downy service berry

Plant Type

Large Tree (greater than 25 ft)

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

15-25 ft. tall
10-15 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Occasional Flooding

Inolerant of

Poorly Drained Soil

Propagation

By seed, By cutting

Plant Propagation Notes

Softwood cuttings. Seeds require cold-stratification for 90-120 days.

Plant Planting Notes

Provide up to 15 ft spacing.

Plants/Diseases

Suceptible to insects such as leaf miner, pear sawfly, spider mites, aphids, peach borer, and scale. Suceptible to disease such as cedar apple rust, leaf blight, and powdery mildew.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Host plant for butterfly larvae, Fruit/seeds for birds

Leaves

Simple alternate leaves with serrate margins.

Flowers

Drooping clusters. May appear before leaves return in spring.

Fruit

Berry-like pome.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

Edibility

Fruit is edible.

USDA Hardiness Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade, Full Shade

Soil Moisture

Dry

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Stream banks and wood edges.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Uncommon in the South Carolina coastal plain and sandhills. Common in the piedmont and mountains.