June Berry, Service Berry

Amelanchier lamarckii, or the June Berry, is naturalised over much of Western Europe and provides some interest at all points of the year. Starting in spring, the profuse white flowers emerge in plentiful racemes (clusters along the stems), covering the tree from top to bottom.

The foliage follows the blossom, emerging a coppery colour that turns bright green by late spring. The fantastic rich red autumn colour of Amelanchier lamarckii concludes this tree's remarkable display in conjunction with rounded fruits, which are initially red in summer before turning black in the autumn. Although not the sweetest of tasting fruits, they are edible, adding to the attraction of this little tree as a superb addition to any garden planting scheme.

Amelanchier lamarckii is a versatile, small-growing tree that performs best in moist, well-drained, lime-free soil. It is capable of thriving in most soil types; however, in soil of reduced quality, it is wise to invest time and effort into tree pit preparation to give the tree the best chance at thriving in less-than-optimum conditions.

We usually grow the lamarkii Juneberry as a standard tree, but it tends to behave more like a shrub than a tree. Standard trees have a tendency to produce suckers from the base, so we prefer to grow it as a coppiced multi-stem. This helps maximise the flowering potential and complements the tree's natural crown shape.

If you would like a standard Amelanchier, Robin Hill is the one to go for, as this tree naturally wants to form a “proper tree.” Amelanchier lamarckii is a small tree that is perfect for garden schemes, and the fact that it offers so much interest should make it unquestionably a first choice for any project requiring more than a flutter of flowers in the spring.

If you live in an area prone to rabbits or deer, we recommend rabbit guards for these trees.

Mature Height: 3-5m

Common names

June Berry, Service Berry

Height of tree

3-5m

Soil type

Well drained, Clay, Acidic

Shape

Oval

Blossom Colour

White

Foliage Colour

Green

Information Flags

Good for bees

Looks good in

Spring

Location

Garden

Genus

Amelanchier

Autumn Colour

Yes