberry, are native here. Phonetic Spelling am-uh-LAN-kee-er ar-bor-EE-ah Description. For jam making, it is always good to have some of the fruit be under-ripe because underripe fruit has more pectin. Latin (scientific) name: Amelanchier arborea. Even though serviceberry species vary in size and form, most of them share a few characteristics. Let’s learn more about the care of serviceberries in the landscape. Downy serviceberry is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. The classification of serviceberries is actually a bit confusing, and even botanists will disagree on exact species names. In my experience, there are plenty of berries to feed myself and still leave a lot for the birds. There are a number of these trees located on the edge of Mayer Mall alongside of Van Munching Hall at the University of Maryland. Place a 2-inch (5 cm.) Throughout the summer the serviceberry has beautiful full medium sided simple leaves. Amelanchier arborea, commonly called downy serviceberry, is a deciduous, early-flowering, large shrub or small tree which typically grows 15-25' tall in cultivation but can reach 40' in the wild.A Missouri native plant that occurs most often in open rocky woods, wooded slopes, and bluffs. ), also called Juneberry, are native here. This is also helpful for picking the berries before the birds get them. Also called juneberries or Saskatoon berries, several serviceberry species are native to Minnesota and other parts of the United States. If you are growing this tree to attract wildlife this is not a problem, it is a blessing. Serviceberries can be eaten raw; in my opinion, they taste a bit like a pear. orioles) eat the fruit of Amelanchier species. Serviceberry (Amelanchierspp.) There are several different varieties of serviceberry with variations in height, fruit ripening time, and fall color. All are edible, none are poisonous, so if you know it is a Serviceberry, you can try the berry. If you want a shrub, leave several branches coming from the base; if you want a tree trim all of the branches around the base except for one, this will become your tree trunk. They do tolerate pruning so you can use several planted together to form a living shrub fence or prune into a tree shape as a single small tree. Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Edible fruit - raw or cooked[3, 55, 101, 159]. Recently I picked several fruits to eat with cereal and freeze for smoothies. Serviceberries enjoy just enough water to keep the soil moist but not saturated. Like other members of the species, it can be pruned to a small tree with a … Introduction: Downy serviceberry is one of the largest serviceberries, growing up to 30 feet tall.It can grow into a single or multistemmed plant. https://thelandconnection.org/blog/edible-native-landscaping-serviceberry The tree averages 25 feet in height and 30 feet in width. In general when pruning you want to start by removing broken or dead branches, then remove unwanted base shoots and branches along the bottom main stem (if growing a tree), and then step back and make your final cuts to create the shape, size, and thickness desired. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. ‘Autumn Brilliance’):  20 to 25 feet high and wide;  red fall color. If you have newly planted trees (3-5 years) be sure to water your trees during the drier times of the year. of soil feels dry. Jul 10, 2014 - These small delicious blueberry like fruits are on a Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) tree. Introducing the serviceberry, a beautiful landscape tree or shrub suitable in much of North America, to the edible landscape. The Downy Serviceberry does well or is tolerant in Moist, Well-Drained Acidic, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy soil. Native to Canada. Width: 15 ft. 0 in. It can be eaten out of hand, used in pies, preserves etc or dried and used like raisins[183]. The fruit has a few small seeds at the centre, some forms are dry and tasteless[11, 177, 227] whilst others are sweet and juicy[183, 227]. have amassed quite a few, including Juneberry, shadbush, shadblow, May cherry, servicetree, and sarvisberry. You can also can the berries in juice, syrup, or water or make jam with the berries (, https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/usda/GUIDE02_HomeCan_rev0715.pdf, ). You can freeze services berries for use in smoothies or pies (, ). Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) Princess Diana apple serviceberry  (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Princess Diana’):   20 to 25 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide; upright habit, excellent red fall color. Serviceberry provides year-round interest in white spring flowers, yellow to red fall foliage, smooth gray bark, and edible purple fruit. On most, the berries are sweet and juicy, some (like the Downy Serviceberry) the fruit is dry and tasteless. Forest Prince apple serviceberry  (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Forest Prince’):  20 feet high and 15 feet wide;  oval habit and red-orange fall color. Noteworthy Characteristics. The Downy Serviceberry has silvery fuzzy buds in late winter. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2016-03-30-plant-tree, https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/fall-planting-trees-and-shrubs, Trees and shrubs should be pruned in later winter (February and early March) before they start to form new leaves. Since the serviceberry can be a shrub or a small tree you need to have your end shape in mind from the very start. With proper conditions they will produce Fruits that are edible to humans. Serviceberries, also known at Juneberries or Saskatoon, are native to Illinois and many of our neighboring states. Tolerates most soils, use in woodland areas or native plant gardens. When the berries start to ripen the birds will eat the berries. You should always wash your produce well before consuming it. The fruit ripens unevenly over a period of 2 - 3 weeks and is very attractive to birds, this makes harvesting them … At this point in the year (beginning of June) I would recommend waiting for fall to plant new trees or shrubs. Growing Serviceberry for Fruit and Beauty April 7, 2020 7:25 pm The summer fruits of serviceberry are tart and sweet.. Well-loved plants tend to collect lots of descriptive common names. The plants are slightly different, as are the fruit, but as a whole, they’re all pretty similar wild edible berries. All are edible, none are poisonous, so if you know it is a Serviceberry, you can try the berry. layer of mulch around the plant to help with moisture retention and to add a decorative effect. Some people, such as Maritimers, call them shadbush which points to their blooms coming at the same time as the run of an Atlantic coast shad fish. Powdery mildew, rust and leaf spot may also occur. Harvested serviceberry fruit can be a delightful treat and growing serviceberry trees is easy to do. Serviceberries, also known at Juneberries or Saskatoon, are native to Illinois and many of our neighboring states. One of the great bonuses of this member of the Rose family is that it does not have thorns. 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. Habitat. They have been selected to provide a mix of different plant sizes and growing conditions. If you are growing this tree for a food source for yourself, you will want to keep a close eye on the berries ripening and harvest them quickly. Trees planted in humid climates will require less water than those in dry climates. The edible fruit is drier than some other serviceberries, and it is harvested locally for pies and jams, and has been known to be used for wine; they were also used by Native Americans to make bread. Fragrant white flowers open in mid-spring, followed by red-purple fruit. The berries begin to take shape through May and ripen in late spring to early summer (June). On most, the berries are sweet and juicy, some (like the Downy Serviceberry) the fruit is dry and tasteless. The early summer berries are edible by both humans and wildlife. The early white spring flowers, outstanding orange-red fall color, and striking gray bark make it a lovely specimen for any landscape. For more information on food preservation check out the upcoming Fill Your Pantry webinar series (https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0uf-2grjotH9a3CtIIWzlfEpNMdaiwmqmG). There are several cultivars that have been bred to accentuate these various features. Serviceberries require pruning yearly; late winter or early spring is best before the new leaves appear. The edible purplish-black fruit in late summer is attractive to many birds. Use clean and sharp pruners to remove just what is necessary. Amelanchier arborea, commonly called downy serviceberry, is a deciduous, early-flowering, large shrub or small tree which typically grows 15-25' tall in cultivation but can reach 40' in the wild.A Missouri native plant that occurs most often in open rocky woods, wooded slopes, and bluffs. Other notes. Sign up for our newsletter. Serviceberry fruit is delicious straight from the tree and can be used any way you’d use blueberries: smoothies, cobblers, pies, muffins, pancakes, jellies, jams, and ice cream. They do tolerate pruning so you can use several planted together to form a living shrub fence or prune into a tree shape as a single small tree. No information available. Others are better fresh. Common English name: Downy serviceberry. is a large shrub or small tree which reaches 15-20 feet in height. Making it a cold and heat hardy serviceberry. To 9 you need to have your end shape in mind from the very start check out upcoming! 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