Happy Mother’s Day! If you’re a mom, I hope that you received beautiful plants as gifts this year. Maybe someone in your family is even generous enough to help with planting any new trees, shrubs, or other garden plants. One plant I would like to be gifted is serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.). This native shrub/small tree is a wonderful asset to your landscape, producing delicate white blooms early in spring, fruit in early summer and color in autumn. It is a great choice for edible landscaping and also supports wildlife.
There are many species of serviceberry that have adapted to conditions around North America: from Canada to the southern U.S., to the Atlantic coastal plains, and even the mountains of the Northwest. Penn State Extension says the plants grow in full sun to part shade. The plant blossoms at about the same time leaves emerge and the small edible berries darken to a deep reddish-purple when ripe in June.
Serviceberry is only one of the common names for Amelanchier. Penn State says the serviceberry common name comes from the fact that it blooms when the ground has thawed enough for burial services held after the frozen months of winter. The plant is also called juneberry because of the time that berries ripen. Nantucket, Saskatoon, and coastal juneberry refer to the geographical range of the species.
The plants can grow to 30 feet tall. Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon) is considered to have the best quality fruit, Penn State says – although it is a species that is native to northwestern North America.
Interestingly, the fruit is not technically a berry, but a pome, just like apples, pears, and quinces, which have several small seeds surrounded by a membrane in the center of the edible flesh, Penn State says. Pomes are members of the family Rosaceae.
If you want to produce the best fruits, plant serviceberry in full sun. It does best in well-drained, loamy soil, but tolerates most soil types. Penn State notes the plant can suffer root rot if planted in heavy clay. The first year after planting, lightly mulch the area and provide supplemental water. Pruning is best done when the plant is dormant. A well-pruned, open canopy allows for healthy air flow and penetration of sunlight. Remove any suckers that appear. The best fruits are found on two- to four-year old wood. The serviceberry is self-fruitful – pollinated by blossoms on the same tree.
Butterflies and bees enjoy nectar from the white blossoms. Serviceberry is an occasional host for viceroy, Canadian tiger, swallowtail, and striped hairstreak butterflies. Birds and other wildlife love the berries, which are edible by humans.
Penn State Extension says the berries are high in iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and fiber. You can harvest them a bit early, as they continue to ripen after picking. Harvesting in the morning is suggested – before the fruit softens in the afternoon sun and warmth. Wash and refrigerate immediately after picking. You can cook the pulp and then run it through a food mill to remove the seeds. Use the pulp for pies, cobblers, and crisps, or add a small amount of sugar to taste and use as a sauce over ice cream, yogurt, poundcake or other desserts. It would also be a delicious and nutritious topping for cottage cheese. Freezing berries and sauce is also a way to save the fruit for use at a later time.
