Also known as Serviceberry · 456 gardener saves
Amelanchier: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Amelanchier, the genus most gardeners know as serviceberry. We track 9 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 9 most-saved Amelanchier varieties
Of 9 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedTimm Success Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea 'Timm Success'
#2 most savedAutumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea 'Autumn Brilliance'
#3 most savedSaskatoon Serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Allegheny Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis 'Glennform'
Spring Flurry Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis jfs-arb
Serviceberry
Amelanchier grandiflora 'Robin Hill'
Lamarck Serviceberry
Amelanchier lamarckii
How to grow Amelanchier
What the Amelanchier varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 9 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Amelanchier year
- PruneJanuary and February100% of varieties
Prune during dormancy to remove dead wood and shape the canopy.
- HarvestMay and June100% of varieties
Harvest berries when they turn deep purple/black.
- MulchMarch89% of varieties
Apply 2-3 inches of mulch, keeping it away from the trunk.
- PlantFebruary, March, April, September and October56% of varieties
Plant bare-root or container stock in early spring or fall.
Do
- Water regularly during dry periods 💧
- Prune to maintain shape and remove dead wood ✂️
- Apply mulch to conserve moisture 🌱
- Fertilize annually in early spring
- Monitor for pests and diseases
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Don't fertilize late in the season 🌱
- Refrain from heavy pruning during the growing season
- Avoid planting in waterlogged areas ❌
What goes wrong with Amelanchier
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Use insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Japanese Beetles | Skeletonized leaves, with only the veins remaining. | Hand-pick beetles into soapy water in the morning. Use neem oil sprays. For severe cases, apply insecticides containing carbaryl. |
| Tent Caterpillars | Webbing and defoliation | Handpick or apply Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing on leaves | Use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap |
| Fire Blight | Blackened branches and oozing sap | Prune affected areas and apply copper spray |
| Cedar-Apple Rust | Orange-yellow spots on leaves and fruit, can cause defoliation. | Remove nearby juniper hosts if possible. Apply preventative fungicides like myclobutanil starting at bud break. |
| Powdery Mildew | White powder on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply fungicide |
Making more Amelanchier
Seed
- Collect ripe berries and clean the seeds from the pulp.
- Stratify seeds by mixing with moist sand in a bag.
- Refrigerate for 90-120 days to break dormancy.
- Sow seeds in pots in spring.
- Note: Cultivars like Spring Flurry will not come true from seed.
Cuttings
- Select healthy semi-woody stems in late summer.
- Cut 6-inch sections and remove lower leaves.
- Dip cut ends in rooting hormone powder.
- Plant in moist, well-draining soil.
- Keep soil moist and place in bright, indirect light.
- Roots develop in approximately 6 weeks.
Amelanchier questions
How many types of Amelanchier are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 9 distinct Amelanchier varieties. The most popular — ranked by 456 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Amelanchier grow in?
Across its varieties, Amelanchier covers USDA Zones 4–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Amelanchier bloom?
Most Amelanchier varieties bloom in early spring, mid-spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Amelanchier should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Amelanchier shows up in
Design with Amelanchier in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
