Amelanchier trees

Amelanchiers are popular small trees with attractive white blossom and multiple autumn leaf colours.

How to choose Amelanchier trees

Amelanchiers are primarily grown for their attractive spring blossom and the autumnal tints of their leaves. They are also known as Snowy Mespilus and Serviceberry.

Most Amelanchiers will produce blueberry-like fruits over the summer, although they are not related to blueberries. The species Amelanchier alnifolia has the best fruiting potential, these varieties are often sold as Saskatoons.

Amelanchiers are generally very cold-hardy. They will grow in most well-drained soils - but avoid clay or water-logged soils. They prefer neutral or slightly acidic conditions, but will tolerate slightly alkaline soils.

The flowers, which appear during May, are susceptible to frost damage, so avoid planting in areas prone to late frosts.

Although capable of reaching heights of up to 4m (particularly the species Amelanchier lamarckii and Amelanchier laevis), Amelanchiers will also readily become multi-stemmed shrubs.

Amelanchiers have small leaves and as a result do not cast much shade, making them a good choice for smaller gardens where light is at a premium. The small leaves also means they are tolerant of windy situations.

Most of our Amelanchiers are grafted on Amelanchier laevis rootstocks to give a uniform specification. Amelanchiers are distantly related to Sorbus (Rowan) and Crataegus (Hawthorn) and can sometimes be grafted on rootstocks of those species.

The various species of Amelanchier are often quite similar. The American species Amelanchier canadensis and European species Amelanchier larmackii are a particular case in point, being almost indistinguishable for practical purposes, and it is likely that Amelanchier larmackii is a hybrid of the American species.