Serviceberry species are excellent large shrubs or small trees that are well adapted to the climatic conditions of the upper midwest. They are covered with white flowers in the early spring prior to leafing out. New foliage is often silvery or reddish turning green as it matures. The edible, blue-black fruit ripens in mid summer and is readily eaten by birds as it matures. Foliage develops an excellent yellow-orange to red -purple fall coloration. Plants can be pruned into single or multiple trunked small trees, or can be grown as large shrubs. Crown form is oval to irregular. Has attractive smooth gray bark on the trunk and larger branches. The species A. laevis and A. x grandiflora are used most often in landscape plantings.Requirements and Culture:
Requires a well drained soil. Does well in full sun or moderate shade. Often found as an understory plant in its native habitat. Can be pruned into a single or multi-trunked tree form.
Limitations:
No serious insect or disease problems. Needs a well drained soil. Susceptible to cedar rust, but not a severe problem.
Selected Cultivars:
A. laevis `Cumulus'- trains easily into a small tree with a narrow, oval crown.
It grows 20 to 30 feet high, 15 to 20 feet wide and is hardy in zone 4. It has fleecy white flowers in spring and bright yellowish to orang-scarlet fall color. Plants I have observed displayed a distinct upright-oval outline in youth, which would make this form useful for street tree plantings or where lateral branch spread must be restricted. Unfortunately, 'Cumulus; has been grafted or budded in the past, and several plants I have observed had succers developing from the rootstock. Supposedly less prone to suckers than other forms. Fire blight was devastating during the 1988 growing season in the southeastern United States.
- Michael Dirr, Manual of Woodly Landscape Plants.