skip to main content

serviceberry question

17 years ago

I am making a wish list of trees and shrubs to be planted along our back yard. I have plenty of room (our lot line is 375 feet wide and I have about 35 - 60 feet deep to plant in various areas). In researching amelanchier I am quite confused. In our area (zone 5) we seem to have:

Amelanchier alnifolia (Regent seeming to be the most common cultivar)

Amelanchier Canadensis (Ballerina being to the most common cultivar but many unnamed plants sold)

Amelanchier Grandiflora (both unnamed cultivars, autumn brilliant, coles select, robin hill being the most common)

Amelanchier laevis (cumulus and lustre listed).

My decision criteria for my plant list is based on:

1) Good fall colour

2) Good show from a distance as this is at the back of our 2 acre property. This combines with my desire for good fall colour but a poor flower showing is of no value.

3) interesting shape / habit as I have many standard tree forms (acers, nyssa sylvatica, Liriodendron tulipifera planned).

4) Long life & lower care (the area is being planted mainly as a woodland / naturalized area as I have many high maintenace gardens around the house).

Size in not an issue as I am planting so much I will just incorporate size/shape into the overall scheme once I have my wish list.

Based on the above which would be your recommended preference for best show???

Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

Embothrium
17 years ago
The main problems are

1) What pests and diseases you might have there that could spoil results with these Rose Family trees (and shrubs) which have the same galaxy of afflictions as their familial relations cherries, apples and pears; for example, over some years I've been building a collection of them on an Island County, WA site only to have this ugly, deforming rust show up and get on several of them last season

2) Widespread mis-assignment of cultivars to the wrong species, for instance you apparently have seen 'Ballerina' listed under A. canadensis somewhere; customarily it is placed under A. X grandiflora where without close examination it would appear to belong; a big part of the problem is that even the original wild species themselves have never been all sorted out to everyone's satisfaction

After you determine if these are suitable for your location (comments here from someone in your region may be forthcoming, otherwise inquire locally) choose a named form (like 'Ballerina') based on the characteristics of that cultivar rather than what species it is supposed to belong to.
hoyess
Original Author
17 years ago
thanks bboy, I will have to give this some serious thought after talking to some local nurseries. The biggest problem I think I will have is with bettles as they do serious damage every year with my purple sandcherries unless I spray them. Thanks for the info
Related Discussions
Serviceberry Question
Q
Comments (4)
Thanks cearhaill. This is an Alnifolia Serviceberry. Previously I had pruned these new starts but the shrub has never really grew much. Recently I had someone tell me that by pruning the new shoots I was hindering its growth by not allowing it to grow as it wanted. Is that true?
...See More
Serviceberry question
Q
Comments (3)
Was sold with the idea it would be grown as a shrub. Specimens trained to single stems are also produced.
...See More
Serviceberry 'Regent' planting question
Q
Comments (0)
I have decided that I would like to make my backyard more bird friendly and try to attract some of the more rare types of birds that don't eat seed. I have purchased a Serviceberry bush (which I have read the birds love). It is called 'Regent Saskatoon' and is a more compact type at 4-6 feet. The only place I have to put it is in front of a row of very mature Arborvitae, and their numerous, shallow roots make it very difficult to dig a hole. I am also worried that the Serviceberry would not establish well having to compete with the Arborvitae for water. I am wondering if I might be able to plant this in a large pot and have it thrive? If so, how big of a pot, and what kind of soil would you recommend I plant it in?
...See More
Serviceberry AB planting help
Q
Comments (3)
If you don't care about it hanging over then this placement will be fine. Too bad most of it is bare - cutting most of the side branches off and then putting protectors on the now exposed stems was somewhat illogical. Two of the stems have had nearly all of the side branches pruned off. As these trees have pretty much zero bark interest it makes little sense to expose the stems. And cutting this much off a specimen this small and young will have a stunting effect, until and unless it is allowed to restore its original canopy size. Also this example was grown as a low forking bush, and not as a single-trunk tree, that might be pruned in due time for overhead clearance - it wasn't consistent to grow it with a shrub shape and then limb it up, certainly not this much.
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Garden-Friendly Native Alternatives to Overplanted Exotics

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

There are lots of gorgeous, wildlife-friendly native plants ready to make an appearance in your garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 4 Tips for Creating a Small Garden That Welcomes Wildlife

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Win over birds, bees, butterflies and neighbors with these design strategies

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Essential Considerations for a Landscape Design Project

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Get your winter garden fix by planning an entirely new landscape or just an update for a single garden stretch

TREES 6 Unsung Spring-Blooming Trees

Billowy blooms and rare fragrances will make you wonder how these flowering trees could ever have been underused in landscapes

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Best-Behaved Trees to Grace a Patio

Big enough for shade but small enough for easy care, these amiable trees mind their manners in a modest outdoor space

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Be a Butterfly Savior — Garden for the Monarchs

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keep hope, beauty and kindness alive in the landscape by providing a refuge for these threatened enchanters

EARTH DAY 5 Ideas for a More Earth-Friendly Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Consider increasing the size of garden beds, filtering rainwater and using plants to reduce energy use

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 7 Great Trees for Summer Shade and Fall Color

By Tiffany Carboni

These landscape-pro faves straddle the seasons beautifully. Could one enhance your own yard?

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Add an Apple Tree to Your Edible Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Readily available, beautiful and fragrant, apple trees offer four-season interest along with crisp, juicy fruit

Sponsored

More Discussions

Cutting Back Stems After Transplant With Plant Shock?

13

Should I cut back the top of a bare root tree?

3

Rubus idaeus or wineberry?

13

Buddleia hardiness

5

anyone experience these winter killed?

2