Description

Amelanchier – Seviceberry – Shadbush – Juneberry – Snowy Mespilus

There are about 30 species from moist woodland and stream banks in Europe, Asia, and North America are deciduous single or multi stem upright shrubs and small trees growing 20-30 feet tall, in this genus. There prized for their clouds of short displays of white sprays, of 5 petaled ½-3/4” across, star shaped flowers that bloom from early spring to mid spring.  Flowers appear along with the simple oval leaves that have a downy underside. Leaves have finely toothed edges, which open silver or bronze and develop brilliant autumn color.  They also bear spherical or pear shaped green, or maroon, or purple fruit ripening to purple or brown or black, which are edible and attracts birds.

Some species do well in acidic boggy ground or by the side of a pond.  Most prefer moist shelter sites under other trees but with ample light.

This species is prone fire blight, and variety of fungal leaf spots, Gymnosporangium rust, powdery mildew, dieback, and cankers caused by many different fungi occur.

Amelanchier arborea – Amelanchier canadensis of gardens – Downy Serviceberry- Occur naturally in eastern North America.  This single stem or multi-stem tree can reach 25’ feet tall and 30’ feet wide usually with a rounded crown with drooping branches.  Finely toothed pointed egg shape leaves 1 ½-4” long are covered with white down as they emerge later turning mid green followed by short profuse pendent racemes of 2-3” long flowers on handsome gray bark.  In early summer small fleshy ½” red fruit appear.  In the autumn the leaves turn red, orange, or yellow.

‘Robin Hill’, ‘Cumulus’ and arborea ‘Autumn Brilliance’ are other cultivars.

Zones 4-9