Plant Details

Amelanchier alnifolia

Serviceberry

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Common names

32 names · 22 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Juneberry[1]
  • Saskatoon[1]
  • Saskatoon Serviceberry[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Serviceberry
  • western serviceberry[1]
Other languages (21)
Dutch
  • Grootvruchtige krentenboompje
  • Saskatoonbes
French
  • Amélanchier à feuilles d'aulne[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 桤叶唐棣[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 榿葉唐棣[1]
Czech
  • muchovník olšolistý[1]
Danish
  • ellebladet bærmispel[1]
Downriver Halkomelem
  • təshnétsәɬp[1]
Estonian
  • lepalehine toompihlakas[1]
Finnish
  • marjatuomipihlaja[1]
German
  • Erlen-Felsenbirne[1]
  • Erlenblättrige Felsenbirne[1]
Japanese
  • サスカトゥーンベリー[1]
Lithuanian
  • Alksnialapė medlieva[1]
Norwegian
  • taggblåhegg[1]
Ojibwe
  • Ozigwaakominaatig (Gozigwaakominagaawanzh)[1]
Polish
  • Świdośliwa olcholistna[1]
  • Świdośliwa zachodnia[1]
Russian
  • Ирга ольхолистная[1]
Secwepemc
  • speqpqéllp[1]
Slovak
  • muchovník jelšolistý[1]
Swedish
  • bärhäggmispel[1]
  • grovsågad häggmispel[1]
  • saskatoonbär[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • sen häggmispel[1]
Ukrainian
  • Ірга вільхолиста[1]
Upriver Halkomelem
  • tushnetsulhp[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Amelanchier alnifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Saskatoon — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Juneberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • western serviceberry — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • amélanchier à feuilles d'aulne — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • muchovník olšolistý — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • taggblåhegg — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • marjatuomipihlaja — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Ирга ольхолистная — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • sen häggmispel — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Erlenblättrige Felsenbirne — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Alksnialapė medlieva — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Ozigwaakominaatig (Gozigwaakominagaawanzh) — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • 桤叶唐棣 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • 榿葉唐棣 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • lepalehine toompihlakas — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • サスカトゥーンベリー — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Saskatoon Serviceberry — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • ellebladet bærmispel — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Świdośliwa olcholistna — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Świdośliwa zachodnia — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • bärhäggmispel — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • grovsågad häggmispel — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • saskatoonbär — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • muchovník jelšolistý — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • təshnétsәɬp — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • tushnetsulhp — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • speqpqéllp — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Ірга вільхолиста — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.
  • Erlen-Felsenbirne — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75415; Amelanchier alnifolia.

General information

Scientific name: Amelanchier alnifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M.Roem. View name reference ↗

Kew accepts this species. Catalogue of Life uses a shorter author citation for the same binomial; this does not indicate a different catalogue plant.

Sources [5]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Amelanchier (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: Serviceberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.91–5.49 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.83–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Dense, Erect, Rounded, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Tea
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Windbreak

Description

Serviceberry is a deciduous shrub or small tree. Its sweet fruits have documented use fresh, dried and cooked.

Sources [1] [2] [3]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/06
Harvest ends: 15/08

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. USDA NRCS / Biota of North America Program Saskatoon — Plant Guide
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Uses and species description

    Source checked on .

  2. Oregon State University, Landscape Plants Amelanchier alnifolia
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Species description and edible fruit

    Source checked on .

  3. North Carolina State University Extension Amelanchier alnifolia — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1432821; name ID 2941205; Amelanchier Medik.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M.Roem.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; Kew accepts this species. Catalogue of Life uses a shorter author citation for the same binomial; this does not indicate a different catalogue plant.

    Source checked on .