A small tree or large shrub valued for early spring white blossoms (one of the first plants to bloom in eastern forests) and edible blue-purple berries that birds adore.

Also called: Wild Parsnip, Wild Carrot

Native status: Native to Europe; widely naturalized

§ Quick facts

SizeHeight 50–150 cm (20–60 in)
WeightN/A
LifespanAnnual or biennial
OrderApiales
FamilyApiaceae

§ Encyclopedia

Amelanchier, also known as shadbush, shadwood or shadblow, serviceberry or sarvisberry, juneberry, saskatoon, sugarplum, wild-plum or chuckley pear, is a genus of about 20 species of deciduous-leaved shrubs and small trees in the rose family (Rosaceae).

Source: Wikipedia — Amelanchier Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Tall plant with feathery dill-like leaves and small yellow flowers in umbels.

Similar species. Other Apiaceae plants (dill, fennel). Wild Carrot (white flowers).

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. N/A — photosynthesis

Behavior. Tall biennial with feathery foliage and yellow flower umbels. Common roadside plant.

§ Range

Eastern North America from Newfoundland to Alabama

§ Habitat

Forest edges, riparian areas, hedgerows

§ Threats

Replacement with non-native ornamentals, deer browsing, lawn-monoculture.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the serviceberry is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Plant native serviceberry as a small ornamental tree. Skip Asian flowering pear (Bradford). Tolerate berry-eating birds.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USDA Plants Database
  • iNaturalist