Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

The Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance) is a small-medium sized ornamental flowering tree known for its consistent fall colors. The small, star-shaped flowers appear in big clusters and emerge in early spring as pinkish then fade to white. In the late spring, it produces purple-blue berries over the dark green foliage that are edible and can attract species of birds. The green foliage in the summer transitions into a fantastic bright red, yellow, or orange. It has an upright, highly branched form and light gray, smooth bark that can provide an interesting look during the winter.

The Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry was selected and introduced by Willet Wendell in 1986 after he found it in his nursery in Urbana, Illinois. It is a hybrid of Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) and Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis). This cultivar differs from its parent species in that it is more low-maintenance (less pruning needed), adapted to a wider variety of soils, is resistant to some drought, and resists leaf spot better. It is a great choice as a yard tree, in the garden, or in a park. Does well in partial to full sun and can tolerate a range of soil types.