What soil does Canadian serviceberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Is Canadian serviceberry hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Canadian serviceberry be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Canadian serviceberry be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 2 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 1.5 plants per metre.

How much water does Canadian serviceberry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Canadian serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Canadian serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of Canadian serviceberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree that is covered in white flower clusters in April before the leaves open, ripens edible, blueberry-like berries in early summer and turns orange-red in autumn. It is happiest in moist, rather acid soil in sun or part shade, and a single plant sets fruit; the narrow, columnar 'Rainbow Pillar' suits small gardens and informal hedges but bears very few berries. It throws suckers from the base, and nurseries often confuse it with the snowy mespilus, so the name on the label is not always reliable.

Watch out for

The official Hungarian list of invasive woody plants names the closely related Amelanchier × spicata, which may not be planted on public-use land; Canadian serviceberry itself is not listed, but A. × spicata is probably a hybrid of it and serviceberries cross freely, so do not plant it next to near-natural habitats. It spreads slowly by suckers, which need cutting out regularly. Rust, leaf spot, blight and powdery mildew, and sawfly, leaf miner, borers and scale can occur but are rarely serious. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it suffers when the soil dries out and needs watering; birds strip the ripening berries within days.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, white

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	3–8 m × 2–6 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, white
Harvest	June–July
Self-fertile	yes
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	200 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Hedge plants Plants for screening Shrubs for pollinators Low-maintenance shrubs Flowering shrubs Fragrant plants Fragrant shrubs Plants with autumn colour Shrubs with autumn colour Plants with edible fruit Edible plants for screening

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Looks good next to it

Wintercreeper

Euonymus fortunei

Japanese holly

Ilex crenata

Black mondo grass

Ophiopogon planiscapus