Amelanchier canadensis

(“Juneberries.” Eat The Weeds, www.eattheweeds.com/amelanchier-arborea-busting-out-all-over-2/.)

Common Name(s) Shadbush, Juneberry, Serviceberry
Scientific Name Amelanchier canadensis
Family Rosaceae
Location/Vegetative Zone Wet sites, bogs, swamps
Flowering Period April-May
Identifying Characteristics shrub/tree about 0.5–8 m tall

Description

  • Deciduous shrub or small tree.
  • Grows 0.5–8 m tall
  • Leaves
    • Alternate, simple, ovate to ovate-oblong
    • Serrated margin
    • 1–5.5 cm long and 1.8–2.8 cm broad
    • Light to dark green, matte
    • Change to orange-red in fall
  • Flowers
    • 5 white petals
    • Each raceme has four to ten flowers
    • Slightly fragrant
    • Blooms in early spring (April to May)
    • Fertilizes in early summer
    • Fruit is a pome, 7–10 mm diameter
    • Fruit is round, green berry; turn dark purple when ripe
    • Fruit is edible and sweet when ripe
  • Bark
    • gray-silver bark
    • striped
    • glabrous, young stems
    • small lenticels
    • imbricate buds, conical in shape
    • buds are reddish purple
  • Habitat:
    • Wet sites, bogs, and swamps
    • Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil
    • Likes full sun to part shade
    • Tolerant of a wide range of soils
    • Eastern North America; from Maine south to Alabama

Medicinal/Edible Uses

  • Dried, used as an herb, infused into oils/vinegars, etc.
  • Fruit
    • Dried and used to make pies, jams, jellies, etc.
  • Bark
    • Infused into tea to treat gynecological and dysentery
      • Can be used as a bath for children and worms
    • Inner bark can be used in a disinfectant

Cultural Uses

  • Native Americans: used wood to create arrow shafts and armor
  • Whole plant used ornamentally and for bonsais

Sources

Christianson, John. “Juneberries”. North Dakota State University. University Relations. N.d. Web.

“Medicinal Herbs: Juneberry”. Natural Medicinal Herbs. Spiritual Knowledge, Led Ziarovky. N.d. Web.

 

 

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