Both my Amelanchier x grandiflora and Aronia melanocarpa are trouble free in a similar pH...in zone 5 WI. Neither suckers much for me. Overall, for birds, blooms, berries and fall color I'd go with Amelanchier.

tj

Presumably the best adapted will be locally native Amelanchier alnifolia.

Although you can have issues with these two plants up to a mile away I typically avoid planting Juniper and plants from the Rosaceae family near eachother.

Otherwise Amelanchier a thousand times over.

I've had both and I gave away one Amelanchier shrub, cut down an Amelanchier tree, am ripping out the last shrub. Last year I added Aronia and while I haven't had it that long, I'm already happier with it then I was with the Amelanchier shrubs and trees. The Amelanchier just didn't perform in our garden. It was stripped of leaves by winter moths one spring and although everything else in the yard, recovered fine, the amelanchier did not. The tree had powdery mildew that effected it despite being planted in a Southern exposure and reduced the flowers/fruiting to almost nonexistent and was pretty unsightly too. The Aronia is 'Brilliantissima' and has some very good reviews online. So, I can't swear by the Aronia, but I have not had good experiences with the Amelanchier. Here in zone 6, it is hardy, but not a performer for me. I try to grow as many natives as I can, so I hope the Aronia will work out.

I did go with the alnifolia, the Regent.

What can I expect with it planted near the Juniper and is there anything I can do reduce any negatives because they are planted close together?

What kind of juniper? I have pfitzer juniper (J. x media) that is not an issue. J. scopulorum or J. virginiana are another matter. You may get cedar-apple rust.

tj

Dang tj, the Juniper is a Virginiana. Well perhaps I can put Eupatorium there instead (or the Aronia) and give the Amelanchier to a friend. Glad I asked. Thanks for the heads up whaas.

Or mabye a Ribes, that won't be a problem with the Juniper Virginiana will it?

I wouldn't forgo the serviceberry just for that. For years even though I didn't have have J. virginiana, they were in the neighborhood and my serviceberry was fine. I got a J. scopulorum a few years back which occationally gets cedar-apple rust but my serviceberry shows little negative effects. How close would they be to each other?

tj

3-5 feet apart. My neighbor across the street also has an apple tree she has been spraying for fungus so I think I'd be inviting disaster. As is, I think I'll need to have a good spray program for both her apple tree as well as my junipers. Do you have any suggestions? I'm calling our Extension office now. Thanks again tj.

At only 3'-5' apart the tree and the shrub/tree are going to soon be on top of each other.