Allegheny Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
Family--Rosaceae
The Amelanchier genus has many common names including Shadbush, Shadblow, Serviceberry, Sarvisberry and Juneberry The name Shadbush derives from the similarity of blooming times to the running of the Shad during its migration up river. An interesting story behind the name Serviceberry is that the tree flowers during the time when the pioneer circuit riding preachers would come to town, hence the name Service-Berry. The Amelanchiers as a group are difficult to identify due to hybridization and there are differing opinions as to the number of species occurring. The Allegheny Serviceberry can be identified by it's emerging bronze leaf color. Serviceberries are a very important food source for many songbirds and mammals. The trees are easy to grow and readily available in the nursery trade and make fine landscape plants.
--photo and text by Anonymous Friend