Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a tough, versatile, adaptable native plant. This plant is often used for shelterbelts and windbreaks in the West and Central states.
This plant is also known as western serviceberry, juneberry, and serviceberry. This is also called shadblow because it blooms when the shad are beginning to spawn. Sometimes, these are also called pigeon berries.
It is suitable for zones 2 through 6, and is about as hardy as the other species of serviceberry.
Tending to form thickets, the plant is common in the western mountains where it grows on rocky slopes along stream banks. Saskatoon doesn’t thrive in the eastern areas where humidity is high, which can result in foliar diseases. It grows in dry to moist sites.
Saskatoon is a low shrub with upright branches. Relatively low growing, this is typically 4 to 19 feet in height. However, it can possibly reach 20 feet in height with an equal spread. This plant is shrubby rather than a tree.
It spreads by rhizomes. Birds are very fond of these fruits. The seeds are spread around in bird droppings. These fruits are also a favorite for jams and preserves because the saskatoons are larger than the fruits of the other serviceberry species. The berries also make great pies. These taste somewhat like blueberries.
The cultivar called Regent is a very fruitful plant that is only about 4 to 6 feet in height. The berries ripen during the summer. The leaves of Regent saskatoon provide some yellow fall color.
Saskatoon offers seasonal interest for several months of the year. The white blooms open in early spring. The drooping blossoms appear on racemes containing 6 to 8 flowers. These scented bloom contain strap-like petals.
The berries provide color in the summer. Later, the leaves bring some fall color.
Saskatoon berries are ½ inch wide, and ripen to purple-red. These are more flavorful than those of the other service berries. They ripen about a week earlier than the eastern service berries.
Somewhat round to elliptic, the leaves are 1 to 4 inches wide. These resemble elm foliage, which explains the Latin species name. The foliage is coarsely textured with irregularly toothed edges.
Growing Saskatoon
Saskatoon plants are readily available. Both Nature Hills Nursery and Gurney’s list them. Regent serviceberry plants are also available.
Saskatoon and other serviceberries are easy to grow. They are suited to most soils so long as it isn’t very dry.
The plants prefer moist conditions, so water them as needed. Serviceberries grow well in sun and part shade. Pruning is seldom needed.
This plant is also known as western serviceberry, juneberry, and serviceberry. This is also called shadblow because it blooms when the shad are beginning to spawn. Sometimes, these are also called pigeon berries.
It is suitable for zones 2 through 6, and is about as hardy as the other species of serviceberry.
Tending to form thickets, the plant is common in the western mountains where it grows on rocky slopes along stream banks. Saskatoon doesn’t thrive in the eastern areas where humidity is high, which can result in foliar diseases. It grows in dry to moist sites.
Saskatoon is a low shrub with upright branches. Relatively low growing, this is typically 4 to 19 feet in height. However, it can possibly reach 20 feet in height with an equal spread. This plant is shrubby rather than a tree.
It spreads by rhizomes. Birds are very fond of these fruits. The seeds are spread around in bird droppings. These fruits are also a favorite for jams and preserves because the saskatoons are larger than the fruits of the other serviceberry species. The berries also make great pies. These taste somewhat like blueberries.
The cultivar called Regent is a very fruitful plant that is only about 4 to 6 feet in height. The berries ripen during the summer. The leaves of Regent saskatoon provide some yellow fall color.
Saskatoon offers seasonal interest for several months of the year. The white blooms open in early spring. The drooping blossoms appear on racemes containing 6 to 8 flowers. These scented bloom contain strap-like petals.
The berries provide color in the summer. Later, the leaves bring some fall color.
Saskatoon berries are ½ inch wide, and ripen to purple-red. These are more flavorful than those of the other service berries. They ripen about a week earlier than the eastern service berries.
Somewhat round to elliptic, the leaves are 1 to 4 inches wide. These resemble elm foliage, which explains the Latin species name. The foliage is coarsely textured with irregularly toothed edges.
Growing Saskatoon
Saskatoon plants are readily available. Both Nature Hills Nursery and Gurney’s list them. Regent serviceberry plants are also available.
Saskatoon and other serviceberries are easy to grow. They are suited to most soils so long as it isn’t very dry.
The plants prefer moist conditions, so water them as needed. Serviceberries grow well in sun and part shade. Pruning is seldom needed.
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