Ballerina Allegheny serviceberry is a hybrid developed in the Netherlands in 1980. Its white flowers are more abundant and slightly larger than the species while its overall stature is somewhat smaller. Abundant spring flowers lead to abundant summer berries. The foliage emerges bronzy and becomes deep green in summer and turns purple/red in the fall.

Members of the genus Amelanchier offer four seasons of interest -- small white flowers (occasionally pinkish) in spring, edible berries in early summer, attractive foliage color in fall and interesting bark/branch structure in winter. Common names for amelanchier include juneberry and serviceberry and refer to the blueberry-like fruit edible by humans and much beloved by birds. The species range from small trees to large shrubs, usually multi-stemmed. Found at woodland's edge in the their native habitats, amelanchiers are best used in a naturalistic setting in the home landscape.

Amelanchiers are native to temperate areas of North America and, to a lesser extent, of Asia and Europe. The genus includes about 20 species; hybridization efforts have tended to focus on enhanced fall foliage color. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection includes more than 30 varieties and over 450 plants.