Northwest Native Plants   Western Serviceberry

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Western Service Berry - amelanchier alnifolia

Appearance

  • The bark on the tree is smooth and light gray.
  • The tree grows 1-5 meters high.
  • Berries are dark purple and 10-14 centimeters long.
  • Flowers cluster at end of branches the flowers are pure white.
  • The leaves are blunt tipped nearly circular and are 1-4 centimeters.
 Western Serviceberry

Habitat

  • It grows in swamps, stream banks, wooded wetlands, wet prairies, and a wide range of soil.
 Western Serviceberry

Growth Habit

  • It is a deciduous tree and shrub.
  • The flowers come before the leaves.
  • It's flowers and leaves come in about the first week in May
  • The berries ripen in July

Natural History

  • The Natives ate its berries and so did Lewis and Clark.
  • Also called Saskatoon Berry, June berry, Shadberry, and Shadblow.
  • Lewis and Clark mentioned that some service berry loaves weighed up to fifteen pounds.
  • Birds and bears eat serviceberries.