This species is commonly found at wood edges and in open fields, where its reddish, berry-like fruits provide food to over 40 species of birds! It can be found as a large shrub, or single trunked small tree. The striking white flowers of the Downy Serviceberry add welcome color to forested areas in early spring.  Serviceberry species can be hard to distinguish from one another due to their habit of freely hybridizing where ranges overlap. The Downy Serviceberry has alternate, simple, oval leaves that are very furry underneath when young.

Downy Serviceberry flowers are white with slender petals.

The fruit is dry and tasteless. It begins as green, then ripens red to blue-black.

The undersides of the young leaves are very wooly, lending this tree its name of “Downy” Serviceberry.

Ontario Tree Atlas map of non-planted Downy Serviceberries. 1995-1999.

Return to tree listing page [1]

References

Farrar, J.L.. 1995. Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd. Toronto. ON. 504 pp.  

Kershaw, L. 2001. Trees in Ontario: Including tall shrubs. Lone Pine Publishing. Edmonton. AB. 240 pp

Muma, W. 2011. Ontario Trees and Shrubs. [Online] Available: www.ontariotrees.com

OMNR, 2011. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: Ontario Tree Atlas. [Online] Available: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/ClimateChange/2ColumnSubPage/267027.html

OMNR, 2008. Ontario’s Biodiversity: Species at Risk.