Amelanchier bartramiana aka Mountain Serviceberry

Amelanchier bartramiana is a deciduous shrub in the rose family, Rosaceae. Its common names include mountain juneberry and shadbush. It comes from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Its range includes Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec, and parts of New England. It grows in a temperate climate and loses its leaves each year. Wild plants grow in peaty thickets, sphagnum bogs, and mountain scrub. They also reach slopes near the subalpine zone.

This shrub reaches about 10 feet [3 metres] in height. It flowers from April to May. Each flower has both male and female parts. Bees pollinate the blooms, and the plant is self-fertile. Its fruit has an oval or pear-like shape. Each fruit measures about 0.05 feet [0.015 metres] long. A few small seeds lie at its centre. This species can cross with several other serviceberries. These include A. sanguinea, A. humilis, and A. canadensis.

The fruit is edible both fresh and cooked. Reports agree that it tastes sweet, but differ on texture. Some describe dry flesh, while others report juicy fruit. Cooks can add it to pancakes or dry it for storage. The fruit also supplies iron and copper. This makes the shrub an option for a food forest. It can also grow along a sunny woodland edge. A site with dappled shade offers another garden setting. The supplied account lists no known hazards or medicinal uses.

For cultivation, give it rich loam and sun or partial shade. It also grows in sandy soil and heavy clay. The soil should stay moist, without drying out or becoming waterlogged. Mildly acidic to neutral soil suits it. The cultivation account also reports success on chalk. Plants tolerate cold down to about −30°C. The listed USDA hardiness range is zones 4–8.

Seed offers one way to raise new plants. Sow fresh seed before its coat becomes hard. Use pots outdoors or a cold frame. Stored seed can take 18 months or more to sprout. An autumn warm treatment followed by winter cold can help germination. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Grow them in a sheltered outdoor spot before planting out. Wait until they reach about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] tall.