Woody > Amelanchier > Amelanchier alnifolia > Amelanchier alnifolia
Amelanchier alnifolia
Saskatoon Serviceberry
Origin: Western North America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A class small tree or large shrub that is often planted in poor locations and is butchered in the large urban landscapes around shopping malls, and such, not rendering its superb reputation as a native landscape plant any benefit. An excellent edge species to humanise the scale of large landscapes. I personally prefer the multi stemmed plants. This species is a little coarser than my first choice, A. canadensis.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Rosaceae |
| Genus |
| Amelanchier |
| Species |
| alnifolia |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 4 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -35 - (-29) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -30 - (-20) |
| Height |
| 5 m |
| Spread |
| 3 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A coarser plant when compared to A. canadensis, but still with all the merits of the former. |
| Landscape |
| A foil or mass planting tree or shrub. Or as a small grouped planting where the best effect is achieved. Excellent for attracting wildlife and for autumn and winter interest. |
| Cultivation |
| A plant that is easy to cultivate if given good soil and adequate moisture during summer droughts. |
| Shape |
| Loosely pyramidal. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Similar to A. canadensis, but with broader leaves with deeper serrations. The bark is often a slightly darker brown than the light grey of A. canadensis. |
| Pests |
| The fruit is often affected by a blight, improved air circulation around the plant can help. |
| Habitat |
| The plains of Western Canada. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Smooth light grey-brown bark. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Buds dark brown, lacking the hairs found on the buds of A. canadensis. |
| Leaf Description |
| Obovate, serrate, to about 6cm long and 1.5-2cm wide. |
| Flower Description |
| To about 5mm across, white, five petaled. |
| Fruit Description |
| Small, 5mm fruit, dark blue to black, resembling a small blueberry, edible and in fact an industry in Sakatoon, Canada. |
| Colour Description |
| Excellent autumn colour, reds, ambers and orangey yellows, consistent through the plant. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium textured. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The University of Guelph Arboretum, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Stratify seeds at 5°C for 120 days. Also by cuttings but with some challenges. |
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