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Running Serviceberry Wikimedia Commons
Rosaceae

Running Serviceberry

Amelanchier stolonifera

Spreading joy and community.

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Amelanchier
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Spring
Type
shrub
Height
3-6 ft
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
well-drained, sandy to loam
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • It spreads by underground stolons to form thickets, hence the name 'running' serviceberry.
  • The name 'serviceberry' comes from early American settlers who held church services when the ground thawed and these bloomed.
  • Its sweet, blueberry-like fruits were a staple food for Native Americans, who dried them into pemmican cakes.
  • It is one of the smallest serviceberry species, making it ideal for compact gardens and hedgerows.
  • The white spring flowers appear just before the leaves unfurl, creating a brief but stunning cloud-like display.

Color meanings

0

community

1

sharing

2

renewal

Uses

  • edible fruit
  • native hedgerows
  • wildlife habitat
  • erosion control