Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’)

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

  • Native Tree with Four Seasons of Interest
  • Superb Size for Smaller Lots
  • Pink Buds Open to Masses of Lacy, White Flowers
  • Flowers Held on Bare Branches in Spring
  • Butterflies and Beneficial Pollinators Adore the Delicate Blooms
  • Purple Edible Berries
  • Wonderful Food Source for Birds
  • Gorgeous Blue-Green Foliage
  • Fall Foliage a Brilliant Orange & Red Tones
  • Smooth Gray Bark Showcases the Graceful Form
  • Versatile and Widely Adaptable
  • Full Sun or Partial Shade
  • Native Disease-Resistance

With an enduring interest in native trees, Americans are seeking out plants that support local wildlife and deliver edible crops. Design-savvy, they also expect a gorgeous presentation in all seasons.

A perfect choice for gardens across the country, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’) is a versatile and popular shrubby fruit tree. George Washington planted this enchanting species at his estate, Mount Vernon.

A natural hybrid of several Serviceberry varieties, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry offers a lovely landscape display all year-long. Nicknames include Shadbush and Juneberry, named for the annual summer time frame of the ripe berries.

In spring, you’ll appreciate the delicate, fine-textured clusters of white flowers which simply cover this tree. This outstanding flower display is a wonderful harbinger of the growing season and supports the early nectar needs of beneficial pollinators.

Soon, you’ll see the flowers give way to small green berries that gradually deepen into red. They finally mature a deep, rich purple in early summer.

Serviceberries look like large, dark blueberries. You’ll get a sense of the flavor of the pretty, edible berries with the nicknames Sugarplum and Wild-Plum.

You can eat these berries raw, or bake them in pies or cook them into delicious jams. Native Americans and early settlers enjoyed eating these berries and were thought by some to have medicinal properties.

Race the birds for your share. Or, simply allow your local songbirds to strip the harvest quickly. Feel great about this responsible choice.

As well, the blue-green foliage is very attractive all season with a well-formed elliptical shape and finely serrate margins. Enjoy their shade in small space gardens.

As nights grow cooler, you’ll be astonished by the excellent orange-red fall color. Brilliant reds and oranges light up your landscape in a phenomenal show.

How to Use Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry in the Landscape

This versatile tree can be grown as a showy privacy shrub. Or, prune the lower branches up to raise the canopy and enjoy as an ornamental tree.

Determine how you’ll want to appreciate your Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry before planting. Turn the plant this way and that to study the existing branching.

Site them with an eye to their sculptural appeal. Over time, you can custom-fit these trees to your space with judicious pruning cuts.

Add one to a courtyard as a perfect feature and focal point. You’ll love the way the bare branches catch light snowfall. String it with tiny fairy lights to celebrate the magic of the Holidays.

Use a strong outdoor light at the base of these lovely small trees. Point the beam up into the canopy to enhance your nighttime landscape.

They look wonderful as a grouping. Plant them near the edge of a pond or water feature. They can define the edge of rustic woodlands, as well.

Plant them 20 to 30 feet apart in a natural-looking drift. Vary the spacing and use a loose triangular pattern.

These pretty trees are tougher than they look. They work well as street trees, and can be placed under power lines.

Try them as an effective backdrop for smaller perennials. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry can also jazz up your Victory Garden or permaculture plot.

With berries that ripen around the same time as Cherry trees, some savvy gardeners include both in their backyard orchard. Let the birds have the Serviceberries, and you take the cherry harvest.

Tips for Care

Plant them in either full sun or partial shade. They need at least four hours of sunlight a day for fruiting and fall color.

The widely adaptable species is found in nearly every state. In your landscape, give it well-drained soil and a medium amount of water on a regular basis.

Add a few handfuls of compost to your backfill soil from the planting hole around the bare root system. We highly recommend the use of Nature Hills Root Booster during planting. Follow directions on the label.

Prune after the flowers are done. Please, take your time to thoughtfully study your plant. Think of pruning as an art form, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely. Train as a single stem or keep as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree.

Sometimes known as Autumn Brilliance Apple Serviceberry, no matter the name, you’ll cherish these lovely trees!

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’) Details

Common name Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Botanical name Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance'
Plant type Deciduous
Hardiness zone 3-9
Growth rate Medium
Harvest time June
Height 20 - 25 ft.
Width 15 - 20 ft.
Sunlight Full Sun, Partial Shade
Moisture Medium
Soil condition Well Drained
Pollinator-friendly Yes
Pruning time After Flowering
Flower color White