Unless quite small, would have been better to have bought a tree form if that will turn out to be what was desired. Choose biggest one and cut the other two out if you decide you want a tree shape. Expect sprouting from stumps, need for additional cutting out of competing stems.

You could call John Deere Landscapes on Hwy 64 between Apex and Jordan Lake. They will sell to retail customers, I think. When I need to get a really good specimen tree, I check there (but I buy wholesale). The trees do cost a bit more at JD, but they've always had beautiful stock. That's where a lot of our local landscapers get the large trees. My other nursery growers don't have anything around the size that you want. It's difficult for folks to track down the phone number for John Deere, so here it is (919) 303-7290. If they don't have one, you could try "A Unique Plant" in Chapel Hill. She sells retail, but has good stock with a lot of interesting trees. Her phone number is (919) 402-0117. That business is only open on weekends or by appointment. I'm sure you know this, but make sure you take along a tarp to cover your tree so that it isn't dessicated in the back of an open pickup truck. I use a light weave (similar to burlap) that's very light weight to cover stock. I use a cargo net (hooked in the corners of my truck bed) across the top of the tarp to tie down without damage. Hope this is helpful.

Hi jbid! We have a multi-trunk amelanchier 'Autumn Brilliance' for 6 years now. It was planted by the landscaper at the NE corner of the house (new construction). Like you, we wanted trees and shrubs to attract birds and to offer interest in at least 3 seasons. In theory, the serviceberry fits the bill. It blooms in April on bare branches; the fruit ripens in June and is tasty; it turns an apricot color in fall; it has a nice multitrunk winter silhouette with smooth gray-bark. However it has disappointed in several ways. 1 - it is an understory tree probably planted in too much sun. Also we have a lot of wind which may be too much stress for the tree. 2 - As a result of the above stresses, it has had scale and black spot every year. Japanese beetles seem to like it very much but a climbing hydrangea planted nearby acts as a "trap". Lacebugs and mites cause the leaves to look pretty ratty by summer's end. 3 - Because of the pests and diseases, it hasn't shown much fall color after it's first autumn in the ground. 4 - We have bluebirds who nest in the yard every year; we also have robins and mockingbirds. The birds have shown little interest in the berries except this year we had a bumper crop of berries but the mockingbird decided that this was his/her tree and chased off any trespasser who showed interest. 5 - It suckers a lot. This has been my experience so far in our Central PA yard. There is a more mature serviceberry about 2 blocks from our home that is really lovely during the growing season and it doesn't appear to have many, if any, suckers. I'm hoping that ours is just a "gangly teenager" and will out grow its annoyances. Most folks on this site and others have much better experience than I have had. It may very well be that it's a matter of careful siting to have success. Good luck with you project. Pat

Both are great trees. I'm assuming you are talking about the native American fringe tree, chionanthus virginicus. I wouldn't be scared away from fringetree unless you live in an area with active EAB infestation. Whether fringetrees can support the life cycle of EAB is still uncertain. It was found on trees in a limited area with a great many infected dead ash trees nearby. It is also possible to protect against infestation. Autumn Brilliance is regarded as very disease and insect resistant, but all serviceberries are in the rose family, apple/pear subdivision, and are subject to pests and diseases common to apples. If you live in an area with lots of old neglected apple trees, this might be a concern. As NHBabs noted, some shrubs and trees noted for their autumn color routinely get zapped by frost too early, so I wouldn't make fall color your number 1 priority. Seviceberry is marginally hardier, earlier to bloom and produces edible fruit. Fringetree is fragrant and showier/longer lasting/later in bloom. You can't go wrong with either. Despite some claims to the contrary, all plants have specific environmental and nutritional needs. Labeling anything you can't pop into the ground and walk away from as if it were a Norway maple as "foo foo" is inaccurate and would deprive gardeners of many, many wonderful plants.