Canadian Serviceberry, an Important Food Source

The serviceberry is highly adaptable to diverse growing conditions. They typically reach a height of 20 to 30 feet, making them an ideal choice for numerous urban lots. Their conspicuous presence is evident due to their white flowers that bloom in early May. The serviceberry fruit ripens in early summer and is highly sought after by birds and humans alike.

Canadian Serviceberry is a remarkable shrub with striking white flowers emerging from its foliage in early spring, before the leaves unfurl. Throughout the season, it retains its verdant foliage. Notably, the oval leaves transform into vibrant oranges in the autumn. In late spring, the shrub produces delectable blackberries, which serve as a vital sustenance source for both humans and wildlife.

The quick grow guide to the Downy serviceberry might be of interest.

Serviceberry trees are an excellent addition to any yard, providing vibrant greenery. Native to North America, these trees thrive in various climates and offer a diverse display of colours throughout the seasons, showcasing their vibrant red, purple, and yellow foliage.

Where to Plant Serviceberry

In nature, you’ll find the Serviceberry in clearings, borders, and fence lines.

It is ideal for planting in woodland, naturalized, or native plant gardens, particularly with dark or shaded backgrounds, which tend to accentuate the plant’s form, flowers, and autumnal foliage. It is also effective along stream banks, lakes, and ponds.

The species is hardy in Zone 1 of Canada and is found throughout Ontario, extending as far north as James Bay. Tree-sized species include Saskatoon serviceberry (A. alnifolia), found near the Ontario-Manitoba border; downy serviceberry (A. arborea), native to southwestern Ontario; and smooth serviceberry (A. laevis), found from Southern Ontario north to Lake Superior.

Edible Berries

The red or dark purple fruits are generally sweet and juicy, although some, such as Amelanchier arborea, are drier and have less flavour. All of them are edible, but their exact taste and juiciness are influenced by local conditions like soil and weather. As early bloomers, they are a crucial source of food for emerging insects. Serviceberry fruits were a staple food of the Cree tribes of the Prairies, who combined the dried berries with bison meat to create pemmican.

Propagating Amelanchier canadensis

Serviceberries are renowned for their ease of transplantation due to their extensive fibrous root systems. They can be acquired and pruned as single-stem specimen trees or naturalized, allowing them to develop multi-stemmed clumps or hedgerows. Smooth serviceberries exhibit the least suckering tendency, making them ideal for cultivation as trees.

Propagating from Roots

Many serviceberry species can be propagated by their root suckers. The best time to harvest them is either early spring or late autumn. Here’s how you do it: First, find a sucker that’s at least a few inches away from the main trunk. Then, dig carefully to expose the sucker’s root connection. Once you’ve done that, cut the sucker cleanly from the parent tree, making sure to keep the roots attached. Then, plant the sucker in a new spot and water it well. The best part is that these suckers will grow true to the parent tree and establish quickly. But just a heads-up, not all serviceberry varieties produce suckers easily.

Propagating from Seeds

Serviceberry seeds are beneficial for native restoration. Serviceberry seeds require cold stratification to germinate. The optimal time to collect seeds is late summer, and they can be sown in the fall or stratified. Here are the steps:

1. Harvest ripe serviceberry berries and remove the pulp.

2. Place the seeds in a moist mixture of sand or peat and refrigerate them for 90 to 120 days.

3. After stratification, sow the seeds outdoors in the spring or under artificial lighting.

Caring for Canadian Serviceberry

Canadian Serviceberry is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. They are tolerant of a somewhat wide range of soils.

Companion plant suggestions include Calycanthus floridus, Cornus florida, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron vaseyi, Viburnum dentatum, and Coreopsis verticillata.

Pruning Amélanchier du Canada.

Serviceberries require pruning yearly, ideally in the late winter or early spring before the emergence of new leaves. Thoroughly inspect the tree for any deadwood, diseased wood, or crossed branches. Employ clean and sharp pruning tools to remove only the necessary branches. It is crucial to retain some old growth, as the flowers are produced on the older wood.

Fun Fact

In the Maritimes, the blooming period of the tree coincides with the spring shadfish season, leading to its local nomenclature as the ‘shadbush’ or ‘shadblow.’ Initially, the first settlers in the New World frequently scheduled funeral services during this time, as the tree’s blooming signalled that the ground had sufficiently thawed to facilitate grave digging. Consequently, the tree earned the moniker ‘serviceberry tree.’