Washington Native Plant Society: Starflower Image Herbarium

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Amelanchier alnifolia

Serviceberry, Saskatoon

At a Glance: Medium-sized shrub producing fragrant white flowers in late spring.

Height: Up to 15 feet (4.5 meters).
Growth Form: Shrub.
Stems: Stems are smooth and slender, often with leaning trunks. Bark is dark gray to reddish.
Leaves: Leaves are alternate, round to oval in shape, green. The top half of the leaf is toothed.
Flowers: Clusters of large white flowers range from drooping to erect. Each flower has 5 petals with 15 to 20 stamens each; size: 1-2.5 cm across.
Flowering Period: April, May.
Fruits: The berry-like fruits are called pomes. Fruits start to form soon after flowers fade. Color: initially dull-red, turning dark purple/black with a white bloom.


Photo © 2003, Starflower Foundation

Sun/Shade Tolerance	Hydrology	Elevation Range
full sun > 80% mostly sunny 60%-80% partial sun and shade 40%- 60% mostly shady 60%-80% full shade > 80%	wet moist dry Wetland Indicator Status: NI (no indicator data)	low elevation mid elevation sub-alpine high elevation

Soil Preferences
sandy soils gravelly soils clay soils muddy soils peaty soils	well drained soils shallow soils deep soils acidic soils basic soils	humic soils nutrient rich soils nutrient poor soils mineral soils organic soils

Habitat Preferences
Aquatic and Wetland: Ponds or lakes Shallow pools Sloughs Swales or wet ditches Seasonally inundated areas Marshes or swamps Aquatic bed wetlands Emergent wetlands Scrub-shrub wetlands Forested wetlands Bogs, fens Seeps, springs Shorelines and Riparian: Lake shores Bog margins Streams or rivers Stream or river banks Riparian corridors River bars Floodplains Bottomlands Alluvial areas	Saltwater Areas: In or near saltwater Mud flats Tidal areas Estuaries Saltmarshes Brackish water Seashores Coastal dunes or beaches Rocky or Gravelly Areas: Coastal bluffs Cliffs Rocky slopes Outcrops Crevices Glacial outwash Gullies Slide areas Sub-alpine and Alpine: Heaths Snow beds Tundra Avalanche tracks	Forests and Thickets: Forests and woods Open forests Coniferous forests Old growth forests Deciduous forests Mixed forests Nurse logs Forest edges, openings, or clearings Thickets Meadows and Fields: Pastures or fields Meadows or grassy areas Mossy areas Disturbed Areas: Roadsides Trailsides Logged sites Burned areas Disturbed sites

Wildlife Value

Berries

Seeds

Nectar for hummingbirds

Nectar for butterflies

Host for insect larvae

Thickets and shelter

Thorny or protective cover

Birds: The serviceberries are eaten by woodpeckers, crows, chickadees, thrushes, towhees, bluebirds, waxwings, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, goldfinches, juncos, grouse, and pheasants.
Insects: The nectar is used by spring azure butterflies. The foliage is eaten by swallowtail and other butterfly larvae.
Mammals: Mammals that eat the berries include chipmunks, marmots, skunks, foxes, ground squirrels, raccoons, and bear. Deer and elk browse the leaves and twigs.

Ethnobotanical Uses and Other Facts

Food Uses: The blue-purple berries are edible and sweet.
Landscape Uses: Nice fall foliage.

Suggested References

Jacobson A.L. 2001. Wild Plants of Greater Seattle. Published by author. Page 102.
Link, R. 1999. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 254.
Lyons, C., W. Merilees. Trees and Shrubs to Know in Washington and British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 141.
Pojar, J., A. Mackinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 72.

The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from the Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.