Amelanchier sp.

Serviceberry (etc.!)

Serviceberry, sarviceberry, sarvistree, shadbush, Junebery, Mespilus, grape pear, swamp sugar pear, bloody choke-berry, poTAYto, poTAHto, yes, there's a lot of regional variation in the common names for Amelanchier. 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.

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Lighting:

 Full sun, partial shade in midsummer.

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.

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.

Styling:

 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.

Pests etc.:

 Very vulnerable to a number of insects and diseases, but new hybrids are being developed that are more resistant.

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Some species suitable for bonsai:


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Related posts on Serviceberry:

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Reiner Goebel
rgoebel@tor.hookup.net
October 09, 1996
My A. canadensis has beautiful bark, flowers and fall colour.
The plant is about 18" tall with a 1" trunk (not the "classic"
proportion, but that is irrelevant at this stage). But it does
not convey the image of bonsai. I hope I'll have a chance to put
a picture of it up somewhere so that everyone can judge for
himself.
Never one to give up hope, I am continuing to grow it, though.
A. canadensis might work better with a larger specimen. I would
appreciate input from others who have worked with this plant.

Reiner Goebel
Toronto, Canada




=================================================================

Date: Sun, 7 Apr 1996 09:49:42 -0700
From: Anton Nijhuis 

>Has anyone here worked with the serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
>(AKA juneberry, shadberry, etc.).  I just got and planted 10
>seedlings.  Its reddish bark and 1-3 inche leaves sounded pretty good
>to me so I thought I'd take a crack at it.  Anyone else tried?  There
>are a large number of native species.  This one has the smallest
>leaves (at least according to Petrides it does).
>
>Thoughts or suggestions will be welcomed.
>--
>Jim Lewis - jkl2@freenet.scri.fsu.edu
>            Cool the Earth . . .
>            Plant a Tree!
>
Jim,

I have a couple I have had for years (Amelanchier alnifolia), trained in a
container, the leaves should not get larger than 1/2 inch. Large white
flowers in clusters, nice apple shaped fruit- edible. Likes dry open forest,
forest edges, talus, etc. Use good draining soil.
Mine are shohin - two inch trunks, six inch heights

When pruned likes to sucker - twigs are important winter food for deer and
elk, species has adapted to this over the years - easily used for clump
style. Berries are important source of nutrition for migrating birds. A most
important tree in our ecosystem.
Likes to grow long tap roots in the wild.

Extremely hardy - zone 4 to 9

I let one dry out one summer in August, it lost it's leaves, I thought it
was dead, but I put it my 'pray section' (pray they live) of my yard. Next
spring it budded out.

Not used enough, based on your philosophy Jim - I think you picked a real
winner that will bring you much joy.

Anton Nijhuis - Vancouver Island

=================================================================


Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 09:37:03 -0700
From: Anton Nijhuis 

  In the latest BCI mag. is an article by Reiner Goebel that 
states Serviceberry does not work as a bonsai - he is using
Amalanchier canadensis.

  I have two Amalanchier alnifolia or Saskatoon Berry and they have done
quite well. Beautiful spring flowers and summer fruit that is in good
balance. Amalanchier is an important food source for ungulates in winter -
they eat the bark and the berries are eaten by migrating birds.

Anton Nijhuis - Vancouver Island
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Information Sources:

Information on Amelanchier is taken from Tomlinson's "Complete Book of Bonsai," my own experience, and posts by Anton Nijhuis and Jim Lewis. Species information is from Coats' "Garden Shrubs and Their Histories," Mitchell's "American Nature Guides: Trees," and Thomas (ed.) "The Hearst Garden Guide to Trees and Shrubs."


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