#972 Amelanchier canadensis Common Names: serviceberry, Juneberry, shadblow, shadbush, shadbloom Family: Rosaceae (rose Family) Wallpaper Gallery (2 images)

It's early April in southwestern Ohio, the daffodils are in bloom and the tulips are just beginning as this serviceberry comes into full flower.

By early June the serviceberries are beginning to ripen. In a week or two they'll be dark purple and ready to eat.

In the nursery trade Amelanchier canadensis is often confused with downy serviceberry (A. arborea) and Allegheny serviceberry (A. laevis). This is not surprising since the three species are very similar and even the botanists don't all agree on which species should be considered distinct. In general, A. arborea and A. laevis bloom earlier in spring and have larger flowers than A. canadensis. It is likely that most serviceberries in the trade are A. arborea.

This is Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Silver Fountain' a popular hybrid downy serviceberry.

Culture
Light:Partial shade - filtered sunlight beneath a protective canopy of trees is perfect.
Moisture:Although in the wild, shadbush is closely associated with wet soils, it does well in drier soils once it becomes established.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-7.
Propagation: The seeds of all species of Amelanchier exhibit dormancy which must be overcome before they will germinate. This is accomplished by chilling at near freezing temperatures for 3-5 months. It also helps if the seeds pass through the stomach of a cedar waxwing; if this is inconvenient, they can be mechanically scarred or treated briefly with concentrated sulfuric acid. Greenwood cuttings taken in late spring and held under mist will root.

Serviceberry flowers brighten up early gray spring days. Click to download a large version of this image.

Usage
The little serviceberry shrubs are useful in naturalized plantings, especially in open woodlands, under tall oaks or pines. Their beautiful, but brief, early spring flowering beats all but the earliest shrubs and their fall foliage is first rate.

The fruits of shadbush (and other serviceberries) are said to be delicious, but often the wild birds, squirrels, raccoons and bears get most of them. The experts say the fruits taste better after they are cooked, which makes the seeds softer and brings out an almondlike flavor. Fresh and canned fruits are made into jams and pies. Native Americans and European settlers used the dried fruits to flavor pemmican, a type of hard, dried meat and suet that was preserved without salt.

Features
There are a couple dozen species of Amelanchier in North America, Europe and Asia. Downy serviceberry (A. arborea) occurs in the eastern and middle U.S. as far south as northern Florida. Shadbush got its name from early settlers along the eastern U.S. coast who noted that it bloomed about the same time that the shad came up the rivers to spawn.

Steve Christman 6/3/03; updated 6/8/11

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