Etymology
Amelanchier is French/Breton for ‘little apples’; spicata means spiked, referring to rooting runners. Formerly known as Amelanchier stolonifera.
Native Habitat
Thrives in a variety of acidic soil conditions, including rocky or sandy hillsides and cliffs, woodland clearings, roadsides, and shorelines.
Garden Uses
Shrub borders and rock gardens; thrives in disturbed areas, benefiting erosion control due to its colonial nature. Beautiful every season, though leaves are hosts to many insect larva, and fruits to numerous birds, such that beauty may be fleeting.
Overview
Low-growing for its genus, this ornamental, care-free native low-growing shrub can adapt to a variety of soil and light conditions, offering lovely white flowers in the spring prior to leafing out, attractive fruits in summer, vivid fall colors of deep red to rust, and sturdy winter stems. Its flowers, leaves, and fruits are very important food sources to a variety of insects (over 100 species), birds, and mammals, such that, for garden viewing, it may work best in a varied shrub setting.
Spread
Spreads by stolons or runners to colonize an area.
Leaves and Stems
Finally-toothed leaves, alternate, stemmed (petiole) with oval blade, under-side hairy at flowering, top smooth (glabrous). Roots via suckering rhizomes.
Flowers
White, 5-petaled, 3/4 inch diameter flowers, opening prior to full leaf emergence.
Fruit/Seed
Edible purple-black pomes less than 1/2 inch diameter, contain numerous small, brown seeds.
Wildlife Associates
Host to over 100 species of insects. Numerous birds and mammals enjoy the berries.
Propagation
Seed planting post stratificaiton or division of rhizomatous off-shoots.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Fruits are edible.
Garden Location
Teaching Garden (see garden map)
Anecdotal Information
Slow to begin spreading at the native garden.
Sources
Plant Profile by Kate O'Dell