Serviceberry an all-season beauty

Q. What is this tree?

Raymond from Youngstown

A. Raymond was excited about a beautiful tree he found at the edge of the woods near his home. It was growing as an understory tree in light shade. The tree is a serviceberry (amelanchier).

In the wild, these trees are more like a large shrub. In the landscape, they can be a multistemmed tree or a single trunk tree. This depends on how they were grown in the nursery. They make a beautiful addition to any landscape. They can tolerate full sun to part shade and can live in our clay soils. They can survive moderately wet soils. Most species we grow in our landscapes stay about 12 to 15 feet tall.

This tree had a beautiful bloom in mid-April this year. The white flowers are similar to apple and cherry blossom, only slightly smaller. They generally last a week here in the valley. This tree is now covered with small, green berries. When ripe, the fruit is mostly red, depending on the species. The fruit is a favorite of many bird species and is edible for humans. The fruit, a common part of diets of Native Americans, is one of the first to ripen, ready to eat before the end of June. The birds will most likely find it before you do though.

The small green leaves are just 1-2 inches long, oval and gray-green on the bottom, providing interesting color variations in the breeze. The leaves are very light, fluttering in a gentle breeze and providing dappled shade for anything growing beneath this tree.

The multi-stemmed versions of serviceberry provide a focal point in the landscape. Stems are generally grey to brown. They are slow growers, another benefit for those who prefer not to prune. As they grow larger, pruning can make the plant even more interesting.

The tree has interest in all seasons. During winter, the smooth grey bark is a contrast to other species and the fuzzy buds provide texture in the garden. The spring provides showy blooms. Summer brings fruit, and fall brings a yellow to orange foliage show.

To see photos of this tree and to learn more before incorporating it into your landscape, visit go.osu.edu/serviceberry.

Eric Barrett is OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. Call the office hotline at 330-533-5538 to submit your questions. Regular clinic hours are 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Thursdays.