Saskatoon serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
Also known as: Saskatoon serviceberry
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Lazarus000
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Amelanchier
- Species:
- Amelanchier alnifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- AMAL2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acerra normalis, Acronicta perdita, Agrochola pulchella, American Swordgrass Moth (Xylena nupera), Ancylis apicana, Ancylis fuscociliana, Aristotelia amelanchierella, Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecata), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Ceranemota fasciata, cymatophoroides false owlet moth (Pseudothyatira cymatophoroides), Dark-spotted Palthis (Palthis angulalis), Dimorphic Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena mollisaria), dimorphic pinion (Lithophane patefacta), Egira hiemalis, Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), false pinion (Litholomia napaea), Filatima frugalis, Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Forked Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena tigrinaria), four-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia quadrifasciana), fragile dagger moth (Acronicta fragilis), friendly probole (Probole amicaria), gray swordgrass (Xylena cineritia), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), Hyppa xylinoides, large looper moth (Autographa ampla), Lesser Peachtree Borer (Grapholita prunivora), Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), Lycia rachelae, Mesothea incertata, Morning-glory prominent moth (Schizura ipomoeae), mottled gray carpet moth (Cladara limitaria), Pale beauty (Campaea perlata), Pale Oligocentria (Oligocentria pallida), Parornix alta, Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), Polia detracta, Pseudorthodes irrorata, Purple Arches (Agrochola purpurea), Radcliffe's dagger moth (Acronicta radcliffei), Red-washed Prominent (Oligocentria semirufescens), Rusty Tussock Moth (Orgyia antiqua), Setagrotis pallidicollis, Spilosoma pteridis, Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), Stigmella taeniola, Syngrapha epigaea, Three-spotted sallow (Eupsilia tristigmata), Unicorn caterpillar moth (Schizura unicornis), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), western winter moth (Operophtera occidentalis), white triangle tortrix (Clepsis persicana), White-dotted Prominent (Nadata gibbosa), California hairstreak (Satyrium californicum), Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon), Weidemeyer's Admiral (Basilarchia weidemeyerii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies, bees, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow, orange, red
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Vigorously resprouts from root crown after fire or top-kill. Benefits from periodic fire in prairie and savanna habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Prefers soils with good organic content
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Germination can be erratic even after stratification. Seeds benefit from cleaning of fruit pulp before stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are soaked in a 3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide solution for 10 minutes, followed by a 48-hour running water rinse. Seeds are then placed in cold, moist stratification for 120 days at 1 to 3C in fine mesh bags buried in milled sphagnum peat moss in a ventilated container. Stratified seeds are washed weekly to remove mucilaginous material.
Establishment: There are variations in the pre-treatment protocol, with some suggesting a hydrogen peroxide rinse and others a simple water soak. The germination rate varies widely, from as low as 22% to as high as 90%. Some protocols suggest using semi-hardwood stem cuttings, but these have a lower germination rate.
Source: npn.rngr.net