Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Utah serviceberry
Dídzéi dit’odi
(a.k.a. Shadbush, sarvis, Juneberry)

A cluster of white blossoms with light yellow coloration toward their centers
Patrick Alexander

Utah serviceberry grows as a shrub or small tree, generally 6 to 13 feet tall, with white flowers in spring. Fruits are small, brown or black, apple-like, and edible to humans and animals. Serviceberry provides both forage and fruit for wildlife.

Flowers in bloom on knobbly, reddish-brown twigs with some foliage present
Patrick Alexander
Foliage. Leaves are elliptical with slight serration on the margins. They are also almost imperceptibly hairy.
Patrick Alexander
Blossoms have a spreading habit with petals generously spaced
Russ Kleinman
Twig with reddish-brown buds
Russ Kleinman
Closer view of twig, showing slight fuzziness, leaf scars, and buds
Russ Kleinman
Terminal bud, which is a deep reddish-brown and covered in fine hairs
Russ Kleinman
Reddish-brown lateral bud covered in fine hairs
Russ Kleinman
Scientific Name
Amelanchier utahensis
Plant Type
Tree
Growing Season
Warm Season
Stem Placement
Alternate
Habitat
River valleys
Flower Color
White
✓
Edible berries
For definitions, see the glossary.

Copyright 2018 New Mexico State University. Individual photographers retain all rights to their images. Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023. Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people. NMSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer.

NMSU does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation or protected veteran status in its programs and activities as required by equal opportunity/affirmative action regulations and laws and university policy and rules. For more information please read the NMSU Notice of Non-discrimination.