Serviceberry
Amelanchier lamarckii and A. canadensis
Serviceberry is a multi-season small tree with white spring blossom, coppery new leaves, sweet edible berries in early summer and brilliant fall colour. It is a top choice for small gardens in the US and UK.
Photo: Udo Schröter · CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Water young trees in dry spells.
Soil
Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil; pH 5.5–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
-35–32 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Little feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed, layering, division
Remove suckers and crossing branches in late winter.
The ripe berries are edible; the seeds should not be eaten in quantity.
Top Cultivation Tips
Pick berries before the birds do.
Multi-stem forms look natural.
Great fall colour.
Hardy in USDA zones 4–8.
Common problems
Cedar apple rust
A fungal disease that alternates between juniper or red cedar and apple trees, causing bright orange spots on apple leaves and fruit.
How to treat it →DiseaseFire blight
A bacterial disease of apples, pears and related plants that makes blossoms, shoots and branches look scorched by fire.
How to treat it →DiseaseLeaf spot
Fungal or bacterial infections that cause brown, black or purple spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo, leading to early leaf drop.
How to treat it →DiseaseRust
A fungal disease that forms orange, brown or yellow powdery pustules, mainly on leaf undersides.
How to treat it →
