Serviceberry is a small tree, 1-5 m tall, with alternate, deciduous, round to oval leaves with small, even teeth on the top half of the leaf (occasionally more). The white flowers bloom early in spring, before the leaves have emerged on most woody plants. The rather showy flowers have 5 petals, 15-20 stamens, and an inferior ovary with 2-5 carpels. The fruits are berry-like pomes and are edible and sweet. Serviceberry grows in meadows, thickets, and at forest edges in well-drained soils at low to middle elevations. The name serviceberry comes from areas where the soil freezes in winter. When the serviceberry bloomed, the soil had thawed sufficiently to bury those who had died during the winter.