We are considering a serviceberry as a small specimen tree at the front of our house, on the north side, close to the house in average soil. It gets very little direct sun, but is not deep shade. We’re looking for a small tree that has a good horizontal spread.
Thank you for your question to the Toronto Master Gardeners.
Yes, the Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) is a good native tree for a Toronto garden, It will grow to a width of about 15 to 30 feet. It can be pruned to size you like once it is well established. Near the house the soil can tend to be drier than out in the yard, so be sure to give it sufficient deep waterings and mulch in the first years of growth. You can research this tree’s care and maintenance online at www.ontario.ca/page/serviceberries or at landscapeontario.com/amelanchier-serviceberry
All the best with your new tree.