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Amelanchier canadensis - (L.)Medik.

Common Name Juneberry, Canadian serviceberry, Serviceberry Downy, Shadblow, Shadbush, Serviceberry
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Swamps, low ground, woods and thickets[43]. Grows in woods and hedgerows in Britain[17].
Range Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Florida. Naturalized in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Amelanchier canadensis Juneberry, Canadian serviceberry, Serviceberry Downy, Shadblow, Shadbush, Serviceberry


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Amelanchier canadensis Juneberry, Canadian serviceberry, Serviceberry Downy, Shadblow, Shadbush, Serviceberry

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Amelanchier canadensis is a deciduous Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. oblongifolia. Mespilus canadensis.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Edible fruit - raw or cooked[3, 55, 101, 159]. The fruit contains a few small seeds at the centre, it has a sweet flavour with a hint of apple[1, 2]. It can be eaten out of hand, used in pies, preserves etc or dried and used like raisins[183]. We have found the fruit to be of variable quality, with some forms having a distinct bitterness in the flavour whilst others are sweet, juicy and delicious[K]. When the fruit is thoroughly cooked in puddings or pies the seed imparts an almond flavour to the food[183]. The fruit is rich in iron and copper[226]. It is about 10mm in diameter[200]. Trees can yield 7 to 15 tonnes per hectare[160].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Disinfectant  Women's complaints

A tea made from the root bark (mixed with other unspecified herbs) was used as a tonic in the treatment of excessive menstrual bleeding and also to treat diarrhoea[222, 257]. A bath of the bark tea was used on children with worms[222, 257]. An infusion of the root was used to prevent miscarriage after an injury[257]. A compound concoction of the inner bark was used as a disinfectant wash[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Disinfectant  Hedge  Hedge  Rootstock  Shelterbelt  Wood

This species can be used as a dwarfing rootstock for Malus spp. (the apples) and Pyrus spp. (the pears)[160]. Plants can be grown as an informal hedge[200]. Any trimming is best done after flowering[200]. A fairly wind-tolerant species, it can be used to give protection from the wind as part of a mixed shelterbelt[200]. Wood - hard, strong, close grained. Used for tool handles, small implements etc[46, 61].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Specimen, Woodland garden. Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[1, 200] but thrives in any soil that is not water-logged, too dry or poor[11], though it is more wet-tolerant than other members of this genus[11]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers an acid soil[17, 43]. Trees produce more and better quality fruits better when growing in a sunny position[1]. All members of this genus have edible fruits and, whilst this is dry and uninteresting in some species, in many others it is sweet and juicy. Many of the species have potential for use in the garden as edible ornamentals. The main draw-back to this genus is that birds adore the fruit and will often completely strip a tree before it is fully ripe[K]. There is at least one named variety of this species with superior fruits. 'Prince William' is a large multi-stemmed shrub to 3 metres tall and 2 metres across[183, 200]. It crops heavily and its good quality fruit is about 12mm in diameter[183]. Considerable confusion has existed between this species and A. arborea, A. laevis and A. lamarckii, see [11] for the most recent (1991) classification. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. Grafting onto seedlings of A. lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is sometimes practised in order to avoid the potential problem of hybridizing[1]. Special Features:Attracts birds, North American native, Attracts butterflies, Blooms are very showy. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - it is best harvested 'green', when the seed is fully formed but before the seed coat has hardened, and then sown immediately in pots outdoors or in a cold frame. If stored seed is obtained early enough in the autumn, it can be given 4 weeks warm stratification before being left out in the winter and it should then germinate in the spring. Otherwise seed can be very slow to germinate, perhaps taking 18 months or more. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a sheltered outdoor position, planting them out once they are 20cm or more tall. If there is sufficient seed it is best to sow it thinly in an outdoor seedbed[78, 80]. Grow the seedlings on for two years in the seedbed before planting them out into their permanent positions during the winter. Layering in spring - takes 18 months[78]. Division of suckers in late winter. The suckers need to have been growing for 2 years before you dig them up, otherwise they will not have formed roots. They can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, Canada, North America, Tasmania, USA,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Amelanchier alnifoliaSaskatoon, Saskatoon serviceberry, ServiceberryShrub4.0 4-6 MLMHSNM523
Amelanchier alnifolia cusickiiCusick's ServiceberryShrub3.0 0-0  LMHSNM410
Amelanchier alnifolia semiintegrifoliaPacific ServiceberryShrub3.0 0-0 SLMHSNM511
Amelanchier arboreaDowny Serviceberry, Alabama serviceberry, Juneberry, Common Serviceberry, Downy ServiceberryTree10.0 5-8 SLMHSNM312
Amelanchier asiaticaKorean JuneberryTree8.0 4-8  LMHSNM30 
Amelanchier bartramianaOblongfruit serviceberryShrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM300
Amelanchier basalticolaDwarf Service-berryShrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM400
Amelanchier confusa Shrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM500
Amelanchier humilisLow serviceberryShrub1.8 4-8  LMHSNM30 
Amelanchier huroensis Tree6.0 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Amelanchier interiorPacific serviceberryTree9.0 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Amelanchier intermediaJune berry,Shrub6.0 4-8  LMHSNM300
Amelanchier laevisAllegheny Shadberry, Allegheny serviceberry, Smooth ServiceberryShrub9.0 5-8 MLMHSNM512
Amelanchier lamarckiiApple ServiceberryShrub6.0 3-3  LMHSNM500
Amelanchier obovalisSouthern Juneberry, Coastal serviceberryTree1.5 5-9  LMHSNM301
Amelanchier ovalisSnowy Mespilus, Dwarf Garden ServiceberryShrub5.0 5-7 SLMHNM20 
Amelanchier ovalis integrifolia Shrub4.0 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Amelanchier pallidaPale ServiceberryShrub4.0 -  LMHSNM31 
Amelanchier parviflora Shrub2.0 4-8  LMHNM202
Amelanchier sanguineaRoundleaf Serviceberry, Gaspé serviceberryShrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNDM30 
Amelanchier spicata Shrub2.0 4-8  LMHSNM30 
Amelanchier stoloniferaQuebec Berry, Running serviceberryShrub1.5 4-8  LMHSNDM510
Amelanchier utahensisUtah Serviceberry, Coville's serviceberryShrub5.0 3-7  LMHSNDM312
Amelanchier weigandii Shrub5.0 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Amelanchier x grandifloraApple ServiceberryShrub6.0 4-7 SLMHSNM500

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)Medik.

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Jan Kola   Mon Dec 04 23:42:43 2000

Juneberry is more frequently called saskatoonberry. There was project long ago, funded by Canada government, based on the breeding works of Canadian gardeners, I forgot the name. The project failed, for in Canada hand work is expensive. Saskatoonberry needs a lot of hand work. They carried out the project properly, they even built a factory for the preservation of the berries to make jellies and other products. But when it failed, there are now indians sleeping in the factory. I think it was in Alberta, Bevearlodge. Research station there now works with different plants.

But Canadian farmers soon recognized, that it is good for them to produce it, though they probably they earn more money on selling plants, than on fruits.

The fruit of A. lamarckii is so tasty, that everybody has to love it only to get used to it. They will soon love also another species fruit, though the taste of some species is a litle strange.

Don't forget, that Amelanchier is not only a Northern America plant, but it grows also in Russia, Caucasus, Crete, Northern Africa. Especially in Russia it is called IRGA and it is frequented between gardeners.

Rich   Wed Dec 20 11:01:57 2000

Two intresting sites for Amelanchier:

Native Fruit Development Program

http://www.saskatoonfarm.com/

If people want to get in contact with Jan Koan who wrote the previous comment they can get in touch with him at: Jan Kola, Jasminova 1616, Ostrava 70800, Czech Republik, Tel. 69 6951114

   Fri May 11 17:31:46 2001

You want pictures of juneberries, well here you go...

dugan garden center Rain Tree Alabama Forest Info iastate uni

that should be enough :) I got some small ones planted, but they are to young to fruit yet. They could also be chokecherries, but not sure.

Look at this to be sure:

http://wcd.saultc.on.ca:8900/dendro/webpages/servicegen.html

Pam   Tue Jan 6 2009

When I bought this, it was called "Serviceberry" var. "Autumn brilliance", and the berries were delicious. Very pretty!

   Jul 19 2012 12:00AM

NOTE: I do believe that the "Serviceberry" var. "Autumn brilliance" which PAM wrote of is actually a combination of A. laevis x A. grandiflora. I have two of those from a nursery nearby. I just acquired a real A. canadensis, or Juneberry, from Useful plants nursery. I went through greater lengths to get it because I think it has much, much tastier berries! My friend had three Autumn Brilliance serviceberries and one juneberry all growing in the same rich front yard, and I always preferred A. canadensis (juneberry) fruits.

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