Bloomipedia
Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
Photo: Michael Ellis via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering tree

Allegheny serviceberry

Amelanchier laevis

🌷 Flowering treeNative in the lower 48

Allegheny serviceberry is a popular flowering tree. It's on our flower lists for 21 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

27states
21of our state lists
398U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Planted garden trees are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Quick look

Amelanchier laevis, the smooth shadbush, smooth serviceberry or Allegheny serviceberry, is a North American species of tree in the rose family Rosaceae, growing up to 9 metres (30 ft) tall. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States, from Newfoundland west to Ontario, Minnesota, and Iowa, south as far as Georgia and Alabama.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 27 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 35 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 51 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #124 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 45 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #131 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 41 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #116 among the 152 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist

Allegheny serviceberry gift ideas

Handmade allegheny serviceberry gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (208 records)
Bloom time in each of our 21 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Michigan🌷 GardenApril–May51
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records45
Minnesota🌷 GardenMay41
Massachusetts🌷 GardenApril–May40
New York🌷 Gardenfew records39
Maine🌷 GardenMay27
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records24
Vermont🌷 Gardenfew records21
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenfew records19
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records16
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenfew records15
Connecticut🌷 Gardenfew records14
Illinois🌷 Gardenfew records8
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records5
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records5
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records5
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records3
Colorado🌷 Gardenfew records0
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records0
Indiana🌷 Gardenfew records0
Washington🌷 Gardenfew records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe has no Colorado rank for it.
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe has no Delaware rank for it. DE rare plants 2024
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Indiana.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: SC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in North Carolina. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Fruit tastes similar to a blueberry and can be used raw or cooked.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

Edible or not, please don't pick this one. See the note under Conservation status.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Allegheny serviceberry in 27 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alger, Allegan, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Crawford, Delta, Eaton, Emmet, Gogebic, Gratiot, Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Livingston, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Missaukee, Monroe, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, Wexford.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alleghany, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Yancey.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Blue Earth, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Ramsey, St. Louis, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Winona.

More Michigan flowers

Sources