Western Serviceberry

Western Serviceberry

Is in bloom, finally.

Amelanchier alnifolia
western serviceberry,
Pacific serviceberry, saskatoon serviceberry, saskatoon-berry, saskatoon

Description: This multi-stemmed, deciduous native usually grows 10-12 feet tall, and has smooth, dark gray to reddish bark. Leaves are alternate, thin, oval, 1-2 inches long, and mostly smooth-edged on the lower half of the leaf, becoming regularly toothed on the outer half, with veins running out to the teeth. Flowers are white with five long, thin petals, and form showy, erect or droopy clusters. Fruits are small (½ inch in diameter) and initially dull-red, becoming dark purple when ripe, and look somewhat like small blueberries. Difficult to identify in winter, but look for slender, curved, alternate buds and a larger terminal bud. Two of the varieties found in Western Washington are var. humptulipensis and var. semiintegrifolia.

Habitat: In moist to dry areas, on well-drained soils; often in open conifer forests. Full sun to partial shade. Common throughout the Northwest, frequently in thickets. Very drought-tolerant.

Advantages/Disadvantages: Though largely unnoticed except when in bloom, its showy flowers and delicious fruit make it a good ornamental plant for open, wooded sites, or woodland edges. Can form soil- holding thickets via rooting branch tips. Provides good wildlife cover. Foliage and new twigs are prized by deer and elk. Fruits are eaten by many birds and mammals. In some areas, it is susceptible to a disfiguring leaf rust disease.

Propagation: Can be grown from seed or salvaged seedlings. Collect fruit when ripe (in late summer) and separate seeds from pulp. Seed not sown in the fall should not be allowed to dry out, and needs to be cold-stratified for 3-6 months to break seed dormancy. Seedlings under three feet tall can be salvaged. Plants in your yard can be layered to produce new plants.

Suitable Growing Environment: sun and well-drained soils (understory)