Allegheny Serviceberry is a deciduous tree or shrub in the rose family native to Eastern North America and the mountains of NC. It typically grows 15 to 25 feet tall as a multi-trunked tree or in a shrub form. In the wild, it may grow up to 40 feet tall. In spring, 5-petaled, white flowers are borne on 4-inch racemes that are quite showy and are followed by purple edible berries that mature in June. It prefers moist, acidic, well-drained loams and will tolerate a range of soil types but not drought. It flowers best in part sun to part shade but tolerates shade. It is medium to fast-growing but a fairly short-lived tree. Allegheny Serviceberry can be used as a small shade tree, street tree, in a woodland setting or used as a shrub in borders and hedges. To use as a tree it must be pruned to the shape as it tends to want to grow shrubby. It is distinguished from other varieties by the hairless foliage, purple-tinged new growth, and the tastier berries. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Leaf miners, borers, aphids, and spider mites are insects that may affect the plant. Diseases include leaf blight, fire blight, and powdery mildew. The fruit may rot in wet weather. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Amelanchier .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Leaves are oval and 2 to 4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. Margins are serrated, tips abruptly pointed, the base is rounded. New growth emerges as bronze-purple, turns glossy green in summer, and clear yellow to red fall color. The minimal amount of hairs on stalks and leaves makes this variety slightly different than other Amelanchier varieties.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
This plant has small, white flowers from March to April on 4 inch long racemes. Often blooms before ith leaves appear except in the northernmost range.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Sweet berry-like pome that matures to purple. The berries resemble blueberries and are used in jams and jellies. The fruit attracts birds. Fruit displays from May to June.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is smooth and slate-gray with white, longitudinal stripes. On mature trees it splits and furrows becoming rough.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Twigs are slender and flexible, reddish-brown with fine hair. New growth is green. The buds are long and pointed, with scales that have reddish-yellow to reddish-green margins and usually have some hair
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
USA: AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Wildlife value
Host plant for Red-Spotted Purple and Viceroy butterflies. Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, small mammals, and large mammals. Mildly resistant to deer. Bees are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Pome
Edibility
Fruit tastes similar to a blueberry and can be used raw or cooked.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used by native Americans to make pemmican- a high energy cake made with the dried fruits, meat and fat for traveling. The bark has been used in herbal medicine.