Shrub - Downy Serviceberry

Downy Serviceberry

Botanical Name

:

Amelanchier arborea

Plant Type

:

Large deciduous shrub or small tree

Seasons

:

Plant in spring or fall; blooms in early to mid-spring

Sun Level

:

Full sun (at least 6 hours daily) or partial sun/shade (4–6 hours daily)

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

60–70°F (16–21°C)

Soil Type

:

Adaptable to various soils, including clay, loam, and sand. Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil

Hardiness Zones

:

4–9 (USDA)

Germination

:

Seeds can be slow, taking 18 months or more

P.H. Level

:

Acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0)

Water/Irrigation

:

Low to average water requirements. Adaptable to different moisture conditions

Fertilization

:

Apply 4 ounces of all-purpose fertilizer (e.g., 16-16-16) in the spring as the plant emerges from dormancy

Habit

:

Compact rounded growth habit

Propagation

:

Seeds (but very slow) and cuttings

Final Plant Height

:

15–25 ft

Spread

:

15–25 ft

Flowers

:

Showy, slightly fragrant, 5-petaled white flowers in early to mid-spring, appearing before leaves emerge

Attracts

:

Birds, bees, and butterflies

Uses

:

Ornamental appeal, wildlife habitat, and edible fruits. Suitable for naturalistic plantings and areas near wood edges, ponds, and streams

Companions

:

Eastern sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Rhododendron spp., arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), and sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Pruning

:

Prune multi-stemmed varieties to control growth and maintain a tree-like form instead of a shrub

Toxicity

:

All parts are non-toxic

Pests

:

Leaf miner, pear sawfly, spider mites, aphids, peach borer, and scale insects

Diseases

:

Cedar apple rust, glomerella leaf spot-fruit rot, fire blight, and powdery mildew

Fun Fact

:

One of the earliest native trees to bloom in spring

Botanical Name

:

Amelanchier arborea

Plant Type

:

Large deciduous shrub or small tree

Seasons

:

Plant in spring or fall; blooms in early to mid-spring

Sun Level

:

Full sun (at least 6 hours daily) or partial sun/shade (4–6 hours daily)

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

60–70°F (16–21°C)

Soil Type

:

Adaptable to various soils, including clay, loam, and sand. Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil

Hardiness Zones

:

4–9 (USDA)

Germination

:

Seeds can be slow, taking 18 months or more

P.H. Level

:

Acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0)

Water/Irrigation

:

Low to average water requirements. Adaptable to different moisture conditions

Fertilization

:

Apply 4 ounces of all-purpose fertilizer (e.g., 16-16-16) in the spring as the plant emerges from dormancy

Habit

:

Compact rounded growth habit

Propagation

:

Seeds (but very slow) and cuttings

Final Plant Height

:

15–25 ft

Spread

:

15–25 ft

Flowers

:

Showy, slightly fragrant, 5-petaled white flowers in early to mid-spring, appearing before leaves emerge

Attracts

:

Birds, bees, and butterflies

Uses

:

Ornamental appeal, wildlife habitat, and edible fruits. Suitable for naturalistic plantings and areas near wood edges, ponds, and streams

Companions

:

Eastern sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Rhododendron spp., arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), and sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Pruning

:

Prune multi-stemmed varieties to control growth and maintain a tree-like form instead of a shrub

Toxicity

:

All parts are non-toxic

Pests

:

Leaf miner, pear sawfly, spider mites, aphids, peach borer, and scale insects

Diseases

:

Cedar apple rust, glomerella leaf spot-fruit rot, fire blight, and powdery mildew

Fun Fact

:

One of the earliest native trees to bloom in spring

Written by Nondiah Khalayi – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nondiah-khalayi/