Serviceberry, Juneberry, Shad-bush, Sweet pear, Shadblow serviceberry
Pyrus canadensis

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A small deciduous shrub or tree. It grows to 5-8 m high and spreads to 3 m across. It forms suckers. The stem is erect and slender. It can have several stems. The leaves are oval and sword shaped. Young leaves are very hairy. They turn red in autumn. The flowers are white and in drooping clusters. The fruit are small red berries about 7-10 mm across. They turn black on maturity. They are edible.

There are about 25-30 Amelanchier species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits light well drained acid soils. Plants are naturalised in Sweden. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, North America, Scandinavia, Sweden, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They are stewed, dried, preserved, and used in pancakes, muffins, pies, sauces, jams, jellies and cakes. The dried fruit are used like raisins.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

They are grown from ripened seed. It can be grown from seed, layering or suckers. Seed can take 18 months to germinate and layers can take 18 months to form roots.

Trees can yield 7 to 15 tonnes per hectare.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medik.; Mespilus canadensis L.;