Amelanchier lamarckii 80cm-100cm

Amelanchier lamarckii also known as the Snowy Mespilus, Juneberry, or Serviceberry is a truly elegant, multi-season deciduous large shrub or small tree. Holding the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, it is widely celebrated by garden designers as one of the finest structural feature trees for both compact urban gardens and expansive landscapes. By June and July, loose clusters of small, round edible berries develop, transitioning from green to deep crimson-red, before ripening into a glossy purple-black. The berries are also perfectly safe for human consumption, possessing a mild, sweet flavor reminiscent of a cross between a blueberry and an almond, making them excellent for jams or pies.

Key Features

• Four-Season Interest: It transitions beautifully all year round
• Spring: Clusters of delicate, starry pure white blossoms emerge in April just as the young leaves unfold.
• Summer: The foliage matures into a lush, clean green canopy dotted with ripening berries.
• Autumn: The leaves ignite into a fiery crimson, scarlet, and golden-orange display that rivals Japanese maples.
• Winter: Striking light grey bark with dark charcoal-grey striations creates an elegant winter silhouette, especially when grown in a multi-stem form.

Size & Growth Habit

•  Typically reaches an ornamental height of 4 to 8 metres with a graceful, upright vase shape and open canopy.
• It has a naturally slow-to-moderate in growth rate
•  Unlike many trees with plain green spring growth, its new leaves emerge with a soft, coppery-pink or bronze velvety texture.

Growing Conditions

• Soil Requirements: Prefers rich, moist, well-drained acidic to neutral soils. It easily tolerates sand, loam, and heavy clay, but dislikes shallow chalk or highly alkaline ground, which can limit its autumn color and cause leaf yellowing. 
• Light Aspect: Thrives best in full sun to partial or dappled shade. While it handles shade well, a sunnier position guarantees a heavier flush of spring blossom, more summer berries, and the most intense autumn color. 
• Hardiness: Exceptionally tough and fully hardy across Ireland. It handles exposed, windy positions, industrial air pollution, and urban front gardens exceptionally well.

Wildlife Value

• Bird Magnet: The sweet summer berries are a highly prized food source for garden birds. If you intend to harvest them for baking, you will need to protect the branches, as local birds will often strip the tree clean the moment they ripen.
• Early Pollinators: The abundant sprays of early spring blossoms provide an essential, timely source of nectar and pollen for emerging bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects as the garden wakes up.