Amelanchier arborea

Serviceberry

Family:  Rosaceae
Zone:  4-9                               Average Size:  10-15’H x 8-10’W

Identification: Flowers borne in racemes, small with narrow petals in early spring; Fruit is a small, berry-like pome, red to black,  Gray-green leaf is oval with sharp serration, pubescent underneath.

Note:  Small native tree usually found growing along streams in moist, fertile soils.  In the spring, serviceberry is one of the first native trees to bloom.  The fruit is edible, and loved by birds, so doesn’t stay on the tree for long.  The species is rarely seen in the landscape or the nursery, but specimens make nice additions to natural settings.

Campus Location:  Hilltop Arboretum