This is one of the classic small, shrubby deciduous, landscape trees with multi-seasonal beauty. Saskatoon serviceberry displays beautiful white flowers in spring, edible berries in summer and brilliant fall foliage color. Its upright to rounded shrubby shape and smooth light gray branches offer interest in winter.
Native to northwestern North America, this Amelanchier typically has many slender trunks. Its simple, oval, green leaves appear after the showy white flowers in spring. After pollination by bees, small, edible, rosy purple to dark blue fruits develop and are harvestable by summer, if songbirds haven't beaten you to them. These are small, round and have a tart juicy flavor. In autumn the foliage turns lovely shades of red and yellow.
Saskatoon serviceberry prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils, though it tolerates alkaline soils, and a location in sun or partial shade. It makes a lovely addition to woodland gardens, shrub borders and informal hedges. Just be sure to prune off suckering shoots that spread from the main plant. Some selections, such as 'Regent', produce especially sweet fruit, great for preserves.
Information source: www.Learn2Grow.com.
Genus - Amelanchier
Species - Alnifolia
Common name - Saskatoon Serviceberry
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 9
Height - 3-15' / 0,90 - 4,60 m
Spread - 3-12' / 0,90 - 3,70 m
Plant type - Shrub
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Well Drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Edible, Foundation, Edible Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Mixed Border, Street Trees
Germination rate - 60%
Bloom season - Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring
Leaf / Flower color - Green / White
Useful Info | |
Germination | 1. Soak for 24 hours in warm water. 2. Select a small bucket, such as a yogurt bucket, or a zip-top bag. Mix together equal parts damp sand and moist peat moss. Lay a 3-5 cm layer of the mix on the bottom of the bucket or inside the zip-top bag. 3. Place the amelanchier seeds inside on the peat and sand mix, and cover with another 3-5 cm of the material. Place the seeds in the refrigerator for 90 to 120 days. Check the mix every one to two weeks, and mist the mix with water if it starts to dry out. 4. Fill a 5-8 cm pot with seed starting mix. Look for a soil-less pre-mixed material at home and garden centers. Make a suitable seed starting mix by combining equal parts peat moss, perlite and sand, or peat moss, vermiculite and sand. Perlite and vermiculite are similar inorganic mineral-based substances that provide drainage and aeration in potting mixes, and they can be used interchangeably. 5. Make a hole in the center of the pot 5 mm deep. Place the amelanchier seed in the hole, and then cover it with 3-5 mm of the seed-starting mix. Dampen the mixture until it is damp all the way through. 6. Place the pots in filtered light, keeping them between +18-+22C. Add water when the soil at the top of the pot starts to dry out. |