The edible purple serviceberry fruits are pomes in the rose family, related to apples or pears.
They can be eaten fresh or used to make jams or jellies.
While no plant is deer-proof, serviceberries are generally resistant to deer browsing.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
These hardy plants are a great choice to attract birds to your yard since they love the fruits.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Here are several species of serviceberries, including a few native varieties.
It is one of the tallestAmelanchierspecies that may form into multiple trunks.
The Spruce
This species grows best in moist soils with proper drainage.
Like many serviceberries, this species provides color interest throughout several seasons.
In spring, it bears clusters of white flowers.
Dan Mullen / Flickr / CC By 2.0
During summer, the fruit begins to form, ultimately becoming bluish-black.
In autumn, the leaves change to red, orange, and yellow.
If you want a tree form or a column-like habit, look for the ‘Snowcloud’ variety.
riskms / Getty Images
Other varieties available include ‘Cumulus,’ ‘Prince Charles, and ‘R.J.
It is especially drought-tolerant.
This hybrid’s white blossoms are particularly large.
seven75 / Getty Images
Fall foliage colors are red and yellow.
The variety pictured is ‘Cole’s Select.’
Another popular cultivar, ‘Autumn Brilliance,’ offers red-orange foliage in the fall and disease resistance.
Alexander Nesterov / Getty Images
Its white, star-shaped flowers appear in mid-April, attractingbutterflies and bees to your garden.
This tree puts on a fall show with leaves that transform into orange-red, gold, or yellow.
The leaves can be fuzzy when they first appear.
Roel_Meijer / Getty Images
In the fall, leaves are yellow, red, or orange.
Common serviceberry tolerates pollution, making it suitable for urban landscapes.
), and downy serviceberry (A. arboreavar.austromontana).
Dan Mullen / Flickr / CC By 2.0
Drooping clusters ofwhite, star-shaped flowersappear before the leaves unfurl in early spring.
The namesake dark purple or black-tinged berries appear in June (they can be used in jams).
The leaves are finely toothed, up to three inches long, and turn orange-red in fall.
Brewbooks / Flickr / CC By 2.0
The white flowers are fragrant and appear early in spring.
Other common names are red twig serviceberry and sand serviceberry.
This species is native to western North America and tolerates cold temperatures well.
Gwengoat / Getty Images
Even a variety available (‘Altaglow’) can grow in chilly zone 1.
The size varies greatly depending on the variety.A.
alnifolia’Regent’ only grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide.
Andrei Stanescu / Getty Images
The fruit is a rich purplish-blue hue when mature.
For a dwarf variety, select ‘Pumila,’ which only grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.
Spring brings white flowers.
In summer, the fruit is formed and matures to purple-black.
In the fall, the green leaves shift to shades of yellow.
It serves as an important source of food for wildlife.
Utah or western serviceberries are among the most drought-tolerant serviceberries.
Apple serviceberries also have good drought resistance.
Canadian Serviceberry Plant Guide.U.S.
Serviceberry… Beautiful trees with tasty fruit.
University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences.
