Plant of the Week – Serviceberry
Serviceberry
One of the first trees to bloom in the spring are the Serviceberries. Loaded with white flowers, they are a welcome site after a long winter. Serviceberries grow from 10-25’ depending on variety. Some are more shrubby than treelike.
The one pictured here is Amelanchier laevis, the Alleghany Serviceberry.
In addition to the spring blooms, it has beautiful fall colors of red, orange and yellow.
The serviceberry can grow in partial shade to full sun, prefers a well-drained soil, and can tolerate some drought. The berries are said to be quite sweet and juicy, and can be used to make jams and pies if you can get to them before the birds!