Flower profile
Saskatoon
Amelanchier alnifolia
Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) is a shrub or small tree in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.
Saskatoon is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Quick look
Amelanchier alnifolia, the saskatoon berry, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, western shadbush, or western juneberry, is a shrub native to North America. It is a member of the rose family, and bears an edible berry-like fruit.
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 16 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. NatureServe
- In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 15 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 3,343 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #53 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,287 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #71 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,888 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #7 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Native | April–May | 3,343 |
| Oregon | Native | April–May | 2,287 |
| Montana | Native | May–June | 1,888 |
| Idaho | Native | April–May | 615 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
- Oregon
- Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
- Montana
- No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Montana.
- Idaho
- No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IA (S1), WI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “The fruit is edible” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records saskatoon in 16 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Washington counties with USDA records: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.
Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.
Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Blaine, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Granite, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powell, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Stillwater, Teton, Treasure, Valley, Wibaux.
Growing conditions
USDA PLANTS gives Saskatoon a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.8 to 8.4 and winter lows down to -62 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- Medium
- Drought tolerance
- Low
- Moisture use
- Medium
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- coarse, medium, fine
- Soil pH range
- 4.8 to 8.4
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- -62 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 100
- Annual precipitation range
- 12 to 140 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 24 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- Low
- Fertility requirement
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Short
- Active growth period
- Spring and Summer
- Fruit or seed
- Red · Summer to Fall
- Can be propagated by
- bare root, container, cuttings, seed
- Commercial availability
- Routinely Available
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for AMAL2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 397 counties across 15 states; the most are in North Dakota (44), California (39), Washington (39).
Other Amelanchier on Bloomipedia (3): Downy serviceberry, Utah serviceberry, Allegheny serviceberry.
More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.
More Washington flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile AMAL2.
- iNaturalist, Amelanchier alnifolia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Amelanchier alnifolia (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
- Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
- Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
- Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Amelanchier alnifolia (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Piotr Lukasik via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.