Fruits as Ornamentals

by Marvin Pritts

Another underutilized fruiting plant is Amelanchier, sometimes called Juneberry, shadbush, serviceberry or Saskatoon berry. These plants are attractive in the spring as they are among the first woody plants to flower, the satin-red to purple berries are beautiful, and the fall foliage is notable. Canadians grow thousands of acres of these plants for fresh-eating, and making jellies and syrups. Pembina and Smokey are two favorites. Americans are generally unfamiliar with this hardy plant. It is one of my favorite "grazable" landscape plants. My kids generally get the lower fruits, and the birds get the ones just out of my reach, leaving me the area between 5 and 7 ft. Ours at home are planted in a special garden designed with birds in mind.