1. Serviceberry trees need at least 4 hours of direct sun each day. They can tolerate partial shade, so you can plant them in a yard with larger trees or at the edge of a woodland and they’ll still get enough light.
2. They need moist, well-drained, acidic soil, but they tolerate a wide range of soils.

Is serviceberry a bush or tree?

Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a deciduous, small tree or shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) with a native habitat stretching from Maine to Iowa, south to northern Florida and Louisiana. It can be found throughout South Carolina and is hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

Are Serviceberries fast growing?

Serviceberry trees grow fast and can quickly fill a garden.

What is the lifespan of a serviceberry tree?

Trees grow 20 to 50 feet in height with a variable spread. Plants can be grown single-trunked or multi-stemmed. Downy serviceberry is relatively short lived. It rarely lives longer than 50 years.

Can you keep serviceberry small?

Whether pruned into a small tree or grown as a large shrub, serviceberry is easy to care for, drought tolerant once established, and a versatile choice for the ornamental garden.

Do serviceberry trees have deep roots?

Root System. Serviceberry trees have very shallow root systems because they will only grow in areas that are very moist. These shallow roots make for very easy transplanting and are a large part of why they are such popular ornamental trees.

When should I pick my serviceberries?

Harvesting, Storage and Use

The berry-like pomes usually ripen in late June through July. It is best to wait until two-thirds of the fruit is ripe before harvesting. Serviceberries continue to ripen after harvesting and should be refrigerated quickly to avoid spoilage.

Is there a dwarf serviceberry?

Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier ovalis)

This small shrub, also known as dwarf garden serviceberry, is covered with clusters of white flowers in the spring. … Ovalis means “oval” and refers to the shape of the leaves. For a dwarf variety, select ‘Pumila’. Another variety that may be available is named ‘Edelweiss’.

Will serviceberry grow in full sun?

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. Plant trees 9 feet (2.5 m.) apart as a hedgerow for serviceberry fruit production. Nets are often used to protect fruit from hungry birds.

Can you eat a serviceberry?

Food Use. During the summer the ripe serviceberry fruits can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried. The leaves can be dried and used for tea (Kindscher 1987: 28). Many Native North American tribes commonly ate the sweet and juicy ripe serviceberry fruit.

Do birds like serviceberry trees?

Cedar Waxwings like to feast in groups, and they are not alone in loving Serviceberries – at least 35 species of birds eat the fruit, including: Mocking Birds, Robins, Catbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Grosbeaks, Thrushes and others. … An added bonus – Serviceberry fruits are edible by humans and are highly nutritious.

Do serviceberry trees smell?

Spring Blooms

Like single roses, each serviceberry flower has five petals, which are slightly more rounded on Canadian serviceberry than on the downy species. The blooms are white and borne in drooping racemes or flower clusters. To some noses, serviceberry flowers are lightly fragrant.

How close to the house can you plant a serviceberry tree?

If you want to plant a tree closer then 20 feet from your house, say 10 feet, it’s best to plant one that has well behaved roots. These include most smaller trees like crabapples and serviceberry as well as most conifers.

What does a serviceberry look like?

The trees have distinctly smooth gray bark and produce showy, star-shaped white flowers with five slender petals in the spring — very typical of the Rosaceae family. The fruits look more like a blueberry than anything else, though usually slightly larger.

Are serviceberry trees toxic to dogs?

For example, regional berries can run the gamut: gooseberries, marionberries, salmonberries, and serviceberries may be toxic to your dog. … Also stay away from holly, juniper, nightshade, dogwood, poke, and mistletoe berries as well as baneberries; they can be toxic and their pits are a hazard.

Are serviceberry deer resistant?

Serviceberry

They tolerate partial shade to full sun. There are numerous species of serviceberry, all of which show good deer resistance. They are a popular choice in cold climates; one species, commonly referred to as a Saskatoon (A.

Which is the best Amelanchier?

Amelanchier Lamarckii

The foliage unfurls tinged with bronze, to mature to a glossy green, and finally to various shades of orange and red in the autumn. This variety has an AGM from the RHS.

Is serviceberry an evergreen?

Perfect for small gardens, award-winning Amelanchier ‘La Paloma’ (Serviceberry) is a large upright deciduous shrub or small tree of open habit with rich bronze-red new leaves. In mid spring, abundant sprays of small, slightly fragrant, white flowers emerge as the leaves unfurl.

How do you harvest serviceberry?

Picking tips: Focus on the berries that are purplish-blue to purplish-red, and leave any white and pink berries on the tree. Pick the entire bunch by hand, then strip the berries off the bunch to remove the stems. Storage tips: Serviceberries will continue to ripen off the tree.

What does a juneberry look like?

The ripe juneberry fruit is dark purple, with several tiny soft seeds, and very closely resembles a highbush blueberry. The fruit is best eaten fresh, but even after prolonged freezing, it retains its firmness and overall shape without becoming mushy.

How do you fertilize serviceberry?

Feed serviceberry shrubs with organic 5-3-3 fertilizer at six-week intervals between early April and the end of October. Scatter the fertilizer evenly around the shrubs’ drip lines — the place on the soil where rain falls from their outermost leaves. Feed at the rate of 1 cup for every 1 foot of the plants’ spread.

How tall does a autumn brilliance serviceberry tree get?

Fast growing; reaches 20 to 25 ft. tall and wide. This exceptionally bright native tree is a good focal point for an all native garden. Add to traditional landscapes for hardy, vigorous carefree autumn color.

How do I keep my serviceberry tree small?

Without regular pruning to maintain size and shape, downy serviceberry can grow up to 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Never prune while the plant is in bloom. You can prune in late winter before buds set or in summer after leaves mature, but autumn is best because the trees lose very little sap at this time of year.

Do serviceberry trees lose their leaves in winter?

Serviceberry’s Standout winter bark and structure

The bark is smooth and light gray and looks really lovely throughout the winter when there are no leaves. Autumn Brilliance is also available as a single stem tree (like mine) or if you are looking for even more winter interest there’s a multi-stemmed variety.