Virginia Tech Dendrology

Alleghany serviceberry Rosaceae Amelanchier laevis Wiegand symbol: AMLA
Leaf: Alternate, simple, ovate, pinnately-veined, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, finely serrate. Green above, glabrous even when young, emerging leaves orange-brown to purple.
Flower: Showy with 5 long (1/2 inch) strap-like white petals, borne on up to 4 inch racemes, appear before the leaves in early spring.
Fruit: Ripening in early to mid summer, 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter, rounded, red ripening to dark purple or black when ripe, edible.
Twig: Slender, flexible, red-brown in color, may be covered with fine hairs when young; buds may be up to 1/2 inch long, pointed, covered with scales, may have hairy margins, light yellow-green to reddish yellow.
Bark: Smooth when young, ashy-gray with dark stripes; later becoming rough with long splits and furrows.
Form: A shrub or small tree with a narrow crown, usually with an upright stem, to 40 feet.
Looks like: shadblow serviceberry - downy serviceberry - roundleaf serviceberry - American beech

Additional Range Information: Amelanchier laevis is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information