of soil feels dry. - 25 ft. 0 in. Since the serviceberry can be a shrub or a small tree you need to have your end shape in mind from the very start. Serviceberries can be eaten raw; in my opinion, they taste a bit like a pear. by Erin Harper, University of Illinois Extension. Serviceberries, also known at Juneberries or Saskatoon, are native to Illinois and many of our neighboring states. Amelanchier arborea, commonly called downy serviceberry, is a deciduous, early-flowering, large shrub or small tree which typically grows 15-25' tall in cultivation but can reach 40' in the wild.A Missouri native plant that occurs most often in open rocky woods, wooded slopes, and bluffs. Habitat. Place a 2-inch (5 cm.) Some people, such as Maritimers, call them shadbush which points to their blooms coming at the same time as the run of an Atlantic coast shad fish. Recently I picked several fruits to eat with cereal and freeze for smoothies. ‘Robin Hill’):  20 to 25 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide ; upright-oval habit, red to yellow fall color. Care of serviceberries planted in sandy soils requires more frequent watering, as it drains quicker than loamy soil. Sam Bahr, photographer The classification of serviceberries is actually a bit confusing, and even botanists will disagree on exact species names. Introduction: Downy serviceberry is one of the largest serviceberries, growing up to 30 feet tall.It can grow into a single or multistemmed plant. all serviceberry fruit is edible, the tastiest fruit is found on the Saskatoon variety. The edible purplish-black fruit in late summer is attractive to many birds. In fall expect to see the leaves transition to a beautiful hue of Yellow, orange and red. Serviceberry provides year-round interest in white spring flowers, yellow to red fall foliage, smooth gray bark, and edible purple fruit. https://thelandconnection.org/blog/edible-native-landscaping-serviceberry The native downy serviceberry produces a small red fruit edible for people and wildlife. No information available. There are several different varieties of serviceberry with variations in height, fruit ripening time, and fall color. The tree averages 25 feet in height and 30 feet in width. They do tolerate pruning so you can use several planted together to form a living shrub fence or prune into a tree shape as a single small tree. Small dark red fruit follows in summer. Introducing the serviceberry, a beautiful landscape tree or shrub suitable in much of North America, to the edible landscape. I often see them growing along streams and rivers. Trees and shrubs can be planted in the spring or the fall. Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp. Other names: French name: Amélanchier arborescent. The ample flowers and pollen resources attract pollinators in the spring. You can also can the berries in juice, syrup, or water or make jam with the berries (, https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/usda/GUIDE02_HomeCan_rev0715.pdf, ). Leaving some old growth is important, as the flowers form on old wood. Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea). A slightly smaller tree, this serviceberry has similar features to the downy serviceberry. The fruit contains a few small seeds at the centre, it has a sweet flavour with a hint of apple[1, 2]. The fruits taste similar to blueberry – they are eaten fresh or cooked in pastries or puddings. Serviceberry fruit is delicious straight from the tree and can be used any way you’d use blueberries: smoothies, cobblers, pies, muffins, pancakes, jellies, jams, and ice cream. In my experience, there are plenty of berries to feed myself and still leave a lot for the birds. Even though serviceberry species vary in size and form, most of them share a few characteristics. Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Edible fruit - raw or cooked[3, 55, 101, 159]. orioles) eat the fruit of Amelanchier species. Some people think it tastes like blueberries, and they are also a bird favorite. Forest Prince apple serviceberry  (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Forest Prince’):  20 feet high and 15 feet wide;  oval habit and red-orange fall color. Good for baked goods and jams. Allegheny serviceberry is a small native understory tree with four-season interest. KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF DOWNY SERVICEBERRY White blooms in early spring attract pollinators and provide a pop against bare branches. Status. To avoid serious problems with insects and disease, keep your serviceberry as healthy as possible. Latin (scientific) name: Amelanchier arborea. For jam making, it is always good to have some of the fruit be under-ripe because underripe fruit has more pectin. Native to Canada. Serviceberry (Amelanchierspp.) Usually, the birds beat me to the fruit, but this year my tree has such a large crop that I was able to share. The Common serviceberry or the downy serviceberry produces larger fruit. The edible fruit is drier than some other serviceberries, and it is harvested locally for pies and jams, and has been known to be used for wine; they were also used by Native Americans to make bread. is a small deciduous tree or shrub with attractive white spring blossoms, that provides year-round interest in the landscape, as well as producing edible fruits. They also perform best in soil that is lighter and not loaded with clay, as this prevents adequate drainage. June berries are prized by wildlife and edible by humans. You should always wash your produce well before consuming it. Fruit: Showy, Edible Tolerate: Clay Soil. ‘Autumn Brilliance’):  20 to 25 feet high and wide;  red fall color. The flowers last only a few days and give way to juicy berries that resemble blueberries in size, color and flavor. Native. The berries begin to take shape through May and ripen in late spring to early summer (June). Arbor walk #40. Serviceberry is considered a derivative of sarvisberry, which in turn comes from a Latin word for a European tree with similar-looking fruit. Width: 15 ft. 0 in. Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk of the tree. Other notes. Be sure to dispose of infected limbs properly; don’t put them in the compost pile. PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State. Serviceberries enjoy just enough water to keep the soil moist but not saturated. On most, the berries are sweet and juicy, some (like the Downy Serviceberry) the fruit is dry and tasteless. You can freeze services berries for use in smoothies or pies (, ). Tolerates most soils, use in woodland areas or native plant gardens. For jam making, it is always good to have some of the fruit be under-ripe because underripe fruit has more pectin. The early summer berries are edible by both humans and wildlife. Check out this YouTube video for more on tree pruning (, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ZwfqMCT0E, Serviceberries can be eaten raw; in my opinion, they taste a bit like a pear. If you are growing this tree for a food source for yourself, you will want to keep a close eye on the berries ripening and harvest them quickly. Shadblow serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) grows 6 to 30 feet in height. You can freeze services berries for use in smoothies or pies (https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze.html). The most flavorful amelanchier is the Saskatoon serviceberry (A. alnifolia). However, its fruit turns purplish-black at maturity and are also quite delicious. Its berries are dark blue or nearly black when they are ripe. Tolerates a wide range of conditions. Dimensions: Height: 15 ft. 0 in. And don’t forget sorbet, pudding, wine, fruit leather, or syrup. ), also called Juneberry, are native here. There are several different varieties of serviceberry with variations in height, fruit ripening time, and fall color. There’s a lot of overlap and interbreeding, along with variation within species. Birds will be your biggest problem. The plants are slightly different, as are the fruit, but as a whole, they’re all pretty similar wild edible berries. Fall is also the time of year plants put energy into their root system growth so this is perfect for establishing new plants. The summer can stress the tree in long stretches of no rainfall. For more information on food preservation check out the upcoming Fill Your Pantry webinar series (https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0uf-2grjotH9a3CtIIWzlfEpNMdaiwmqmG). If you are growing this tree to attract wildlife this is not a problem, it is a blessing. Fall planted trees (September-October) will have time to take up water and establish before winter. The Downy Serviceberry (. ) These plants are hardy from zone 4 to 9. On most, the berries are sweet and juicy, some (like the Downy Serviceberry) the fruit is dry and tasteless. The Downy Serviceberry does well or is tolerant in Moist, Well-Drained Acidic, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy soil. Recently I picked several fruits to eat with cereal and freeze for smoothies. Irrigate when the top 3 or 4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) Trees planted in humid climates will require less water than those in dry climates. ), also called Juneberry, are native here. Making it a cold and heat hardy serviceberry. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2016-03-30-plant-tree, https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/fall-planting-trees-and-shrubs, Trees and shrubs should be pruned in later winter (February and early March) before they start to form new leaves. Be on the lookout for Japanese beetles, spider mites, aphids and leaf miners, as well as borers. Amelanchier arborea, or Serviceberry, is a deciduous tree that typically grows 15 to 25 feet tall with a narrow, rounded form; however, it can reach heights of 40' in the wild.The trunk can range from 6 inches for a small tree to 18 inches. Edible fruit - raw or cooked[101, 227]. Downy Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea, also called Downy Juneberry, is a deciduous, early-flowering, large shrub or small tree which typically grows 15-25 feet tall in cultivation but can reach 40 feet in the wild. ‘Cole’s Select’): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, spreading habit; orange-red fall color; thick, glossy summer foliage. While all serviceberry fruit is edible, the tastiest fruit is found on the Saskatoon variety. Jul 10, 2014 - These small delicious blueberry like fruits are on a Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) tree. layer of mulch around the plant to help with moisture retention and to add a decorative effect. Use clean and sharp pruners to remove just what is necessary. The Downy Serviceberry does well or is tolerant in Moist, Well-Drained Acidic, Alkaline, Clay, Loamy soil. No matter what you call them, trees and shrubs of the … Edible fruit Fragrance Shade Wildlife Food Source Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems): Mildly resistant to deer damage Edibility: Tasty fruits, similar in flavor to blueberries, edible raw or cooked. Noteworthy Characteristics. All are edible, none are poisonous, so if you know it is a Serviceberry, you can try the berry. Most species bloom in spring with five-petaled, white flowers. Recently I picked several fruits to eat with cereal and freeze for smoothies. Powdery mildew, rust and leaf spot may also occur. There are a number of these trees located on the edge of Mayer Mall alongside of Van Munching Hall at the University of Maryland. Plant trees 9 feet (2.5 m.) apart as a hedgerow for serviceberry fruit production. The fruit is good to eat but is not as juicy as some (drier). One of the great bonuses of this member of the Rose family is that it does not have thorns. With proper conditions they will produce Fruits that are edible to humans. The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs. Usually, the birds beat me to the fruit, but this year my tree has such a large crop that I was able to share. Downy Serviceberry. The red or dark purple fruit are typically sweet and juicy, although some, like Amelanchier arborea are drier and don’t have as much flavour. Reaching from six to twenty feet (2-6 m.) or more at maturity, serviceberries grow in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) growing zones 2 through 9. https://thelandconnection.org/blog/edible-native-landscaping-serviceberry These tend to grow to a large shrub size with lots of purple edible berries that are similar to blueberries. Most provide delicious and nutritious fruit, but many also have edible leaves, seeds, flowers, stems or roots, or they yield edible or useful oil. Names. One of the great bonuses of this member of the Rose family is that it does not have thorns. Smooth bark has "stretch marks," adding to visual interest all year. Well, Downy serviceberry is that plant. They have been selected to provide a mix of different plant sizes and growing conditions. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Plants benefit from a mulch layer to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures. A member of the genus Amelanchier, serviceberries reward homeowners with a spectacular display of showy white flowers that look like lilacs in the spring, attractive fall foliage and pretty gray bark. Cole’s Select apple serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Cole’s Select’): 20 feet high and 15 feet wide; upright, spreading habit; orange-red fall color; thick, glossy summer foliage. A. laevis (Allegheny serviceberry). The best time to apply mulch is in the early spring. On most, the berries are sweet and juicy, some (like the Downy Serviceberry) the fruit is dry and tasteless. Amelanchier alnifolia, the saskatoon, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, alder-leaf shadbush, dwarf shadbush, chuckley pear, or western juneberry, is a shrub with edible berry-like fruit, native to North America from Alaska across most of western Canada and in the western and north-central United States.Historically, it was also called pigeon berry. Amelanchier arborea, commonly called downy serviceberry, is a deciduous, early-flowering, large shrub or small tree which typically grows 15-25' tall in cultivation but can reach 40' in the wild.A Missouri native plant that occurs most often in open rocky woods, wooded slopes, and bluffs. ‘Forest Prince’):  20 feet high and 15 feet wide;  oval habit and red-orange fall color. 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