# Utah Serviceberry (*Amelanchier utahensis*) The Utah Serviceberry is a lovely shrub that grows small, sweet berries. It has beautiful white flowers in spring and turns colorful in the fall, making it a favorite among birds and people alike. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Utah Serviceberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Amelanchier_utahensis_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amelanchier_utahensis_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Utah Serviceberry is a deciduous shrub with smooth, greyish bark and small, oval leaves that turn red-orange in fall. It has clusters of five-petaled white flowers in spring, followed by small, sweet, red to purplish-black berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Amelanchier ## Interesting facts - Despite its delicate flowers, this shrub can live for over 50 years! - Its super hard wood was traditionally used to make arrows and tool handles! - Native Americans dried the berries to store and eat all winter, often in pemmican! - The name 'serviceberry' might come from blooming when mountain roads were passable for services! ## Special abilities - **Drought Defender:** Utah Serviceberry has a deep root system that helps it find water in dry, rocky soils, allowing it to thrive where other plants struggle. - **Feast for Fauna:** Its sweet, nutrient-rich berries provide a vital food source for many birds and mammals, helping them survive harsh conditions. - **Early Bloomer:** Utah Serviceberry can produce its white flowers early in spring, offering a crucial nectar and pollen source for awakening insects. - **Soil Stabilizer:** Its extensive root network helps hold soil in place on steep slopes, preventing erosion and protecting the landscape. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Spread:** 100-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds feast on its sweet berries, helping to spread seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and twigs, especially in winter. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Its early spring flowers are a vital nectar source for bees. - **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Bears forage on the abundant, ripe berries. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before picking and eating berries. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Utah Serviceberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Utah Serviceberry? 100-500 cm ### How wide does Utah Serviceberry spread? 100-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on Utah Serviceberry? 1-2 cm ### When does Utah Serviceberry bloom? Spring ### Is Utah Serviceberry edible? Yes ### Is Utah Serviceberry toxic? None ### What is Utah Serviceberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-national-monument-visitor-center-complex) — Colorado, US · National Park - [Grandview Mine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grandview-mine) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Mesa Verde Administrative District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-verde-administrative-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saddlehorn-utility-area-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see Utah Serviceberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/utah-serviceberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Utah Serviceberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/utah-serviceberry)