Tree
Amelanchier
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in April | |||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in January | Plant in February | Plant in March | Plant in November | Plant in December | |||||||
| Prune | Prune in January | Prune in February | Prune in December | |||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in April | Looks good in June | Looks good in October | Looks good in November |
Overview
Amelanchier lamarckii is a multi-stemmed small tree or large shrub that bursts into clouds of white, star-shaped flowers in April, just as its new leaves unfold in coppery bronze. By early summer the flowers have become small purple-black berries that are sweet, edible and much loved by blackbirds. In autumn the leaves turn orange and red. For alternatives, A. x grandiflora 'Ballerina' has larger flowers, 'Robin Hill' opens pink, and A. alnifolia 'Obelisk' is narrow enough for a front garden.
Where to grow amelanchier
It does best in moist, neutral to acid soil and tolerates clay well, though it struggles on thin chalk. Sun gives the best flowering and autumn colour, but it is happy at a woodland edge. Its modest size makes it a good choice near a house or as a focal point in a lawn.
Planting
Plant bare-root or containerised trees between autumn and early spring. Dig in plenty of organic matter, plant at the original depth and water well. Multi-stemmed specimens usually do not need staking.
Care through the year
Spring
Mulch with compost or leaf mould to keep the roots cool and moist.
Summer
Pick the ripe berries for eating fresh or in jam before the birds beat you to them.
Autumn
Water in prolonged autumn dry spells, which can cut the colour display short.
Winter
Check for and remove suckers appearing around the base.
Pruning
Little pruning is required. When dormant in winter, take out dead, damaged or crossing stems and any suckers. To keep a single trunk, remove side shoots low down gradually over several years.
Propagation
Clean seeds from ripe berries and sow them outdoors in autumn so winter cold breaks their dormancy. Suckers with roots can also be separated in winter, and low stems layered.
Common problems
Amelanchier is generally healthy. Like other members of the rose family it can occasionally suffer fireblight, which leaves shoots looking burnt; cut back into clean wood. Rust and leaf spots appear in some years without causing serious harm.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in January, February, March, November and December. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.