'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry
Amelanchier x grandiflora
'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" 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. Develops iron chlorosis in our alkaline soils, leaves yellow with green veins, then decline.
medium water15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wideZones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Photo 2: (c) Илья Руденко, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) Mikko Heikkinen, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 4: (c) Mikko Heikkinen, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade, dappled sun. Flowers best with more sun.
- 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)
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide
- Mature form
- Rounded
- Spacing / clearance
- ~20 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Short-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- early spring
- Bloom color
- white
- Fall color
- Orange, red
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Soil ChemistryOur alkaline clay locks up iron for this one, so leaves often yellow between green veins and growth stalls unless you treat it.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry get?
- It matures to about 15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide.
- How much room does 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry need?
- Give 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry about 20 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry grow into?
- 'Autumn Brilliance' 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 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry hardy on the Front Range?
- 'Autumn Brilliance' 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 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry grow?
- 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry live?
- 'Autumn Brilliance' 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 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry turn in fall?
- 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry turns orange and red in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry deer-resistant?
- No. 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry is not considered deer-resistant and may need protection where deer browse.
- Is 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry a good firewise plant near the house?
- 'Autumn Brilliance' 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.
