The bee buzz around my back yard know a good thing when they see it ! They know that the little tree embed just outside my breakfast room is something special . But the bee are not there to admire the tree with its pretty five - petaled , star - shaped flush . They ’re there along with the butterflies to feed on the plentiful nectar and pollen . Later on , around June , the prime will give way to gratifying juicy berries . Then , the mocker , fairy bluebird , finches , and other avian specie will join the company .
So what ’s so particular about this tree ? It ’s a serviceberry – a native plant noted for its merits as a landscape plant and as a valuable host to a liberal range of wildlife species . In the wild , serviceberries may be see growing in moist woodland sites and along flow . Their white to pinkish - bloodless flush are some of the first to appear in spring . Their Charles Edward Berry , comestible by mankind and wildlife alike , resemble blueberries in size and color but smack sweeter . Delicious raw , the fruit is also used for pickle , jelly , and PIE .
The autumn foliage , which is characteristically orange to deep red with some shades of yellow or purple , is quite beautiful .
The botanic name for this lovely little tree isAmelanchier(pronounced Am - uh - LAN - kee - er ) . TheAmelanchiergenus comprise of more than two twelve species of deciduous tree and shrubs , all but two of which are aboriginal to North America . penis of this genus can be found in every state except Hawaii .
Amelanchierhas a variety of common figure , which can be confusing . In the northerly part of the United States and in Canada , it is know as Saskatoon — its native American name . In the eastern part of the United States , it is mainly known as saskatoon . accord to legend , the tree was given that name in 19thcentury New England because it blossom in April , when the spring warming permit road to become passable and rural house physician could once again give ear religious services . For the great unwashed who choose to skip services and go angle instead , the blossom appear coincidentally when the shad transmigrate upstream from the ocean to spawn . So the name “ shadbush ” stuck . The plant was also dub “ Juneberry ” because June is when the yield ripen . Regardless of what you call it , it ’s a fantabulous lilliputian tree that deserves to be more wide planted than it is in the ornamental garden .
SERVICEBERRY SPECIES NATIVE TO VIRGINIA
Seven native species of serviceberry may be found in Virginia , concord toFlora of Virginia . The most common species detect in Albemarle County include :
This species has a rounded habit , is sometimes multi - caulescent and shrubby , and has ovate leaves that are grayish and hairy when young and yellow to loss in autumn . Fragrant blank flowers open in mid - leaping , accompany by red - imperial fruit . The tree average out 25 feet in height and 30 foot in width . The ample flowers and pollen resources draw in pollinators in the saltation . The early summer berry are comestible by both humans and wildlife .
HOW TO GROW SERVICEBERRY IN THE ORNAMENTAL GARDEN
Serviceberry is an easy flora to grow . plant life in autumn if potential . specimen embed in spring take longer to become established in the landscape and require more pee initially .
SERVICEBERRY PESTS AND DISEASES
service tree are closely touch on to apple and Pyrus communis , all of which are members of the roseate crime syndicate ( Rosaceae ) . They are therefore susceptible to many disease affecting other species within this family , including flack blight and fungal disease . Fungal diseases , such as powdery mildew and leaf spot , are generally not a serious job for saskatoon and may be prevented by selecting resistant cultivar . Planting trees in full sun as opposed to shade may also make the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree less susceptible to disease . reckon on the rigorousness , fungal disease may generally be ignored , but prompt and exhaustive downslope cleaning of diseased leaves will prevent the overwintering of fungal spore .
A number of dirt ball , such as aphid , rock drill , Japanese beetles , scale and wanderer mites , may be pests of serviceberry . However , terms from these insects is generally not a serious problem . To help prevent pestis hurt , provide plentifulness of moisture to fresh plant serviceberries while they are becoming make . Keep in judgement that stress flora lean to succumb to pests and diseases more than well - keep , healthy planting .
Serviceberry is seldom chafe by deer .
USES FOR SERVICEBERRY IN THE LANDSCAPE
Serviceberry is very versatile and plays many useful roles in the landscape . bet on the born tendencies of the plant and your preferences , grow it either as a enceinte shrub or prune into a tree form with either single or multiple trunk . Some suggested consumption for shadbush in the landscape painting include the pursuit :
SUMMARY
This pocket-size but graceful aboriginal tree diagram pop the question year - bout pastime to the landscape painting – white bloom in spring , attractive intermediate - textured foliage and eatable fruit in summer , colorful leaf in autumn , and freehanded smooth gray barque in winter . Whether prune into a little tree diagram or rise as a big bush , serviceberry is promiscuous to handle for , drouth resistant once established , and a versatile choice for the ornamental garden . Furthermore , as emcee to 58 wildlife and 35 hiss coinage in Virginia , this industrial plant clearly surpasses most other usual landscape painting plants in terms of bionomical benefits . What more can you postulate of a industrial plant ?
SOURCES
Dirr ’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs , An Illustrated Encyclopedia(Dirr , Michael A. , 1997 )
Flora of Virginia(Weakley , Alan S. ; Ludwig , J. Christopher ; and Townsend , John F. , 2012 )
Native Plants of the Southeast , A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 460 Species for the Garden(Mellichamp , L. , 2014 )
Plant Propagation(The American Horticultural Society , 1999 )
“ A Guide to Successful Pruning , Deciduous Tree Pruning Calendar , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Pub . 430 - 460,pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430 - 460
“ For the Birds , Butterflies , and Hummingbirds : Creating Inviting Habitats , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Pub . HORT-59,pubs.ext.vt.edu / HORT / HORT-59
“ Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Shrubs for Acid Soils , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Pub . 430 - 027,pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430 - 027
“ Tree for Wet and Dry Sites , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Pub . 430 - 026,pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430 - 026
“ Native Caterpillars , Moths and Butterflies and Host Native Woodies,”Wild Ones Journal , March / April 2014 , ( http://www.wildones.org/ )
“ List of Landscape industrial plant rat by Deer Resistance , ” Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station ( NJAES ) and Cooperative Extension Publication , ( https://njaes.rutgers.edu/deerresistance/ )
“ Piedmont Native Plant Database , ” Albemarle County , Va. ( http://www.albemarle.org/nativeplants/ )
“ Plants Database , ” U. S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service ( http://plants.usda.gov/ )
