How to Grow a Serviceberry Tree in Your Backyard

A serviceberry tree is a deciduous shrub belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae). Serviceberry trees have gray bark and green leaves that change during the fall and produce early spring flowers. These fragrant plants produce edible fruit that attracts birds and other pollinators. Depending on your region or which type of serviceberry tree you’re growing, other common names for serviceberries include shadblow, sarvisberry, shadbush, Saskatoon, and Juneberry (named for the month the fruit emerges). Serviceberries are available as either small or large shrubs, though shorter versions are more often used in landscaping.

There are nearly 20 different types of serviceberry trees and even more cultivars. Here are some common types of serviceberry trees.

1. 1. Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea): Native to North America, these types of serviceberry trees can grow over 20 feet tall. They have light green leaves that transition into dark green foliage during the summer, and brilliant autumn colors by the fall.
2. 2. Canadian serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis): Canadian serviceberry trees are multi-stemmed shrubs that can grow anywhere from 15 to 30 feet tall, with a 20 foot spread. These plants are adaptable in a number of growing conditions, though they thrive best in loamy, acidic soil. Canadian serviceberry trees are often used for erosion control.
3. 3. Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis): A. laevis (also known as the smooth serviceberry) is another common type of serviceberry tree. When bred with A. arborea, it produces the apple serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora). This particular serviceberry group contains popular cultivars like Autumn brilliance, known for its fall colors, and Princess Diana, which has a finer texture, white flowers, and gray bark.
4. 4. Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia): Saskatoon serviceberry is native to North America and western Canada. This type of serviceberry tree is also referred to as the Pacific serviceberry or western serviceberry. This is a dwarf version of the shrub, growing in clumps that rarely extend over 25 feet.
5. 5. Roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea): Roundleaf serviceberry is a clump-growing tree known for its red twigs and thinner trunk. This type of serviceberry tree produces small white blooms followed by deep, purple fruit. These are shorter plants that rarely extend over 10 feet, with rounded leaves atypical of most serviceberry shrubs (which are usually more oblong in shape).

Serviceberry trees thrive best in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9. It is best to plant these shrubs in the fall, though you can still plant them in the spring. If you plant them in the spring, they’ll require more water and take slightly longer to establish themselves.

You can either propagate an established plant from your local nursery or grow serviceberries yourself from seed. However, it may take up to eighteen months for your seedlings to germinate if you’re growing from seed. The quickest way to grow a serviceberry tree is to purchase an already-established tree from your nursery and plant it in your garden. Here is how to grow a serviceberry tree.

1. 1. Obtain your small shrub. You can purchase a serviceberry tree from your local nursery. Try to choose a smaller tree, which will make it easier for you to handle when you’re planting.
2. 2. Choose your planting site. Serviceberry trees have the most flower and fruit production when exposed to full sun, but they can also tolerate partial shade. Choose a spot that receives four to six hours of sunlight a day.
3. 3. Prepare your soil. Serviceberry trees thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 to 7.5.
4. 4. Plant your shrub. Dig a hole in the ground that is slightly larger than the root ball of your tree. Gently dig your tree out of your nursery planter and place it in the hole, then cover with soil. Most species of serviceberry shrubs have a wide spread, so be sure to keep each planting spot a few feet apart (at least half the length of their mature width).

Although serviceberry trees can tolerate a wide range of conditions and soil types, they will produce the healthiest fruits and flowers with proper care. Here is how to care for a serviceberry tree.

1. 1. Prune your shrub occasionally. Pruning your shrubs can help you control their growth rate and the way that they grow. Prune any dead or diseased branches from your serviceberry trees at least once a year in the late winter or early spring.
2. 2. Mulch your tree to help it retain moisture. Spread a layer of mulch about an inch or two thick over the roots of your serviceberry tree to help it regulate its moisture. Make sure you keep the mulch a few inches away from the central trunk of your tree to ward off bacteria or pests.
3. 3. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Wait until the top three inches of your soil is dry before you water an established serviceberry tree. For younger plants, keep the root ball regularly moist until the plant has established itself.
4. 4. Fertilize your tree. If you regularly compost or use organic matter to keep your soil healthy, fertilizer will not be necessary. However, you can apply some fish emulsion or blood meal to the soil every early spring for younger plants, and once a year for older shrubs.
5. 5. Check for pests and diseases. Serviceberry trees are amenable to many environmental conditions, but they’re particularly vulnerable to pests. Monitor your trees for Japanese beetles, aphids, borers, powdery mildew, and fire blight. The best way to prevent these issues is to select a disease and pest-resistant cultivar of serviceberry tree.

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