Description
This showy shrub or small tree goes by many different common names, including: Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, saskatoon, saskatoon berry, saskatoon serviceberry, western shadbush, western juneberry, and more. No matter what name you call it, this is a must-have species throughout its natural range, for native plant gardens, habitat restoration projects, hedges, wildlife plantings, pollinator gardens and more. Native to North America, serviceberry grows in Alaska, across most of western Canada, and in the western and north-central United States. In the Klamath-Siskiyou region it can be found growing along riparian areas and moist locations on the valley floor, and as you go up in elevation it can be found in dry chaparral, oak or madrone woodlands, in the understory of mixed conifer forests, along rocky and sunny ridgelines, and in open areas at high elevations. It is an adaptable species that can grow from sea level up to mountaintops.
Serviceberry can put on quite the show in early summer when it is adorned with fragrant, 1″ wide white flowers with five petals that look similar to the flowers on an apple tree, and serviceberry is in the same plant family as apples, the rose (Roseaceae) plant family. Serviceberry flowers in late spring to early summer, depending on elevation.
Serviceberry is an easy going, easy-to-grow species as long as it is protected from deer browse. It can grow in a wide variety of soil types and is fairly drought resistant once established, but it may need some supplemental water off of riparian areas in inland valley habitats. Likewise, at lower elevations it may grow better with some shade to part shade, and at mid to high elevations it will enjoy full sun. With enough water at lower elevations, however, it will grow well in full sun, and more sun does produce more fruit.
Pollinators will enjoy the showy serviceberry flowers as much as you do! They are a pollinator powerhouse, with many species of bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, and pollinating flies visiting the flowers for pollen and nectar. Serviceberry are also larval host plants for the pale tiger swallowtail, two-tailed swallowtail, western tiger swallowtail, and other butterflies and moths.
In summer those who grow serviceberries are rewarded with edible, nutritious, blueberry-like fruit, which is technically a pome, that many consider to be quite tasty, to downright delicious, depending on the plant and growing conditions. The purple “berries” are eaten fresh, dried, or made into a wide variety of jams, pies, wine, preserves, pemmican, and more. The berries are also an important food source for many different species of birds and animals.
Depending on elevation and soil conditions, serviceberry will grow between 5-30′ tall and 5-10′ wide. It typically has a rounded form, but it can grow more upright, especially in shady areas; however, it can be pruned as needed for shaping or height control, and it benefits from occasional pruning. It resprouts easily after being top-killed in wildfire. It does sucker, but it doesn’t spread vigorously.
Serviceberry leaves are green, elliptic to round shaped, with toothed/serrate leaf margins. It can have lovely yellow and golden fall color, and is a deciduous shrub, so it goes dormant in the winter after losing its leaves.
Unfortunately, serviceberry, for all its lovely attributes, is susceptible to cedar-apple rust, which is transmitted by fungus spores from nearby cedar or junipers trees. This fungal “rust” causes bright orange spots on the plant, which can sometimes cover the fruit and make it inedible. The best way to prevent cedar-apple rust is to avoid planting serviceberries near cedar or juniper trees, if you can. It generally is just a cosmetic issue, and it doesn’t typically kill the plant, but it is a bummer if the fruit crop is ruined by the rust every year.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) seed packets contain approximately 50 seeds per packet.
Seed Germination Instructions
This species requires 90-120 days cold-moist stratification in order to germinate.
Sow seeds in pots or direct sow outside in fall with a light dusting of soil over the seeds and let nature do the stratification naturally outside if you have cold enough winters. If you live in an area with mild winters, you may need to provide the cold-moist stratification artificially. For more information please read through the information in our Seed Germination and Propagation Reference Guide.
