Serviceberries are small, deciduous trees or shrubs with conspicuous terminal buds. Buds are long and pointed with several (four to five) scales. Leaves are alternate, toothed, and have nearly straight veins. Flowers are perfect and showy. Fruit is a berrylike pome. The species of service-berries are exceedingly difficult to identify. There are a number of species in Ohio but only the common downy serviceberry will be discussed here. The nursery trade offers many named cultivars that are Amelanchier * grandiflora, or apple serviceberry, selections. Apple serviceberry is a naturally occurring hybrid between Amelanchier arborea and Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny serviceberry). Amelanchier canadensis is multi-stemmed and more shrub-like than the others discussed here.
Amelanchier arborea–Downy Serviceberry
Downy Serviceberry–Amelanchier arborea
The serviceberry, also known as Juneberry, shadbush, and shadblow, is found throughout Ohio but attains its best development in the hills of the eastern portion of the state. Serviceberry is a small- to medium-sized tree growing 20—50 feet high. The tree has a narrow, rounded top but is often little more than a shrub.
The bark is thin, ashy-gray, and smooth on the branches and upper part of the stem, resulting in a beech-like look to the bark. Older bark breaks into shallow fissures on the short trunk. Trees may be single or multi-leadered with main stems ranging from 6—18 inches (15—46 cm) in diameter. Overwintering buds are more than 1/2 inch (13 mm) long and pointed with several (four to five) scales.
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| Downy Serviceberry | ||
The leaves are alternate, slender-stalked, and have finely toothed leaf margins. Leaves have acute leaf tips with rounded leaf bases and are 1 1/4—3 1/4 inches (3—8 1/2 cm) long. Foliage color is a light green. Leaves have nearly straight veins. Early in the season the foliage is covered with scattered, silky hairs. Hairs are more common beneath the leaves.
The white flowers appear in erect or drooping racemes in April or May, either before or with the leaves. The flowers make the tree quite conspicuous in the leafless or budding forest. Flowers are 3/4 inch (19 mm) across and quite apple-like, since the serviceberries are closely related to apples.
Fruit is 1/3 inch (8 mm) in diameter and ripens in June. The fruit is sweet and edible, and it can be a substitute for blueberries in most recipes. Birds and other denizens of the forest, including man, are very fond of the fruit and have been known to destroy the trees to gather one good crop of fruit. Today it is rare to find a tree full of fruit. Birds start eating the berries as soon as they begin to ripen and often before they are desirable for human consumption.
The wood is heavy, exceedingly hard, strong, close-grained, and dark brown. It is occasionally used for handles. This is a desirable ornamental tree and should be planted for this purpose and for bird food. In fact, it will be hard to beat the birds to the fruit.