Serviceberry, Downy, Bare Root

Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

The Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a native North American shrub or small tree that is prized for its beautiful blooms, edible berries, and attractive fall foliage. This variety is a popular choice for home landscapes and wildlife plantings due to its adaptability to a variety of soil types and its ability to thrive in sunny or partially shaded locations. Easy to grow yet hard to find, this variety thrives best along wood edges, ponds, and streams. A wonderful addition to your edible landscape!

The Downy serviceberry is one of the earliest flowering serviceberries, producing clusters of white, fragrant flowers in early spring. These blooms provide a valuable source of nectar for pollinators, making this variety a welcome addition to pollinator-friendly gardens. The delicious and nutricious berries of the Downy serviceberry ripen in late June or early July and are sweet, juicy, and slightly tart. They can be eaten fresh, used in pies and jams, or dried for later use. The berries are also a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife. In autumn, the leaves of the Downy serviceberry turn a brilliant shade of red or orange, adding a splash of color to the fall landscape. The Downy serviceberry provides food and shelter for a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, and rabbits. The berries are a favorite food for many birds, and the dense foliage provides nesting sites for songbirds. The berries and bark of the Downy serviceberry have been used traditionally for a variety of medicinal purposes, including as an astringent, a diuretic, and a treatment for diarrhea.

Tree height: Up to 25 feet
Fruit size: 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter
Fruit shape: Round to oval
Fruit taste: Sweet, juicy, and slightly tart
Fruit color: Dark purple or black
Cold hours: 800-1,000
Fruit maturity time: Late June or early July
Flowering time: Early spring, before other serviceberries

Pollination:
The Downy serviceberry is self-fertile to a limited extent, but it will produce a heavier crop of berries if it is cross-pollinated with another Downy serviceberry or a compatible serviceberry variety. See our Pollination page for more information on cross-pollination varieties and requirements!