Growing Serviceberries

by Dara Palmer, Montana Master Gardener Coordinator

This publication contains information on planting, growing, propagating, pest and disease management of serviceberry, as well as a table of hardy serviceberry for Montana, and their characteristics. MontGuide

MT201821AG New 12/18

SERVICEBERRY ( SPP.), ALSO Planting known as juneberry, saskatoon, shadbush, sarvisberry While serviceberry is tolerant of a variety of soil types and or just sarvis, is a member of the family and native pH ranges, it is best to avoid heavy, wet, poorly-drained to . Easy to grow, serviceberries are one soils. Hard clay soils can restrict root development. The of the first specimens to bloom in spring. They provide ideal planting site has moist, well-drained sandy loam soil delicious all summer long as well as dramatic fall with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0, though it will tolerate color. This or small serves as an ornamental alkaline soils of 8.0 pH. Serviceberry adapts to a range of landscape , valuable wildlife habitat, and can be sun exposure, from full sun to partial shade; however, full planted for commercial fruit production. Serviceberry is sun will produce higher fruit yields. adaptable to a wide variety of Bare-root should growing conditions, making be purchased and planted in it a beneficial addition to early spring while container Montana landscapes. plants can be planted in the There are a variety of spring or the fall. Prepare serviceberry and a hole twice the width and hybrids that are well-suited approximately the same depth for Montana. Among them as the container, slightly wider is our native Saskatoon for bare-root plants. Place serviceberry (Amelanchier the plant in the hole so the alnifolia) which can be found root flare is 2-4 inches above growing in riparian habitats, the ground plane. Backfill grassland-woodland interfaces, Serviceberry fall color (T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org) the planting hole and water and lower-elevation coniferous immediately to remove any forests. Downy (A. arborea), air pockets. If the soil settles after watering add more Shadblow (A. canadensis), Allegheny (A. laevis), and backfill to bring it to ground level. Mulch 4-6” deep with Juneberry (A. lamarckii) can also be excellent additions shredded bark mulch to help retain soil moisture and to the landscape. The cross between downy and discourage weeds. Allegheny serviceberry, known as serviceberry (A. x grandiflora), provides the most disease resistance. Care Although the mature height differences vary between these species, they generally have similar fragrant white Irrigation in early spring, dark reddish-purple pome fruit The goal with serviceberry is to keep the soil moist, ripening in June, and brilliant red-orange fall foliage not wet. Consistent drip irrigation is recommended as color. Refer to the included table for specific this method of watering decreases the chance of foliar details. disease, such as fungal spot, to which many cultivars are susceptible. Serviceberry is tolerant to drought, but irrigation is necessary for maximum yield and larger fruit.

For More Online MontGuides, Visit www.msuextension.org Fertilizer Pests and Diseases With wild serviceberry occurring throughout Montana, Weeds it seems these plants can thrive in soils that may not be highly fertile. A soil test is recommended to determine To get maximum yield from your serviceberry, it is if nutrients are lacking as well as for monitoring plant important to maintain a weed-free root zone. This can be growth, fruit yield and foliage color. A general fertilizer achieved through shallow cultivation (to avoid disturbing recommendation would be to apply 4 oz. of 16-16-16 in the root system) and a thick bed of mulch. spring when break. Entomosporium leaf and spot Pruning One of the most common diseases of serviceberry is Pruning serviceberry is very similar to pruning currants. caused by the fungus Entomosporium spp. and infects The best time is late winter or early spring, before both the and the fruit. Small, angular brown break. During the first 3 years only prune weak or lesions, often with a yellow halo, are observed on the damaged branches, after that, prune more vigorously leaves. Infected fruit will be disfigured and have gray to control height and shape and to encourage new areas. Outbreaks are more likely during rainy spells and growth. Then, prune as needed to allow for light and if overhead watering is used. To prevent spread of disease, air movement. Flowers develop on stems that are 2-4 prune infected plant material 12” below the infected area years old. Proper pruning replaces all the fruiting and disinfect pruners between every cut. every 3-4 years. Removing one-third of old growth will rusts allow for good fruit production. Work toward an open, Rarely causing severe damage, Gymnosporangium rusts are spreading, vase-shaped shrub with a spread equal to its more of an aesthetic issue. They produce yellow-orange height. leaf and fruit lesions as well as gelatinous galls on leaves, Propagation stems and fruit. Depending on the alternate (aecial) host, these rust fungi could include Hawthorn Rust, Quince Seeds are not true to parentage and cuttings have limited Rust, Cedar-Serviceberry Rust and Juniper Broom Rust. success. The best method for propagating serviceberry Gymnosporangium rust fungi are heteroecious, meaning is to dig suckers in spring prior to bud break. When they need two different hosts to complete their life cycle. choosing suckers, make sure each shoot selected has In this case the primary, or telial, host species is Juniperus roots attached. Sever the shoot from the main plant with and the secondary, or aecial, host is . By removing a shovel or pruners and wash off any debris from the the primary host, you can eliminate rust from serviceberry roots that may harbor disease. Plant the shoot in a pot or by interrupting the disease life cycle. If that is not directly in the ground, at the same level as it was growing possible, make sure to avoid planting eastern red cedar previously. Water thoroughly. or juniper plants within 200 yards of Rosaceae species to reduce chance of infection. Once infected, rust can be controlled by pruning away diseased material. Protective fungicides, such as Myclobutanil, can be used under extreme rust infections.

Fragrant, white serviceberry (Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org), left; and Serviceberry fruit (John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org), right. 2 B Borers WSS Willow scurfy scale Cold hardy; no serious disease issues No serious disease issues No serious disease issues Prefers wet sites Prefers wet Prefers wet sites; good disease resistance Prefers wet soils clay Tolerates Root suckers prolifically Suckers Heavy fruit; site; one of first prefersHeavy to wet bloom in spring soils clay Tolerates Root suckers Limited range, best in NW MT Limited range, Prefers wet sites Prefers wet FB leaf blister PLB Pear PSS slug Pear sawfly PDM Deer Drought fire blight fire blight Leaf spot buds yellow flower Root suckers; Leaf spot, Leaf spot, Leaf spot, Leaf spot, FB FB FB B, WSS B, ELS, CS, CS, ELS, PDM, FB, FB, PDM, PLB, PSS, PSS, PLB, Susceptible Resistance Notes May May May May April spring spring spring spring spring spring

White/very early spring White/early White/early White/early White/early White/early White/early White/April- White/April- White/April- White/April- Bloom Time Flower color/ Flower White/March- KEY ELS Entomo sporium leaf spot CS Cedar-serviceberry rust PDM Powdery Mildew Red Red Color purple Foliage Foliage Bronze/ Yell/Org/ Yell/Org/ 10'/8' Red/Org 15'/15' Org/Red 13'/10' Org/Red 12'/6-8' Org/Yell 4-6'/4-8' Yell/Red White/April 25'/5-10' 10-20'/4' Red/Org 15-20'/8-10' Org/Red Height/Spread 25-30'/15-20' Org/Red 20-25'/12-15' Copper/Org 25-30'/15-20' Red/Org 15-25'/15-25' 20-25'/15-20' stem Upright Upright 15-25'/15-25' Red/Org White/April rounded compact compact Rounded 15-20'/15-20' Red White/April Spreading 15-20'/12-15' Red White/April multi-stem multi-stem symmetrical Growth Habit Oval, compact Oval, Narrow, upright Narrow, Upright, dense, dense, Upright, Dense, upright, upright, Dense, Narrow, upright, upright, Narrow, Upright, spreading Upright, Upright, spreading Upright, Upright, suckering, suckering, Upright, Compact, Rounded Compact, Oval, upright, multi- upright, Oval, Rounded, compact, compact, Rounded, Upright, multi-stem, multi-stem, Upright, 4 2 2 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4, 5 Hardy to Zone ) ) Allegheny serviceberryAllegheny ) ( 'Cumulus' Species/Cultivar Saskatoon serviceberry ( ) 'Regent' 'Standing Ovation' 'Cole's Select' Juneberry ( 'Prince Charles' Shadblow ( ) RainbowGlenn Form' Pillar® 'Prince William' 'Spring Glory' 'Tradition' Downy ServiceberryDowny ( Apple serviceberry ( Amelanchier x grandiflora ) 'Autumn Brilliance' 'Ballerina' 'Princess Diana' 'RJ Hilton' 'Snowcloud' 3 Powdery mildew borer, can be thwarted by pruning out dead or decaying Caused by fungal spores, powdery mildew causes a branches and destroying any infected material. greyish-white coating on the leaves of plants. Although Although lovely to watch, can be a serious threat not lethal, it causes a significant depreciation in aesthetic to your serviceberry crop. Drape entire with value of ornamental plants like serviceberry. To control, netting in the spring to protect ripening fruit. allow for adequate light and air flow around plants, use drip irrigation to keep foliage dry and prune out severely Harvest and Uses infected plant material. Serviceberry fruit is not a true berry, but rather a pome fruit which looks like a rose hip. Most serviceberry are Fire blight self-fruitful and will only produce marginally for the first The bacterium, Erwinia amylovora, affects over 130 2 years. Heavier yields begin when the plant is 3-5 years Rosaceae plant species, including serviceberry. Leaves old, with full production at 8 years. Once established, and shoots of infected plants will wilt and turn brown serviceberry can produce 10 pounds per plant and, if well or black, while fruit turns dark and shrivels on the stem. maintained, can produce for up to 20 years. Management of fire blight primarily includes pruning out Serviceberry fruit ripens in late June through July. The branches to 12” beyond the infected area. Sanitize tools more mature the fruit is the sweeter it will be, so it is best after every cut to not spread the disease over the tree. to wait until ⅔ of all the fruit is ripe before harvest. The Other Pests fruit will continue to ripen after harvest, so refrigeration Less common pests that affect serviceberry are aphids is recommended. Hand pick early in the morning when and spider mites, which can be controlled using dormant fruit is dry and cool. oil. Pear slug sawfly damage is primarily cosmetic but Serviceberries are high in fiber, iron, calcium, can be controlled with insecticidal soap. Although magnesium and manganese. Uses include jams, jellies, typically a common pest of fruit , blister mites may pies, syrup, breads and muffins, pastries, sauces and salad attack serviceberry. If treatment is necessary, chemical dressings. controls are very effective. Bark beetles, such as Shothole

LOAD WN O D FREE

E To order additional publications, please contact your county or reservation MSU Extension office, visit our online E W catalog at https://store.msuextension.org or e-mail [email protected]

Copyright © 2018 MSU Extension We encourage the use of this document for nonprofit educational purposes. This document may be reprinted for nonprofit educational purposes if no endorsement of a commercial product, service or company is stated or implied, and if appropriate credit is given to the author and MSU Extension. To use these documents in electronic formats, permission must be sought from the Extension Communications Coordinator, 115 Culbertson Hall, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; E-mail: [email protected] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cody Stone, Director of Extension, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.

File under: Yard and Garden () New December 2018