Allegheny Serviceberry, also known as Smooth Serviceberry, is a small tree found in upland woods in the mountains of North Carolina. It is separated from its nearly identical sibling Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) by its smooth leaves; those of Downy Serviceberry are densely pubescent.
Carroll Co., VA 5/16/10.
Emerging leaves may have a few stray hairs, but the leaf blades are hairless.
Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
The flowers are quite showy when they bloom in early spring, before the leaves come out.
Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
Wilkes Co., NC 4/16/05.
The leaves are usually reddish when they first emerge.
Wilkes Co., NC 4/16/05.
Alleghany Co., NC 4/14/06.
The tasty pomes turn from red to dark purplish as they ripen.
Madison Co., NC 5/11/08.
Madison Co., NC 5/11/08.
Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/2009.
Hanging Rock, Stokes Co., NC 6/14/2009.
The leaves are pale green and hairless beneath.
Hanging Rock, Stokes Co., NC 6/14/2009.
Bark of a small stem.
Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/2009.
The smooth bark is usually twisted.
Madison Co., NC 5/11/08.
The bark is shallowly furrowed with a distinctive twisted pattern.
Wilkes Co., NC 4/16/05.
Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.
Showing the typical zig-zag trunk form.
Carroll Co., VA 4/25/08.
In the mountains, serviceberries get to be fairly large trees and may be quite common.
