Allegheny Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade to dappled sun. Available in tree or shrub form.
medium water15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide
Online from $5.13 at 1 retailerPhotos
Plan your garden
Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.
Ready to plant this?
At a glance
- Rating
- Right spot only (FRTRL: Conditionally Recommended)
- Botanical name
- Amelanchier laevis
- Variety / cultivar
- Allegheny
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide
- Mature form
- Rounded
- Spacing / clearance
- ~20 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Short-lived
- Fall color
- Orange, red
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade, dappled sun. Flowers best with more sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
- Bloom color
- white
- Bloom time
- early spring
- Pollinator value
- high
Site factors to consider
- Watch: Short LivedFast but not forever; this one runs short lived here, so enjoy it and plan a successor rather than treating it as a legacy tree.
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not deer-resistant
Frequently asked questions
- Is Allegheny Serviceberry good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Allegheny Serviceberry is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Allegheny Serviceberry get?
- It matures to about 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide.
- How much room does Allegheny Serviceberry need?
- Give Allegheny Serviceberry about 20 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Allegheny Serviceberry grow into?
- Allegheny Serviceberry typically grows into a broad, rounded crown, the classic shade-tree silhouette. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Allegheny Serviceberry hardy on the Front Range?
- Allegheny Serviceberry is hardy in USDA 3–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Allegheny Serviceberry need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Allegheny Serviceberry grow?
- Allegheny Serviceberry is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Allegheny Serviceberry live?
- Allegheny Serviceberry is relatively short-lived for a tree, so plan to replace it sooner than a long-lived shade tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Allegheny Serviceberry turn in fall?
- Allegheny Serviceberry turns orange and red in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Allegheny Serviceberry native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Allegheny Serviceberry deer-resistant?
- No. Allegheny Serviceberry is not considered deer-resistant and may need protection where deer browse.
- Is Allegheny Serviceberry a good firewise plant near the house?
- Allegheny Serviceberry is a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
