Serviceberry, Downy
Amelanchier arborea
Rosaceae - Rose

Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; oblong-ovate to oval; 2" to 4" long; deciduous; finely serrate margin; pointed tip; dark green and glabrous above, pale beneath; fall color yellow, orange, or red; petioles thin, 3/8" to 1- 1/4" long.

Twigs/buds: Twigs slender; red-brown to dark gray; bitter almond taste. Terminal bud 1/4" to 1/2" long, conical, pointed, chestnut-brown.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, attractive, white; with narrow, strap-like petals; borne in small bunches 2" to 4" long; appearing early, before leaves. Fruit a berry-like pome; round; 1/4" to 1/2" diameter; dark red to purple; more or less with a gray to white waxy coating; sweet, dry, edible.

Bark: Thin; gray, often streaked with darker lines; smooth or slightly furrowed with scaly ridges.

Wood: Unimportant; sapwood light colored, thick; heartwood light brown; heavy; hard; close-grained; diffuse-porous.

General: Native to most of the eastern U.S., where it often is found as a small understory tree in mixed hardwood forests. Shade tolerant.

Landscape Use: Seldom planted, but should be more often as cultivars become more available. Shade tolerance, attractive flowers, relatively small size (up to about 30'' tall), and good fall color make it a desirable tree. Fairly tough and pest-free. Many cultivars are hybrids called Amelanchier x grandiflora, (known as apple serviceberry) and are crosses between A. arborea and A. laevis. Zones 4-9.

Cultivars: 'Autumn Brilliance', 'Autumn Sunset', 'Ballerina', 'Cole', 'Cumulus', 'Forest Prince', 'Glenn's Upright', 'Jackie', 'Lustre', 'Majestic', 'Prince Charles', 'Prince William', 'Princess Diana', 'R.J. Hilton', 'Robin Hill', 'Rubescens', 'Silver Fountain', 'Snowcloud', 'Spring Glory', 'Strata', 'Trazam', 'White Pillar'.

Characteristics

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