Juneberry is a deciduous flowering tree or tall shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to North America and is a naturally occurring hybrid that seeds true. The genus name refers to a European plant in this genus, Amelanchier ovalis. The species was named for the 18th century French naturalist Jean Baptiste Antoine Monet de Lamarck. Juneberry is the common name because the blueberry-sized fruit appears in June. Easy to grow in a variety of soils, but prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils. Adaptable to full sun or as an understory plant in part shade. For the best berry production, grow in full sun. It can reach 15 to 25 feet tall and wide. When growing as a tree, the root suckers should be removed to avoid a shrubby appearance. Propagate by seed and semi-hardwood cuttings. Light pruning for shape or health when needed. The berries are eaten by humans and wildlife in addition to cooking as jams, jellies and pies. The plant provides multi-season interest with showy flowers in spring, edible berries in summer, red-orange leaves in fall, and attractive bark and structure in winter. Some botanists believe it is a naturally occurring hybrid, but disagree on the parentage. Juneberry is available commercially but may be mislabeled due to the uncertain parentage. It received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit for being a reliable plant for the home garden. Plant this in a native garden or where you want to attract birds. Grow it as a specimen or grouped together as a hedge. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Typically insect and disease-free. Occasionally diseases such as powdery mildew, rust, leaf spot, and fire blight may affect the plants' health. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Amelanchier .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Showy red to orange fall color
Fall color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower detail
The plant has small (larger than spp.), white flowers from pink buds in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Sweet berries begin to emerge in the summer and ready for harvest in the fall. The berries will turn magenta to purple. They resemble blueberries. Seed: Fruit
Bark color
Dark Gray; Light Gray
Bark detail
Smooth, silver-gray bark.
Stem detail
Twigs are initially covered in white hairs but soon become smooth
The fruits of this plant are used in pies, jams and jellies, fruit rolls, and for making syrup. Native Americans are known to have eaten the berries fresh and dried, and often mixed with other foods for sweetener and flavor. Dried/dehydrated berries were also added to dried vegetables in soups and puddings.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Lawn; Naturalized Area; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Recreational Play Area; Small Space; Woodland