Allegheny serviceberry | Amelanchier laevis

Family (English) Rose
Family (botanic) Rosaceae
Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Under utility lines, Wide median
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Chicago area, Illinois, North America
Size range Small tree (15-25 feet)
Mature height 15-25 feet
Mature width 15-25 feet
Light exposure Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
Drought tolerance Moderately sensitive
Other tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil
Season of interest mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, White
Shape or form Irregular, Multi-stemmed, Narrow, Round
Growth rate Moderate
Transplants well No
Wildlife Birds, Insect pollinators, Mammals
Has cultivars Yes

More Information

Native Geographic Location and Habitat

Allegheny serviceberry is native to the Midwest and northeastern United States and commonly found in wooded areas. C-Value: 7.

Bark Description

Bark is smooth and silver-gray, with light vertical stripes.

Leaf Description

Leaves are simple and alternate. Oval leaves emerge with a distinctive red tinge before turning green to dark green. Fall color varies from yellow to orange to red.

Flower Description

Fragrant white flowers bloom in May and held on loose clusters.

Fruit Description

Small, dark purple, 3/8” berry-like fruit (pome) is edible.

Cultivars

This plant is a cultivar of a species that is native to the Chicago Region according to Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research. Cultivars are plants produced in cultivation by selective breeding or via vegetative propagation from wild plants identified to have desirable traits.

Cumulus Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis ‘Cumulus’)

Cumulus is 20 to 30 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide; upright-oval form; flowers abundantly in spring; yellow to orange-red fall color.

Lustre® Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis ‘Rogers’)

This cultivar is 20-30 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide with an upright habit. It flowers abundantly in spring. The leaves emerge purplish, become shiny green in summer and turn to orange and red in fall.

Spring Flurry® Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis ‘JFS-Arb’)

Spring Flurry is 30 feet high by 20 feet wide. It is an upright-oval form with an orange fall color.

Related Hybrids

The following are cultivars of Amelanchier x grandiflora, which is a hybrid between downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) and Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis).

Autumn Brilliance apple serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’)

Very commonly sold, the cultivar is 20 to 25 feet high and wide with a brilliant red-orange fall color.

Princess Diana apple serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Princess Diana’)

At 20 to 25 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide, this cultivar has an upright habit with excellent red fall color.

Robin Hill apple serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’)

This tree grows to 20 to 25 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide. Similar to the others, it has an upright-oval habit, but the fall color is red to yellow.