Allegheny serviceberry blossom in white
The Green Man loves the spectacular beauty of Amelanchier laevis or Allegheny Serviceberry in the Spring. The tree's blossoms explode into a cascade of brilliant white throughout the canopy for a spectacular display. In summer, well, listen to what American Beauties has to say:
"Allegheny Serviceberry is a native tree for all seasons. In April and May it has beautiful white flowers that are delicately scented and provide nectar for the season's early bees and butterflies.
In mid summer its fruits ripen to brilliant violet pink, aging to deep blue purple when fully ripe. Its leaves play occasional host to the larvae of viceroy, striped hairstreak, and Canadian tiger swallowtail butterflies.
And the grand finale comes in fall with brilliant oranges, yellows and reds as the leaves prepare to drop."
[The Green Man interjects that in Winter, if pruned correctly, Allegheny serviceberry
provides a dramatic branching structure to enjoy juxtaposed with snow.]
"Amelanchier laevis is found in moist woods and meadows, but tolerates most any garden situation. It will bloom more in full sun, but have a more open and graceful habit in shade. It is drought tolerant once established, but will grow taller and faster in consistently moist soils. Amelanchier can be grown as a small tree pruned to become a densely branched shrub."
Benefits:
Fragrant spring flowers
Easy to grow and widely adaptable
Edible berries in summer
Gorgeous fall color
Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips:
Plant Allegheny Serviceberry in average or moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Adapts to dry conditions but performs best in moist, well-drained soil.
Landscape trees and shrubs should not be fertilized at planting or during the first growing season.
Easy to grow and requires little care once established.
Height:
15-30 Feet
Spread:
10-15 Feet
Native Range:
Allegheny Serviceberry is found in open woods and moist meadows throughout eastern North America.
Native Trivia:
The sweet, juicy fruits are edible and rich in iron and copper. Native peoples dried the small pomes like raisins or mashed and dried them in cakes. Trees of Ontario by Linda Kershaw
USDA Hardiness Zone 4-8
"Amelanchier berries are enjoyed by cardinals, waxwings, hairy woodpeckers, thrushes, catbirds, orioles, and robins."
Characteristics & Attributes
Plan Sub Group
• Medium to Tall Shrubs
• Deciduous Trees
Exposure
• Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
• Filtered Shade
• Sun
Soil
• Humus-rich
• Wide soil tolerance
• Acidic
• Well-drained
Soil Moisture Preference
• Average
• Moist but well-drained
• Moist
• Wet
Attracts Wildlife
• Butterflies
• Songbirds
• Beneficial insects
• Mammals
Bloom Time
• Early Spring
Habitat Collection
• Songbird
Native Habitat
• Riparian, wetland
• Forest
Foliage Color
• Blue-green
• Orange
• Green
• Yellow
Uses
• Fragrant
• Ornamental fruit
• Border
• Mass plant
• Specimen
• Naturalizes
www.abnativeplants.com
The Green Man recommends using Allegheny serviceberry as a n adjunct to Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' along with black tupelo, paperbark maple, river birch 'Heritage,' and white fir...all equity trees.
1 comments:
Hi - I have an Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry and it appears to have some kind of disease on the branches - sort of like places where the wood is split open in small areas that spread out on the branch. I am so bummed out! I paid about $80.00 a couple of years ago and I love the cedar waxwings coming to eat the berries. Is there something I can do? It seems there is a LOT of these marks on the wood - I didn't notice them until this year. Thanks and I hope to have an answer.
Barb
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