Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
A multi-season native treasure that offers delicate white spring flowers, sweet edible berries in summer, and spectacular orange-red fall foliage. This smaller shade tree is perfect for compact yards and provides food for both wildlife and humans, making it an excellent choice for eco-conscious gardeners.
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–8
USDA hardiness
Height
15-25 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Serviceberry in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Serviceberry · Zones 3–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Wet. Water: Accent, Border, Foundation Planting, Mass Planting, Shade Tree, Small groups, Specimen. Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12-24 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Berry-like pome starts out green then turns red and finally matures to dark purplish-black from May to June.
Color: Black, Green, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy. Type: Pome. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Edible berries are similar to blueberries and are used in jams, jellies and pies.
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern North America
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Fire, Wet Soil
- +Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: It is a host plant for the Red-Spotted Purple and the Viceroy butterflies. Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms. The fruits are eaten by songbirds and both small and large mammals. Moderately deer resistant.
- +Edible: Edible berries are similar to blueberries and are used in jams, jellies and pies.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Ginger
Thrives in similar acidic soil conditions and provides complementary ground cover
Coral Bells
Tolerates partial shade and attracts pollinators that benefit serviceberry flowering
Astilbe
Enjoys similar moisture levels and acidic soil, creates attractive understory planting
Ferns
Natural woodland companions that thrive in the filtered shade serviceberry provides
Wild Columbine
Native woodland plant that attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Hosta
Excellent shade companion that helps retain soil moisture around serviceberry roots
Elderberry
Compatible native shrub that attracts birds which help disperse serviceberry seeds
Trillium
Native spring ephemeral that complements serviceberry's early blooming period
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to serviceberry and inhibits its growth
Tree of Heaven
Aggressive invasive that competes heavily for nutrients and releases allelopathic compounds
Norway Maple
Creates dense shade and shallow root competition that suppresses serviceberry growth
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance
Common Pests
Aphids, scale, borers
Diseases
Fire blight, leaf spot, rust