Kurt Stüber [1] / CC BY-SA 3.0
forageable
Serviceberry
Amelanchier
EdibleMedicinalDrought Tolerant
Overview
A graceful native tree or shrub that offers four-season beauty — white spring blossoms, sweet summer berries, brilliant fall color, and elegant winter bark. Serviceberry fruit looks and tastes like a cross between blueberry and mild apple, and was an important food for Indigenous peoples across North America. It is one of the most versatile native edibles for home landscapes.
Growing Conditions
LightPartial Sun
MoistureModerate
Hardiness Zones2 — 7
Height4m
Spread3m
Growth HabitShrub
Pollinator Valuehigh
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Soil pH5.5 — 7
Soil TypeMoist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil; adaptable
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Transplant | Apr — May | Plant in spring; extremely cold hardy; native understory tree; attracts birds |
| Cold (1-2) | Harvest | Jun — Jul | Harvest when berries turn dark purple; taste like blueberry-almond; net against birds |
| Cold (1-2) | Bloom | May — May | White flowers among earliest spring blooms; blooms before leaves emerge |
| Cold (1-2) | Prune | Mar — Apr | Prune suckers to maintain form; remove crossing branches after bloom |
| Cool (3-4) | Transplant | Mar — Apr | Plant in early spring; tolerates part shade; multi-stem or single-trunk forms |
| Cool (3-4) | Harvest | Jun — Jul | Pick when fully purple; eat fresh, bake, or make preserves |
| Cool (3-4) | Bloom | Apr — Apr | Profuse white flowers; critical early-season pollinator resource |
| Moderate (5-7) | Transplant | Mar — Apr | Plant in spring; adaptable to most soils; beautiful white spring bloom |
| Moderate (5-7) | Harvest | May — Jun | Harvest early summer; highly nutritious — higher antioxidants than blueberries |
| Moderate (5-7) | Bloom | Mar — Apr | Early spring bloom; ornamental and edible landscape tree |
| Warm (8-9) | Transplant | Feb — Mar | Plant in late winter; choose heat-tolerant species (A. arborea) |
| Warm (8-9) | Harvest | May — Jun | Harvest late spring; fruit production decreases in extreme heat |
Uses
Culinary
- Fresh eating — sweet, blueberry-almond flavor
- Pies, jams, and preserves
- Dried like raisins for baking and trail mix
Medicinal
- High in anthocyanins and antioxidants like blueberries
- Rich in manganese, iron, and vitamin C
- Traditional tonic berry in Native American medicine
Other Uses
- Four-season ornamental native tree
- Critical early-season wildlife food source
- Edible landscaping and food forest understory tree
