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 Canadensis – Amelanchier oblongifolia – This dense upright shrub or small tree occurs naturally in boggy ground in North America.  It grows 25’ feet tall and only 10-15’ feet wide.  The 1 ½-2” oblong elliptic leaves first appear woolly becoming hairless has they mature to mid green in summer.  In spring many white flowers appear on upright 1-2 ½” sprays followed by juicy blue-black ½” diameter fruits.

‘Micropetala’, ‘Rainbow Pillar’, and ‘Springtime’, is other cultivars.

Zones 3-7