top of page
Writer's pictureKimberly Simmen

Native Plant of the Week: Amelanchier canadensis

Family: Rosaceae


Name: Amelanchier canadensis - Serviceberry


Bloom Time: April - May


Flower: White


Fruit: June, dark purple


Soil Condition: Average - Moist, Adaptable


Light: Sun to Partial Shade


Height: 6-20'


Native Range: Eastern North America including Long Island


Zone: 3-8

Serviceberry is a fantastic, three-season shrub. It is usually multi-trunked (suckers) and has a lovely vase shape. Flowers emerge before the foliage and are a must for early-season native pollinators. Gorgeous orange and red fall foliage. It is moderately deer resistant and can tolerate full shade. They are self-fertile (flowers are male and female) but it does fruit best when it has a partner.

Maintenance: Serviceberries are subject to many diseases but they are usually only cosmetic and do not threaten the tree. Only prune in early spring. Remove crossing stems.


Benefits: host plant to the Red-spotted Purple and Viceroy butterflies, a nectar source for butterflies and insects including native bees, fruits are edible for us and the critters


Companion Plants: Cornus florida, Hydrangea quercifolia, Heuchera americana, Symphyotrichum cordifolium, Carex appalachica, Dennstaedtia punctilobula


=============================================================

References:




95 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page