Serviceberry, Alleghany, Bare Root

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

A small native tree that brings edible fruit into a woodland edge or mixed garden. Bronze-purple new leaves, white flowers, and a light canopy give it a distinct place among the serviceberries.

Key Characteristics

A sweet early-season harvest

Fruit ripens purple and can be eaten fresh or baked. Birds often find it quickly, so check ripening clusters frequently if you want a kitchen harvest.

More than a berry tree

Red-spotted purple caterpillars can use the leaves. Spring flowers also provide resources for bees before the summer berry crop arrives.

An airy edge tree

Use it beside a path, at a woodland margin, or as a small multi-stemmed tree. Keep establishment moisture steady and avoid a permanently waterlogged position.

Compare the serviceberries

For another eastern species, see Downy Serviceberry. Saskatoon Serviceberry has a generally shrubbier habit; these are different species rather than size grades of the same tree.

Product Details

• Plant type: Deciduous perennial tree or large shrub
• Native range: Eastern North America
• Sun: Full Sun; Part Sun/Shade
• Soil moisture: Medium; Medium-Dry
• Mature height: 15–25 feet, occasionally taller
• Bloom: March–April–May; White
• Fruit: Purple berry-like fruit with a sweet flavor; fresh eating, pies, and preserves.
• Harvest: May–June
• Pollination: Serviceberries are generally self-fruitful; planting additional seedlings can support a larger, more varied fruit planting.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 4–8
• Stock: Seed-grown bare root plants; choose the seedling size.

Planting and Ongoing Care

Plant promptly and keep bare roots from drying out. Water the root zone, mulch clear of the stems, and protect seedlings from mowing damage and browsing. Base fertilizer on a soil test rather than feeding automatically; if needed, our Tree Planting Kit fertilizer blend should be used according to its label.

Inspect for rust, fire blight, and leaf spots. Give branches airflow, water at soil level, and remove diseased shoots; avoid routine spraying during bloom. Avoid insecticides on open flowers.

Interested in permaculture and stacking functions? Our fruit-tree guild guide explains how to combine planting layers and roles around fruit trees.