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Downy serviceberry is a shrub or small tree 10-30' tall that blooms very early in the spring, before (most) leaf emergence; this is the most common Amelanchier sp. in Illinois. Downy serviceberry flowers bloom in a cluster of 5-12 before or early in leaf emergence. (Emerging leaves are folded and bronze-tinged.) Flowers are 1" across with a short, light green, a hairy calyx with five narrow triangular teeth 1/3 the length of the petals that are strongly bent back towards the stem; five narrow, oblong white petals; 15-20 stamens with creamy yellow anthers; a hairless green ovary; and a green pistil with a single five-parted style. Downy serviceberry flowers can be easily distinguished from Wiegand's shadbush (Amelanchier interior); the former has a hairless ovary while the latter has an ovary whose top is densely covered with wooly hairs. The very hairy undersides of downy serviceberry leaves are also a good clue to its identity, although other Amelanchier spp. also have (less) hairy leaves.

Amelanchier

Amelanchier arborea

downy serviceberry [Blooms: Apr-May]

Wiegand's shadbush (aka, serviceberry) is a shrub or small tree up to 10m tall, uncommon in Illinois and restricted to the northeastern portion of the state. The flowers bloom in clusters of 6-12 simultaneously with leaf emergence. (Emerging leaves are folded and bronze-tinged.) The flowers are 1" across with a short, light green, hairy calyx with five narrow triangular teeth 1/3 the length of the petals, strongly bent back towards the stem; five narrow, oblong white petals; 18-20 stamens with creamy yellow anthers; a characteristic green ovary densely hairy on the top; and a green pistil with a single five-parted style. Wiegand's shadbush flowers can be easily distinguished from downy serviceberry (A. arborea); the former has an ovary whose top is densely covered with wooly hairs while the latter has a hairless ovary.

Amelanchier

Amelanchier interior

Wiegand's shadbush [Blooms: Apr-May]