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Canada serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Common names:
Canada serviceberry, Canada shadbush, thicket serviceberry, Juneberry, shadblow serviceberry, shadblow, shadbush, shadbush serviceberry, sugarplum, thicket serviceberry

Content Detail

This large deciduous shrub or small tree, with many colony-forming erect stems is often found growing in swampy, wet sites in eastern North America. Canada serviceberry is best suited for wet sites in yards and landscapes in the Midwest. It has white blooms in early spring followed by oval green leaves and edible red fruit, attractive to birds, in mid to late summer. The fall color is orange-red. 

  • Family (English) Rose
  • Family (botanic) Rosaceae
  • Tree or plant type Tree, Shrub
  • Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
  • Native locale North America
  • Size range Large shrub (more than 8 feet), Compact tree (10-15 feet), Small tree (15-25 feet)
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Wet soil
  • Other tolerances Occasional flooding, Wet sites
  • Season of interest mid spring, late spring, early fall
  • Flower color and fragrance White
  • Shape or form Multi-stemmed, Thicket-forming, Upright
  • Growth rate Moderate

Native geographic location and habitat:

Native to the United States.

Pollinators and wildlife:

The red fruit is attractive to birds. It is a larval host for the striped hairstreak butterfly.

Bark color and texture:

Bark is light gray and relatively smooth, with lighter vertical lines.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

The leaves are simple, alternate, oval, and about 2 inches long. They are dark green in summer, changing to orange and red in fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Blooms are white flowers borne in loose clusters in spring.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The red, berry-like fruits (pomes) are edible.

Plant care:

Canada serviceberry is a multi-stemmed, colony-forming shrub growing to 10 to 20 feet in height and width. It does best in part shade conditions, but is tolerant of sun with adequate soil moisture. It is a great plant for wet sites. It spreads by sucker growth and needs to be pruned to control its size.

List of pests, diseases, and tolerances:

No serious problems.  This plant is tolerant of black walnut toxicity and salt. 

Prince William Canada serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis ‘Prince William’ ):

This cultivar grows 8 to 10 feet high and 5 to 6 feet wide. It is an upright multi-stemmed shrub with good orange-red fall color.

Rainbow Pillar® Canada serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis ‘Glennform’ ):

A taller cultivar growing to 20 feet high by 6 feet wide, it has an upright form and fall color is a mix of red, yellow, and orange.

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