Amelanchier lucida Fernald
Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medik.
Shadbush, bilberry, Canadian serviceberry, chuckle-berry, currant-tree, juneberry, shad-blow, shadbush serviceberry, sugarplum, thicket serviceberry
Shadbush is native to eastern North America.
Plants: A deciduous shrub or modest tree, 1½–26′ (50–800 cm) in height and one to many stems. Young stems and leaves are silky-haired.
Leaves: Alternate, serrated, unlobed, ovate to ovate-oblong, ⅜–2 ⨉ ⅝–1″ (1–5.5 ⨉ 1.8–2.8 cm) in size. Leaf undersides are finely hairy. Leaf stalks (petioles) are ¼–½″ (8–15 mm) long.
Flowers: The flowers, which appear in early spring, are white, nicely scented, occurring in racemes of up to 20 flowers, 1½–2″ (4–6 cm) long. Each flower has five white petals ¼–⅜ ⨉ 1/16″ (7.6–11 ⨉ 2.4 mm) in size.
Fruits: The berries are ¼–⅜″ (7–10 mm) around, and dark red, turning dark purple. They are pomes, the same type of fruit as apples and pears
Habitats: Swamps, bogs, lowlands, and thickets.
Edibility: Fruits taste somewhat like apples or, according to one account, “nutty blueberries.” They are used to make pies and jams, and were used by Native Americans as part of pemmican.
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Similar species. |
Online References:
Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medik. var. subintegra Fernald
Amelanchier lucida Fernald
Amelanchier lucida Fernald
7/7/2026 · Butler Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm) 
7/7/2026 · Butler Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
5/9/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (12 × 8.9 cm) 
5/28/2023 · Giant’s Stairs, Bailey Island, Maine 
5/28/2023 · Giant’s Stairs, Bailey Island, Maine 
5/9/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 11 cm) 
4/30/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
5/11/2021 · Hackett and Minot Trails, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
6/20/2010 · Stan and Connie Kent, Falmouth, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
5/9/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
4/30/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Rosales | Rose family and eight others |
| Family | Rosaceae | Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others |
| Genus | Amelanchier | Shadbush |
| Species | canadensis | “Found in Canada” |
Amelanchier canadensis description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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