Taxon

Amelanchier arborea

 
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Amelanchier arborea - Common Serviceberry, Juneberry, Sarvis-berry, Sarviss Tree, Shadblow, Shadbush
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Common name: Common Serviceberry, Juneberry, Sarvis-berry, Sarviss Tree, Shadblow, Shadbush
Family: Rosaceae (Rose)
Distribution: E Canada to Central and E USA
Habitat: Swampy lowlands, dry woods, sandy bluffs, rocky ridges, forest edges, open woodland, and fields
Hardiness: -30 - 30 F
Life form: Deciduous tree
Bloom Time: March to April
Fall color: Red
Foliage characteristics: Dark green, alternate, simple, obovate leaves with serrated margins. 2-5" long. Young leaves are covered in soft, woolly hair that disappears as leaf matures.
Fruit characteristics: Berrylike. Start red, and mature to purple-black with 4-10 seeds per each fruit. Edible.
Attracts: Prefered food of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) during larval stages.
Ethnobotanical uses: Fruit eaten raw or cooked. Wood occasionally made into tool handles. Cree Indians used wood for making arrows.
Bark characteristics: Purplish when young. Grey in maturity, can be scaly.
Average height: 15-25'. Can reach 40'.
Structure: Narrow, rounded
Bloom characteristics: 3-15 flowers in elongated clusters at branch tips with 5 petals. Petals about .5" long and strap-like.
Description: The common name of this tree, serviceberry, is said to come from the fact that in some regions, its flowers are collected for church service. “Service” could also come from “sarvis,” a modified version of “Sorbus,” which is a closely related species. No matter the origin, the flowers and berries this tree produces are beautiful and useful to humans and animals.
Links: Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) • Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Locations

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