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Summary
Bloom Color: White.
Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Upright or erect.
Physical Characteristics
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.
Plant 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
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
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Plant 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 Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Québec (southwest), Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, United States, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (southeast), Rhode Island, Vermont, Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee (east), Virginia, District of Columbia,
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 Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Amelanchier alnifolia | Saskatoon, Saskatoon serviceberry, Serviceberry | Shrub | 4.0 |
4-6
| M | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Amelanchier alnifolia cusickii | Cusick's Serviceberry | Shrub | 3.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Amelanchier alnifolia semiintegrifolia | Pacific Serviceberry | Shrub | 3.0 |
0-0
| S | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Amelanchier arborea | Downy Serviceberry, Alabama serviceberry, Juneberry, Common Serviceberry, Downy Serviceberry | Tree | 10.0 |
5-8
| S | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Amelanchier asiatica | Korean Juneberry | Tree | 8.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier bartramiana | Oblongfruit serviceberry | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Amelanchier basalticola | Dwarf Service-berry | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Amelanchier confusa | | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Amelanchier humilis | Low serviceberry | Shrub | 1.8 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier huroensis | | Tree | 6.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier interior | Pacific serviceberry | Tree | 9.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier intermedia | June berry, | Shrub | 6.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Amelanchier laevis | Allegheny Shadberry, Allegheny serviceberry, Smooth Serviceberry | Shrub | 9.0 |
5-8
| M | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Amelanchier lamarckii | Apple Serviceberry | Shrub | 6.0 |
3-3
| | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Amelanchier obovalis | Southern Juneberry, Coastal serviceberry | Tree | 1.5 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Amelanchier ovalis | Snowy Mespilus, Dwarf Garden Serviceberry | Shrub | 5.0 |
5-7
| S | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier ovalis integrifolia | | Shrub | 4.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier pallida | Pale Serviceberry | Shrub | 4.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 1 | |
| Amelanchier parviflora | | Shrub | 2.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Amelanchier sanguinea | Roundleaf Serviceberry, Gaspé serviceberry | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier spicata | | Shrub | 2.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier stolonifera | Quebec Berry, Running serviceberry | Shrub | 1.5 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Amelanchier utahensis | Utah Serviceberry, Coville's serviceberry | Shrub | 5.0 |
3-7
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Amelanchier weigandii | | Shrub | 5.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Amelanchier x grandiflora | Apple Serviceberry | Shrub | 6.0 |
4-7
| S | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 0 | 0 |
|
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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Author
(L.)Medik.
Botanical References
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