Downy serviceberry is a small native fruit tree common to well drained soils on the margins of woods, streams, and cliffs. It produces clusters of showy white flowers prior to leafing out in early spring, the same time that shad ascend the rivers to spawn, thus its alternate names “shadbush” or “shadblow”. These ornamental flowers give way to delicious berries, prized by birds and people alike. Some compare the flavor of the berry to Dr. Pepper. More than 40 species of bird favor the berries, including cedar waxwings, cardinals, and Baltimore orioles.