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Serviceberry - Amelanchier
sp.
General information: This native large shrub or small tree has a moderate
growth rate in most soils. Multiple stems are upright and highly
branched forming a dense shrub with many small-diameter branches
or, if properly pruned, a small tree. Trees can be trained to,
and are offered by nurseries, with one trunk. The main ornamental
features are white flowers followed by purple fruit in late spring
or early summer. Fruits are produced before the leaves in spring
and are quickly eaten by birds. Serviceberryputs on a brilliant
fall color display ranging from yellow and orange to dull red.
This tree is suitable for naturalistic plantings and will attract
birds. The tree suckers from the base of the trunk, which can
be a maintenance problem in urban plantings or in formal landscapes.
It is know variously as serviceberry, sarviceberry,
sarvistree, shadbush, Juneberry, Mespilus, grape pear, swamp
sugar pear, bloody choke-berry. The name Amelanchier is said
to derive from the honey-tasting berries. These berries are actually
quite good in preserves etc., but are rarely used because they
are so quickly eaten by birds. The names containing "shad"
apparently refers to the flowering time of the plant, which happens
when the shad fish are running. The wood, called Meesassquat-ahtic,
was prized by the Cree for making arrows. As bonsai, however,
the Amelanchier is still in its infancy. One species, A. asiatica,
the Japanese Juneberry, is used somewhat in Japan. The other
species listed are experimental; the most success has come from
using A. alnifolia and A. lamarckii.
Family:
Rosaceae
Lighting:
Part shade, part sun, full sun.
Temperature:
A temperate tree, some Amelanchier varieties can take up to Zone
3, but most dislike it warmer than Zone 8.
Watering:
Moderate.
Feeding:
Every two weeks, spring through autumn, using liquid bonsai fertilizer
or half-strength plant food.
Pruning and wiring:
Likes to sucker from the roots, so if a large trunk is desired,
this tendency must be checked by constant pruning. Styling Amelanchier
as a clump can put this characteristic to positive use.
Propagation:
Seeds, softwood cuttings, grafting, air-layering.
Repotting:
Every second year in early spring, using basic soil mix. Amelanchier
likes to put down long taproots, so it may take a few years in
gradually smaller training pots to establish it as bonsai.
Pests and diseases: Pests: Cambium miners cause concern when noticed but
are not very damaging to the tree. The mines can extend from
a twig all the way down to the roots. The mines form light-colored
lines in the bark. No controls are usually suggested. A leaf
miner will mine leaves, particularly the lower half of the leaf.
The mines are irregular in shape. The leaves of amelanchier are
skeletonized by at least two insects. The first insect forms
small cocoons on the undersides of leaves. Skeletonized leaves
look as though they have windows in them after the insects scrape
tissue off the top and bottom of the leaves. The second insect
is the larva of the pear sawfly. The larvae are black to greenish
black and look slimy. Adult sawflies lay eggs in early and late
summer. Heavily skeletonized leaves drop off. Several borers
attack amelanchier. Healthy trees are considered less susceptible
so regular fertilization and watering during dry spells will
help prevent borer attacks. Spider mites will feed on amelanchier.
These insects are hard to detect as they are so small. The main
symptom of mite injury is the loss of green leaf coloration.
If the infestation is heavy, very fine webbing may be seen. Horticultural
oil sprays help control mite infestations. Aphids of several
types suck juices from amelanchier. Heavy infestations cause
distortion of the foliage and new growth, and deposit large amounts
of sticky honeydew on lower foliage. Black sooty mold will grow
on the honeydew.
Diseases:
Witches broom, also called black mildew, infects the growing
point causing the formation of many stems. The cluster of stems
is called the witches broom. Another symptom is a black fungal
growth, coating the undersides of the leaves. The damage to the
tree is usually not serious and the brooms can be pruned off.
No chemical controls are suggested. Leaf blight can cause leaf
drop when a severe infection occurs. The disease causes small
purple spots on the leaves. The spots enlarge and turn brown,
later a small black dot will be seen in the center of the spot.
Large numbers of spots cause infected leaves to drop. Fire blight
is characterized by the sudden wilting and death of branch tips.
The blossoms wilt, blacken and hang on the twig. The bark is
shriveled and has small bumps or blisters on it. Sometimes gum
oozes out of the infected area and a crack forms between the
diseased and healthy bark. Control with chemicals is difficult.
Diseased branches should be pruned out. Make the cut at least
four inches beyond the diseased area. Disinfect pruning tools
with bleach between cuts. Fertilizing heavily with nitrogen increases
susceptibility to fire blight. Powdery mildews of several types
cause white powdery growth on the leaves of amelanchier. Late
in the season no controls may be needed. Fruit rot be a problem
in wet weather. The fruits are often eaten by birds so may not
be around long enough to become diseased. Cedar rusts can be
troublesome.
Some species suitable for bonsai:
- Amelanchier alnifolia: Western serviceberry,
coarsely toothed rounded leaves, clusters of white flowers, apple-shaped
fruits. Normally forms shrubby thickets. Zones 4-9.
- Amelanchier arborea (also called A. canadensis):
shadbush, downy serviceberry, sarvistree, juneberry, sarviceberry
- smooth, light brown bark, profuse white flowers, and purple-
red fruit that is loved by birds. It has a nice autumn display
of orange and yellow leaves. Hardy in Zones 3-8. It seems to
dislike pot culture immensely.
- Amelanchier asiatica: Japanese juneberry
- quite possibly the most popular Amalanchier species for bonsai.
- Amelanchier x grandiflora: apple serviceberry
- a hybrid between A. arborea and A. laevis, with larger flowers.
- Amelanchier laevis: Allegheny serviceberry
- Very similar to A. arborea, but new leaves are tinged purple.
- Amelanchier lamarckii: snowy mespilus
- Scented white flowers in mid-spring, followed by purple fruit
in autumn.
- Amelanchier stolonifera: running serviceberry
Bibliography: USDA
Fact Sheet ST-73
- Compiled by Sabrina Caine
Edited by Thomas L. Zane
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