sugarplum, Indian cherry

• Main Authors: Plant Symbol Amar, William S. Justice
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Uses; Indian; Cree indians
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.369.5977; http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_amar3.pdf

Trees of downy serviceberry are generally not large enough for sawtimber but they have been used for pulpwood. The wood is extremely heavy and hard and is occasionally made into tool handles. Cree Indians prized it for making arrows. At least 40 bird species (for example, mockingbirds, cardinals, cedar waxwings, towhees, Baltimore orioles) eat the fruit of Amelanchier species. Mammals that either eat the fruit or browse the twigs and leaves of downy serviceberry include squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, mice, voles, foxes, black bears, deer, and elk. The fruits taste similar to blueberry – they are eaten fresh or cooked in pastries or puddings. The trees are used as ornamentals and many cultivars have been selected for variation in growth habit, flower size and color, and leaf color. The fall foliage blends orange and gold with red and green. It grows Plant Guide in partial shade to full sun, preferring moist but welldrained soil but will also grow in dry sites.