The Juneberry, Amelanchier species, is a hardy, small to tall fruit bearing tree, with erect growth habit, native to prairie hillsides and woody draws of Canada and the North-Central U.S. It's also known as Serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis, a 7-15 meters tall-growing tree. It's a member of the family Rosaceae, (rose family) the genus Amelanchie.

Leaves of the Serviceberry are simple, broad-oval formed, occasionally serrated, 2-5 cm long and 2-3cm wide, grayish-pubescent when young before long turning smooth and dark green. Flowers are white, on erect clusters, at the tips of branches.

The fruit of the juneberry is edible, small, close to 1cm in diameter, berry-like pomes, with 4 to 10 small seeds, sweet-tasting, purple to black or creamy white depending upon the species and cultivar. It resembles a blueberry in appearance, but not in flavor.

Whilst the fruit is generally corroded “out of hand”, juneberries are as well perfect for juices, jams, syrups, pies and fruit rolls. The berries in addition can be dried out and marketed as merchandise similar to raisins.

The fruit is highly valued for food. Selected cultivars are used in commercial production. Superior quality, larger fruiting cultivars include: Honeywood Juneberry, Saskatoon and Quebec berry.

Juneberry has limited drought tolerance and it requires sufficient moisture in order to bear fruit. It favors a loam to sandy loam soil high in organic matter and a full sun to partial shade position.

Juneberry is a good plant for cultivating, screen plantings and landscape borders. Serviceberries are one of the first fruits to mature in the spring on the latter part of May and early June.

Plants start to bear fruit 2 to 4 years after transplanting. Significant yields can be anticipated after 6 to 8 years, with maximal yields after 12 to 15 years and the plant can be productive for 30 to 50 years.

The most successful way of propagation includes plant division, root cuttings, and tissue culture. Plants can be propagated from seed that has been first subjected to cold stratification; however, up to a one-third of the plants will differ from the parent. Healthy sound plants, 0.5 meters tall are best for transplanting.

Juneberry, Serviceberry, Amelanchier sp.

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The key to successful fruit and nut production is the provision of a beneficial environment for the trees that bear them.