Serviceberry – Downy (Amelanchier alnifolia) (6″, quart pot)

Description

Downy Serviceberry is a wonderful native tree – beautiful blooms and plentiful fruits, that are adored by birds. Foliage turns dark red – burgundy in fall.

Super hardy – does well in fullsun to part sun to even shady conditions. In full sun, gets about 25 feet tall. Prefers dryish soils.

Amelanchier is considered a keystone genus of trees; they host a plethora of ecological interactions, such as food and shelter for a huge percentage of pollinating insects, as well as the birds and small mammals that eat these insects, and it establishes countless food webs.

If you are looking to create an environment that will support birds such as Cedar Waxwing, Baltimore Oriole, Hermit Thrush, Hairy Woodpecker, and Ruffed Grouse, you need serviceberries.

Downy Serviceberry has hard and heavy wood, that was historically used for making tool handles.

Robin Wall Kimmerer has written a delightful book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World – that is definitely an inspiration for planting a Serviceberry bush or two!