Native Plant of the Month: Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
By Erica Guttman &
Nalini Nadkarni
By May, we’ve already witnessed the emergence of spring flowers on osoberry, salmonberry, currant, and various cherries that herald the coming warm months. Just as we’ve begun to take spring for granted, the bright white clusters of serviceberry flowers burst forth to remind us how blessed we are with an abundance of native flowering trees and shrubs.
What’s in a Name?
The scientific name for serviceberry is Amelanchier alnifolia. Amelanchier is of French origin, and refers to the French plant Amelanchier ovalis. The specific name, alnifolia, means “alder-like foliage.” This plant provides us with a good example of the advantages of scientific names over common names. In the East, it’s often called “shadbush”; Canadians call it “Saskatoon berry”; and the British refer to it as “snowy mespilus.”
Local naturalist Jean MacGregor recently shared with us the origins of some of these common names. The “shadbush” appellation refers to the running of the shad, which occurs at the same time the plant blooms. Less straightforward, in Southern regions, “serviceberry” derived from the plant’s blooming as an indication that the ground was sufficiently thawed to bury all who had died over the winter.
General Description
Serviceberry is a small tree or shrub (often called a “shrub-tree”) that generally grows to about six to ten feet at low elevations. It has smooth, dark-gray to reddish bark and a slender trunk.
Certainly, the showy flowers on this little tree are what usually catch the eye of a first-time observer. These open into compact clusters of 3 to 20 flowers, 1.5 to 2 inches across, with the five petals typical of other plants in the rose family (Rosaceae). These flowers develop into the fruits that ripen to a deep purple-black.
The graceful leaves merit as much attention as the flowers. Their shape is generally oval to almost round, and they provide one of the surest clues to successful identification. They have small but prominent teeth along the top part of their margins, but the margins are smooth along the bottom part. In the fall, these leaves put on a colorful show of bright reds and yellows before dropping off.
Those with a penchant for winter twig identification can find further delight in serviceberry’s beautiful buds: slender, curving, and covered with multi-colored scales ranging from deep purple to green.
Distribution & Ecology
Various species and varieties of Amelanchier can be found throughout North America, with subtle differences in appearance and fruit characteristics. Serviceberry is common but not abundant in our area. It is usually seen along forest edges, or in dry to moist open forests. When out for a woodland walk, you are likely to encounter one or two plants near each other, and then not see any others for some distance. Serviceberry is also commonly found within oak woodlands associated with our native prairies, and may be found along rocky shores and marine bluffs. Generally, it prefers well drained soils, and our local varieties, “humptulipensis” and “semiintegrifolia” are found at middle to low elevations.
In the Landscape
Serviceberry is a prized, but under-appreciated, landscape plant. Arthur Kruckeberg, author of the “bible” on native plant gardening in the Pacific Northwest, expresses the sentiment succinctly: “With superior foliage, flower, and fruit, our native serviceberry merits wider use in the garden. English gardeners learned about it a long time ago.”
Serviceberry presents gardeners with many placement options. It does well in full sun to partial shade, and in well-drained, moist or dry soils. It’s a beautiful accompaniment within a stand of conifers, can stand alone as a showy shrub in a smaller space, or might be the answer to tricky landscaping on a dry hillside. Many nurseries will sell varieties that have been bred to enhance the showiness of the flowers or the juiciness of the fruits. If you’re looking for a truly local serviceberry, you should ask about its origin.
Ethnobotany
Throughout North America, the fruits of serviceberry have long been prized. On the Great Plains, it was a staple in pemmican, a concoction of berries and animal fats and meat that sustained people over long journeys. Berries from the East are reputed to be sweeter and juicier than our local varieties, which have numerous small seeds inside and have been described as “neither sweet nor juicy” by noted naturalist Eugene Kozloff. Nevertheless, many locals (including us!) enjoy the fruits’ pleasant taste eaten raw or in jam.
In addition to the fruits, Native Americans used the wood for arrows, digging sticks, and drying racks.
References
Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest. E. Kozloff. 1976. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. J. Pojar & A. MacKinnon. 1994. Lone Pine Publishing, Redmond, WA.
Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. A. Kruckeberg. 1982. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA.
Grow Your Own Native Landscape. M. Leigh. 1997. Native Plant Salvage Project/WSU Cooperative Extension — Thurston County.
Northwestern Wild Berries. J.E. Underhill. 1980. Hancock House Publishers, Inc., Blaine, WA.
Plants and Their Names. R. Hyam & R. Pankhurst. 1995. Oxford University Press, New York.
Susan Buis, Sound Native Plants. Personal communication, April 1999.
Erica Guttman is the program coordinator of the Native Plant Salvage Project. Nalini Nadkarni is a forest ecologist and faculty member at The Evergreen State College. Both are Green Pages staff writers.