ExplorePlants

common serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea

The common serviceberry is a small tree that produces sweet, tasty berries. In spring, it blooms with beautiful white flowers that attract bees and butterflies!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The common serviceberry has delicate white flowers that appear in early spring before its leaves fully emerge, sometimes with a hint of pink. Its small, round berries ripen from red to dark purple, resembling blueberries. The bark is smooth and gray, and its leaves turn vibrant orange-red in fall.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusAmelanchier
common serviceberry
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgespring_blooming trait badgebroadleaf_tree trait badge
common serviceberry

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Its incredibly strong wood was historically used to make tool handles and even archery bows!

Its name comes from blooming when roads thawed, allowing travel for spring church services!

Native Americans used the serviceberry's bark and roots to make traditional medicines.

The berries look just like blueberries, but they grow on a tree, not a bush!

Special abilities

Ability

Spring Awakener

Common serviceberry can bloom very early in spring, providing crucial nectar and pollen for hungry pollinators when few other plants are flowering.

Ability

Berry Banquet

Common serviceberry has sweet, edible berries that attract a wide variety of birds and mammals, helping to spread its seeds far and wide.

Ability

Colorful Camouflage

Common serviceberry has leaves that turn brilliant orange and red in the fall, blending into autumn forests and signaling the change of seasons.

Measurements & details

Height
450-1370 cm
Spread
300-600 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Early spring
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen from flowers

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

enjoys the ripe, sweet berries

eaten by

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

feasts on the abundant summer fruits

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses on young twigs and leaves

Traits

Also known as

Shadbush

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking and eating berries from trees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is common serviceberry?

450-1370 cm

How wide does common serviceberry spread?

300-600 cm

How big are the flowers on common serviceberry?

1-2 cm

When does common serviceberry bloom?

Early spring

Is common serviceberry edible?

Yes

Is common serviceberry toxic?

None

What is common serviceberry's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is common serviceberry pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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