Ballerina Serviceberry Tree

• Variety: Ballerina, a small Serviceberry with large white flowers
• Latin name: Amelanchier × grandiflora 'Ballerina'
• Sold as: Bareroot standard, 6/8cm girth
• Mature size: The RHS gives 4 to 8m tall and wide
• Time to full size: 10 to 20 years
• Flowers: White and relatively large, on nodding sprays, in spring
• Berries: Small and edible, red turning dark purple. Birds take them
• Leaves: Bronze-tinged when young, orange to purple in autumn
• Position: Sun or partial shade. Full sun for the best autumn colour
• Soil: Moist, well-drained and lime-free: acid or neutral
• Hardiness: H7, hardy in the severest British winter
• Delivered: Bareroot, November to April. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Ballerina is a vigorous small tree, or a large shrub, with three seasons of interest: bronze young leaves and large white flowers in spring, edible berries that ripen from red to dark purple, and orange to purple autumn colour. It wants a moist, lime-free soil.

Ballerina Serviceberry Tree

Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Ballerina’ is a neat little tree that’s just right for small gardens. Its succession of spring flowers, colourful foliage and autumn berries provide interest over three seasons.

A good choice for urban gardens as it’s tolerant of pollution and some shade. Its flowers and berries are a fantastic source of food for pollinating insects and birds. An attractive, low maintenance addition to any garden.

Star-shaped white flowers are produced in profusion in April, and are followed by small red berries in the autumn. These are a great favourite with birds. In spring the young, finely serrated, oval leaves are tinged with bronze, before turning green in summer and then taking on rich reddish purple tones in autumn. Plant in full sun to ensure the best display of colour.

Delivered bareroot, between November and April.

Browse all of our ornamental & garden trees, or our other trees for small gardens.

Growing Amelanchier Ballerina

Prefers a sunny site with moist, well-drained soil with a neutral to acidic soil pH. It'll tolerate some shade and is hardy throughout the UK.

Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Ballerina’ looks lovely as the centrepiece of a lawn but also works well in a border. Underplant with Spring bulbs, grasses and herbaceous perennials for a long lasting planting scheme. Add bold foliage plants such as bronze fennel and Carex ‘Prairie Fire’ that will pick up on ‘Ballerina’s’ colouring.

History & Trivia

Bred in Holland.

Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Ballerina’ belongs to the Rosaceae family. Amelanchier are small deciduous shrubs or trees with pretty white flowers in early spring, purple-red berries and, often, colourful autumn foliage.

Standard trees are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species.
So, a 6/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height.
On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.

Planting Companions

The natural pairing is the other named Amelanchier, Robin Hill: pink buds on an upright tree beside Ballerina's bigger white flowers on a bushier one. From the same family, and the same size, come the Hawthorns and the Crab Apples, which flower after it. For more ideas, see our trees for ornamental interest. Dust bareroot roots with Rootgrow as you plant.

Why Ashridge for Garden Trees?

Ashridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Ballerina Serviceberry comes as a bareroot tree, lifted to order while dormant and guaranteed for 12 months. Plant it between November and April, and it will establish readily.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big does Amelanchier Ballerina grow?

The RHS gives it 4 to 8 metres tall and wide, reached in 10 to 20 years. It is a vigorous small tree or large shrub, so it stays in scale with a small garden for many years.

Ballerina or Robin Hill: which Amelanchier?

Ballerina has the larger, pure white flowers and a bushier shape. Robin Hill opens pale pink from pink buds and is more upright. Both reach 4 to 8 metres.

Can you eat the berries?

Yes. The RHS says the berries are edible, though in Britain the tree is grown for ornament and not for a crop. Birds usually get there first.

Will it grow on chalk?

No. The RHS asks for moist, lime-free, well-drained soil, acid or neutral.

Does it need pruning?

Very little. It is in RHS pruning group 1: remove dead, damaged or crossing wood in winter and leave the rest.

When are the trees delivered?

Bareroot only, from November to April, while the trees are dormant. You can order at any time of year and your tree is lifted and sent once the season opens.