SafePlants

Amelanchier arborea: The Downy Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea, commonly known as Downy Serviceberry, is a deciduous tree offering multi-season interest.

Common Names

• Downy Serviceberry
• Common Serviceberry
• Shadbush
• Juneberry
• Shadblow
• Sarvis
• Sarvisberry
• Juneberry
• Junebush
• Shadblow
• Sarvis

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Amelanchier arborea (Michx. f.) Fernald
• Family: Rosaceae
• Synonyms and Varieties:
  • Amelanchier arborea var. alabamensis (Alabama Serviceberry)
  • Amelanchier arborea var. arborea (Common Serviceberry)
  • Amelanchier alabamensis Britton
  • Amelanchier alnifolia var. humptulipensis (G.N. Jones) C.L. Hitchc.
  • Amelanchier arborea var. alabamensis (Britton) G.N. Jones – not accepted – Alabama serviceberry.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to eastern North America, ranging from Newfoundland to Georgia and Alabama, and west to regions like Michigan and the Mississippi River.
• Found along the Appalachian chain.
• Specifically mentioned as native to Alabama.

Morphological Characteristics

• A deciduous tree growing to 10 meters (approximately 32 feet) tall and 12 meters (approximately 39 feet) wide.
• Can also grow as a shrub.
• Has a narrow, rounded crown.
• Some varieties exhibit a suckering habit.
• Blooms white in the spring.
• Turns red in the fall.

Ecological Role

• Attracts birds.

Growth Habits

• Exhibits slow growth.
• Hardy to zone 4 (UK) and is not frost tender.

Considerations for Pets

• Berries could present a choking hazard for small animals.

Considerations for Children

• Berries could present a choking hazard for small children.

Quirky Facts

• The name Amelanchier is derived from an old French name for Amelanchier ovalis, the snowy mespilus.
• Serviceberries are among the first showy flowering trees in the spring.

Further Information

• University of Alabama Arboretum
• Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database
• USWildflowers Database State List for Alabama