What fruit-bearing tree I would grow in my garden if I had space for only one?
My choice has always been the Serviceberry, or Shadbloom, or Amelanchier, which is a tall shrub or small tree.
This plant has been one of my favorite landscape trees. As a matter of fact, there are 18 native Serviceberries to North America out of the 25 currently known species.
Serviceberries found their way into the European heart, and you can find many naturalized Serviceberry trees in England, the Netherlands, and Germany.
One of my friends in the Netherlands really enjoys her Serviceberry. From what I understand, some folks in Europe keep their Serviceberries in large pots, and the pot helps keep them under control.
You can find this native plant on our continent from Newfoundland to Georgia and Alabama, and west from Alaska to Texas.
Allegheny serviceberry, or Amelanchier laevis, has been grown in our gardens since 1870 and bred to be more domesticated. As you search the market for your serviceberry, you will find Allegheny serviceberry to be the most common.
I’ve included serviceberries in my landscaping designs for several good reasons. The serviceberry is a tough plant and has very few real problems.
Michael Dirr’s Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, “The Landscapers Bible,” reports that the serviceberry family has any number of pests in the form of fungal diseases and insect pests in older varieties.
This makes sense, since as a member of the rose family, you would expect this plant to be susceptible to similar diseases. The newer cultivars are far less susceptible to the problems of the older plant varieties.
When I recommend a plant, I first need to see if we have a tough plant and if it has any problems, and they fit the bill.
Then I look at their four-season qualities, so they offer something interesting to see for most of the year. In the spring, serviceberries grow white cluster of subdued, fragrant flowers that usually bloom in April and last only until the rains come and knock them down.
I love how the flowers appear before the leaves, making the branches look like they’re covered in floating blossoms. These fertile flowers change into a green pomme fruit that turns from purplish red to blue.
The fruit reminds me of a blueberry in its shape, color, and taste. Early berries taste tart when not quite ripe, then develop a blueberry flavor.
It’s important to know the berries on this plant were a Native American favorite for good reason. This means that if you want to enjoy this berry, you’ll have to watch it closely, because you won’t be the only ones watching to see if the fruit is ripe.
Many birds love the Serviceberry fruit. Serviceberry leaves usually start a little red and then graduate to green. In the fall, the Serviceberry changes from green to gold, orangey-red, or brick red.
Once the leaves drop in winter, you have a multi-trunked tree with smooth gray bark. This makes it a four-season tree of interest.
If you include this tree/large shrub in your yard, you will find that it’s very forgiving in where you plant it. Serviceberry grows well in partial shade and slightly acidic soil.
Drought doesn’t affect healthy plants. I’ve pruned serviceberries to look more like a small tree. Prune when the plant is dormant. For the first three years only prune the serviceberry to remove damaged or diseased limbs.
Serviceberries are the first berries of the season to harvest.
Another name for the Serviceberry is the Juneberry; which is when you can find this shrub’s fruit on the branches. You have to keep an eye out for the 42 different species of birds that include Serviceberries as part of their menus.
You can find some of the most colorful birds in Serviceberries, including the red-headed woodpecker, cedar waxwing, northern oriole, bluebird, cardinal, blue jay, redstart, scarlet tanager, red-eyed vireo, house finch, and more.
This fruit does not last long on the tree. The fact that you can attract so many bird species should encourage you to grow them.
If you enjoy birds in your yard, a serviceberry is a must-have. Keep your eyes peeled in the spring to eat a berry for yourself.
I hope you have a wonderful stroll through your garden this week, and if you see any challenges, you can email me at ericlarson546@yahoo.com with your question.