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In the Northeast, last month we were 3" behind in annual rainfall and
today, we're approaching our 100-year record. Yesterday, it was hard to
glimpse daylight, let alone appreciate the year's longest day.
This bird-friendly, easy-care serviceberry, gracing a friend's front
yard, brightens a rainy June day. |
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Serviceberry is one of North America's amazing small-sized native trees. It's
four-season gorgeous, great for wildlife, and hardy as can be. The Latin species
name is Amellanchier. There are several varieties whose regional names
include shadbush, shadblow, bilberry, Saskatoon, Juneberry, and Indian pear.
Along the Hudson, it was named for the shad because the tree's small white
flowers appear just about the time the shad fish swim upstream to spawn. In
nature, you often see it growing at the edge of a wooded area where gets the
benefits of being part of the forest understory but with a little more sun.
Like apples, it's a member of the rose family. The eye-catching early flowers
are followed by berry-sized apple-like fruit that turn purple when ripe. The
leaves can have an attractive bluish cast that adds variety in the summer. The
leaves then turn nice shades of yellow, orange and/or red in the fall. The
graceful branches add to the winter garden.
In the yard, it can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. Depending on the
variety and conditions, it grows to 15'- 25'. I hear that there is a 2' bush
variety that I'd love to get to attract birds to my mother's garden.
While it likes some sun and moderate moisture to bear fruit, it survived well
in our recent drought and does well in part shade. Its native range includes a
good part of Canada and it's reported to thrive at least as far south as Georgia
(about zone 3 to 8 depending on the variety). It's also said to do well in urban
pollution. It's said to grow easily from seed if the berries are crushed and
planted while fresh (plant germinates the following spring). It is used for
bonsai and should do well as a container plant on a sunny balcony.
The berries are good for cooking, and were a favorite in pre-Columbian times.
Make sure, however, to leave plenty for our feathered and furry friends.
Have a great week
Sue
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