Amelanchier, Serviceberry trees

Right now in southeast PA my two Apple Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora) and one Alleghany Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) trees are in full white bloom. The first photo is the trees in my backyard in bloom. The second is a photo of a Shadblow Serviceberry in summer foliage in my native town in northern Illinois. The third is my larger Apple Serviceberry in fall color in 2008. The forth is the delicious fruit of my trees that both I and a number of birds just adore, tasting sort of like cherry. The fifth photo is the good winter form of the larger and full-grown Apple serviceberry in winter, showing the good, smooth, gray bark. A wonderful ornamental tree better than most. It should be planted so much more. It is planted mostly by landscape architects and designers. The homeowners should get on board. The Apple Serviceberry is a natural hybrid of the Alleghany x Downy Serviceberries that are the two larger tree species; the later species has slightly bigger leaves and some hairiness. The Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier Canadensis) is smaller with a greater number of stems that are more slender. There are several species that are shrubs.

They are striking!!!

I'm on board -- I'll look for it at plant sales this spring!

Rick, is your Amelanchier x grandiflora a cultivar, e.g. 'Autumn Brilliance'?

I've wanted a Serviceberry tree for a while, but haven't had a sunny place for it until now. My favorite garden center carries 'Autumn Brilliance', so that would be a logical choice (not that logic is always a factor when I buy plants).

Pffftttt!!! Glad I didn't have any coffee in my mouth when I read that last statement. Hehehehe. Isn't that the truth?? Logic goes out the window around here.

'Autumn Brilliance' is the cultivar of my two Apple Serviceberry trees. There are a few other cultivars that are not really much different. If one buys cultivars, it is better to buy two or more different ones for cross-pollination for the fruit. I have one straight species Alleghany Serviceberry for some more pollination. The nursery probably does not care about the fruit, just thinking of ornamental and not good ecology for the birds.

So, you have 2 'Autumn Brilliance' and 1 Allegheny Serviceberry, and they fruit well? That's good to know.

I just planted two amalanchier alnifolias this spring. One Smokey and one Northline. I chose them because of their size...6-10'. They're real tiny now but I'm excited to see how they do this season.

I just planted my new serviceberry--A. Canadensis 'Rainbow Pillar'. I'm really looking forward to the fruit for the birds!!

I have had my Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' for three years now and only the top third ever blooms/leafs out. Any suggestions or ideas as to why? I may need to prune a number of branches from the base but would love to hear your feedback.

ongardener, how much sun does it get? I have several shrubs that became top heavy because the lower branches didn't get enough sun to grow properly.

I once grew two Saskatoon Serviceberry (A. alnifolia) shrubs in the Chicago area (Zone 5), where they do very well. It is a northern species. I am not sure if they do well in USDA Zone 6. Take photos in the future and post them.

Serviceberry trees do well in part-shade, as they grow there in the wild a lot, though they bear more fruit and flowers in full sun.

I don't know why the young tree is only budding up on the top 1/3. Is your soil too sandy? I would prune the top to encourage the bottom.

It's weird, our one alnifolia only has leaves in the top 1/3 as well. It's a youngin though so I'm just going to let it go to see what happens. I just planted it this spring.

I have seen some Serviceberries that look like small trees, but most have shrub forms. Perhaps some species are more inclined to grow as trees and that explains the lack of bottom growth? I'm actually looking for tree-form Serviceberries because they would fit in my yard better, but garden centers seem to sell only shrubs.

I think mine looks more like a tree, Muddy. It's very upright. I got it at Seasons in Gaithersburg. I'd be happy to pick one up for you if you're interested!

Thanks CatMint, but I was thinking more of one with a single trunk. I realize I'm probably not going to find it soon, or at all, at least not in the size I want. I just planted 2 Amelanchier laevis seedlings in the forest, even though I realized they probably will turn out to be exactly what I want in my own backyard...just not soon enough.

I'm not in a big hurry. I have so many garden projects lined up that it's not funny!

The Alleghany and Apple Serviceberry are the most tree-ish forms with fewer trunks, usually 3 to 5; sometimes one can find a single trunked specimen. The Shadblow Serviceberry, A canadensis, is also commonly planted and it has more slender little trunks, often 10 to 20, and it is still a tree about 15 to 25 ft high at full growth in landscapes.

I don't see the shrub forms, usually about 4 to 8 ft high, sold nearly as much. There even is a Running Serviceberry that is low growing.

Rick, my question is similar to Muddy's. Will my A. canadensis 'Rainbow Pillar' fruit adequately as a single specimen? Do I need 2 of them?

I don't think they need to have another to pollinate but I think you'd get a more bountiful fruit production if you did.

Great to learn about underused native trees!

One tree will normally bear fruit. For heavier fruiting I recommend two different cultivars or two straight species or one of each.

thanks for the clarification, Rick! :-) I'll keep my eyes peeled for another cultivar or the straight species.

I just did a little online reading and was reminded of something very important: the trees also have to bloom at the same time to cross-pollinate. It seems obvious, but it's easy to forget; I did ! I'll have to plant them close together in my yard because the sun varies so much from one place to the other.

oh, good point, Muddy! Apparently mine is an early bloomer. Is there a lot of variation in bloom time among the different types?

I have no idea! I have a feeling the amount of sun they get might play just as large a role. For example, the Cornus florida dogwood I have in the shady area of my backyard blooms 2-3 weeks after the ones in the front.

I have one Arrowwood Viburnum in a sunny row border that blooms earlier than the other three in the row and might miss out in pollination. When it comes to Winterberry Holly, only certain cultivars cross-pollinate with certain other ones.