Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Rosales>Rosaceae>Amelanchier arborea (Michaux f.) Fernald

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) leaves

Common Serviceberry, also known as Downy Serviceberry, Juneberry, or Shadblow, is a small to medium-sized tree, found most often in upland woods. It's easily confused with its smaller sibling Canadian Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) and the nearly identical but smooth-leaved Alleghany Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis). All these are quite showy when they bloom in early spring, before the leaves come out.

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) leaves

Newly-emerged leaves.

Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) leaves

Grayson Co., VA 5/31/2009.

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) leaf

Leaf undersides are downy-hairy. An alternate common name is Downy Serviceberry.

Grayson Co., VA 5/31/2009.

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) fruit

The fruits, which are delicious, turn from green to red to purplish as they ripen.

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) bark

The bark is shallowly furrowed with a distinctive twisted pattern.

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) bark

Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.

More information:
Bioimages
Trees of Wisconsin
University of Connecticut
USDA PLANTS Database
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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