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If you add more edible perennials to your garden or property, be sure to start growing serviceberries! These delicious and healthy fruits are not as well known as blueberries or blackberries, but are definitely worth having in your garden.
Here’s what to know about these North American natives and how to make them thrive in your space.
Contents
What is serviceberry?
Depending on your location, you might also know these tasty fruits as Juneberries, shadblow berries, or Saskatoon berries. This is because they tend to ripen in June, when the shad fish “blow” (are plentiful), and “Saskatoon” is the Cree name for these fruits (yes, the town was named after berries).
Whatever their name is in your area, Saskatoon the berries are absolutely delicious. Plus, they’re packed with antioxidants, fiber, iron, vitamin E, and magnesium. They also have more vitamin C than blueberries!
The shrubs are perennial, very low maintenance, resistant to most pests and prolific. What’s not to love about these beauties?
Soil and sun requirements
These plants can adapt to almost any type of soil, as long as it is neutral to slightly acidic and well-drained. Avoid clay-rich soils which tend to retain water.
In terms of sunlight, serviceberries grow best in full sun, but can also do well in partial shade. The more sun they receive, the more prolifically they will flower and fruit.
The first time I planted serviceberries, my shrubs all died. All. Turns out I had planted them too close to an underground ant colony, and they disturbed the surrounding soil so much that none of my plants could root properly.
When scouting your planting location, be sure to check the soil for any insect interference!
How to plant them
These shrubs are self-fertile, so you don’t have to worry about planting different species for cross-pollination. You can plant one or 100, depending on your space. However, if you plant several, be aware that these plants can spread intensely.
Research the cultivar(s) you are going to plant to determine their spread. Then you can decide how much space you want between them. For example, if the ones you are planting can span 12 feet wide, planting them 6 feet apart will create a continuous fence or canopy.
Alternatively, you can plant them 20 feet apart and create permaculture guilds around them.
Plant bare root trees in spring or fall to allow roots to develop before intense winter or summer conditions. When planting, dig a hole just a little larger than the root ball and twice as wide. Pack aged compost around the bare root, press some good soil around to settle it, then add mulch on top and water well.
Companion planting with serviceberries
These shrubs are among the easiest neighbors when it comes to companion planting. In fact, most people pair them with both taller trees and understory plants for aesthetic contrasts.
They grow beautifully alongside cherry, oak and maple trees (especially Japanese maples) and contrast beautifully with herbs such as aniseed hyssop, echinacea and mint.
Watering and feeding
Water serviceberry shrubs regularly during their first season to help them establish their root system. Aim for a solid soak at ground level every week if you’re in a temperate climate.
If it’s hot and dry, increase it to twice a week. On the other hand, if it has rained a lot recently, reduce the watering.
Ultimately, the soil around the trunks of shrubs should be moist, but not soaked. If you stick your finger in the ground to the second knuckle and feel the dampness, it’s good. If you don’t feel any humidity and there are tumbleweeds and cattle skulls nearby, give your plants a good drink.
After the first year, you only need to water during dry periods. If there has been no rain for two or three weeks, soak their roots. That said, if the surrounding soil is sandy enough, it will need to be watered more often. This is because soils rich in sand do not retain moisture well and the roots can dry out without adequate water.
Growing Potential Problems
Serviceberries are resistant to many diseases, which is why they are so beneficial on a farm. Quite simply, they take care of themselves unless there are extreme fluctuations in temperature or humidity.
For example, prolonged periods of heat and humidity can cause powdery mildew or fire blight. They may also be subject to entomosporium fungal infection. Always water these shrubs at root level rather than overhead, and you should prevent them from developing most fungal pathogens.
If you notice powdery mildew or rust taking hold, you can treat them with an antifungal spray such as copper fungicide.
As for insect problems, the only species likely to affect your serviceberries are aphids and spider mites. Neither will do much damage in the long run, but our guides can help you deal with it.
Birds love these berries. We’re not talking about mild appreciation here: we’re talking about a binge-eating obsession. As a result, they are likely to inhale your entire harvest unless you take protective measures.
The best way to keep them from eating all of your berries is to drape the fruit with fine bird-proof netting when the berries are still red.
Harvest and storage
Serviceberries are ripe when they turn from red to dark blue-violet. This is when their sweetness fully develops and their seeds take on a slight almond flavor. Each berry tastes like an explosion of blueberry and amaretto deliciousness that must be tasted to be believed.
Since you won’t want to lose a single berry, be sure to store them in a few different ways! Some people like to freeze them in batches to use in smoothies all year round. Others prefer them in jams, jellies, syrups and even chutneys. You can dry them to eat in hiking snacks or mix them in pemmican as well.
Transform your serviceberries into the best jam ever!
Attract birds and pollinators
If you’re a bird lover, you’ll be pleased to know that serviceberries are enjoyed by many different species. In fact, you may find that you get a lot more songbirds on your property once you plant a few of these shrubs around.
Consider making serviceberry shrubs an integral part of your bird and butterfly garden. Their flowers will attract many beneficial insects as well as hummingbirds, and their fruits will attract extraordinarily beautiful songbirds. Some of the biggest fruit fans include:
- Hermit Thrushes
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Eastern bluebird
- cedar waxwings
- gray cat mockingbirds
- Baltimore Orioles
- Mourning Doves
- Cardinals
- Robins
- Various peaks
There is no downside to adding more edibles to your garden or property. Get serviceberries established this year and your family will reap the delights of them for the next 50 to 150 years!
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