Allegheny Serviceberry 5-6'

A four season attraction in the landscape and one of the larger growing serviceberry's up to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide, the Allegheny Serviceberry is a North America native beauty that can be grown as a large shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a very attractive single or multi trunk small tree. Its larger size qualifies it as a shade tree. In early spring, masses of snowy white flowers resembling apple-blossoms in 2 to 4 inch racemes almost cover the tree. Following the flowers are edible, sweet, blueberry-like green fruits that turn to red and purple as they ripen. Leaves emerge purple in spring turning to a rich green with fall bringing brilliant golden, orange and red shades. The silver striped ridged and furrowed handsome bark provides winter interest in the landscape. 

Serviceberry fruit is used to make pies and sweetbreads and can be dried like raisins. The Cherokees used serviceberry tea to aid digestion, and children who had worms were given baths in serviceberry tea. Native Americans used the tree's straight wood to make arrow shafts. Francois Michaux wrote of serviceberries being available in Philadelphia markets, but only children bought them because they were so sweet and delicious.