Zone: Outer Walkway Bed

Season of Interest: Spring (Flowers), Summer (Fruit), and Fall (Foliage)

The Doctor’s Notes (Medicinal Use)

While primarily valued for its fruit, various parts of the Serviceberry were used in 19th-century herbal medicine:

• The "Tonic" Bark: A tea made from the inner bark was often used as a digestive tonic or to treat mild cases of diarrhea.

• Women's Health: In some traditions, a decoction of the roots was used to help prevent complications after childbirth and as a general recovery tonic.

• Eye Wash: Infusions made from the bark were occasionally used as a soothing wash for inflamed eyes.

The Household Assistant (Homestead Use)

The "Regent" variety is a compact version of a plant that was indispensable to the 19th-century homestead:

• The "Juneberry": The fruit is the star of this plant. Known as "Juneberries," they look and taste much like blueberries but with a hint of almond. They were gathered for pies, jams, and puddings, or dried like raisins for winter use.

• Tool Handles: The wood of the Serviceberry is incredibly dense and tough. It was often used to craft small tool handles, walking sticks, or fishing rods on the farm.

• The "Service" Marker: Its common name comes from the fact that it blooms in early spring, just as the ground thawed enough for 19th-century circuit riders to perform funeral "services" for those who had passed during the winter.

Botanist’s Corner

• Form: A multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with a tidy, upright habit, typically growing 4 to 6 feet tall.

• Flowers: Produces masses of star-shaped white flowers in early spring before the leaves fully emerge, providing a vital nectar source for early pollinators.

• Fruit & Foliage: The flowers give way to small, dark purple-black berries in June. In the autumn, the leaves turn a stunning yellow to orange-red, providing a late-season highlight in the garden.