Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Smooth Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis

Smooth Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) Other common names: Allegheny Serviceberry, Smooth Shadbush

French names: Amélanchier glabre

Family: Rose Family (Rosaceae)

Group: Serviceberries

Distinctive features: Shrub

Similar species:
  •   Serviceberries

  •   Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)


Flowers: Spring;  White;  5 parts (petals)

Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Toothed

Height: 2-6 m (6-19 ft)

Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas

Edible: The ripe berries are edible.

Books: Shrubs of Ontario: 163    Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 314   

Native/Non-native: Native

Notes: The young branches and buds of Serviceberry are reddish brown and smooth, while the older twigs are gray. The flowers are plentiful, fragrant, and grouped in showy white clusters. The berries are edible and tasty, if you beat the birds to them during the early summer.

Photographs: 13 photographs available, of which 3 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Smooth Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) silhouette

Smooth Serviceberry small tree silhouette.

Smooth Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) trunk

Smooth Serviceberry trunk.

Smooth Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) bud

Spring bud.


Range map for Smooth Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)