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Amelanchier stolonifera - Wiegand.

Common Name Quebec Berry, Running serviceberry
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry acid rocky or sandy open habitats[43].
Range Eastern N. America
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Amelanchier stolonifera Quebec Berry, Running serviceberry


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Amelanchier stolonifera Quebec Berry, Running serviceberry
(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Amelanchier stolonifera is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. spicata. non (Lam.)K.Koch.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Edible fruit - raw or cooked[3, 101, 105]. Sweet and juicy with a good flavour that has a hint of apple[1, 11, 183, K]. The plant usually yields very well in Britain and the well-flavoured fruit means that it has excellent potential as a commercial crop[K] The fruit is rich in iron and copper[226].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Tonic

The root bark has been used as a tonic[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Dislikes calcareous soils[11]. Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[1, 200] but thrives in any soil that is not too water-logged[11]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates dry soils[200]. All members of this genus have edible fruits and, whilst this is dry and uninteresting in some species, in many others it is sweet and juicy. Many of the species have potential for use in the garden as edible ornamentals. The main draw-back to this genus is that birds adore the fruit and will often completely strip a tree before it is fully ripe[K]. Produces suckers quite freely, the plant forms thickets. When propagated by these suckers, the new plants can begin producing a crop of fruit in their second year[K]. The sub-species A. stolonifera micropetala was seen growing in dappled shade at Hilliers Arboretum in early April 1999. It was about 2 metres tall, suckering freely with some suckers more than 50cm from the parent plant, and flowering freely[K]. Hybridizes with A. arborea, A. bartramiana, A. laevis and A. sanguinea. Grafting onto seedlings of A. lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is sometimes practised in order to avoid the potential problem of hybridizing[1]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a running thicket former forming a colony from shoots away from the crown spreading indefinitely [1-2]. The root pattern is stoloniferous rooting from creeping stems above the ground [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - it is best harvested 'green', when the seed is fully formed but before the seed coat has hardened, and then sown immediately in pots outdoors or in a cold frame. If stored seed is obtained early enough in the autumn, it can be given 4 weeks warm stratification before being left out in the winter and it should then germinate in the spring. Otherwise seed can be very slow to germinate, perhaps taking 18 months or more. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a sheltered outdoor position, planting them out once they are 20cm or more tall. If there is sufficient seed it is best to sow it thinly in an outdoor seedbed[78, 80]. Grow the seedlings on for two years in the seedbed before planting them out into their permanent positions during the winter. Layering in spring - takes 18 months[78]. Division of suckers in late winter. The suckers need to have been growing for 2 years before you dig them up, otherwise they will not have formed roots. They can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, Canada, North America, USA,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Amelanchier alnifoliaSaskatoon, Saskatoon serviceberry, ServiceberryShrub4.0 4-6 MLMHSNM523
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Amelanchier alnifolia semiintegrifoliaPacific ServiceberryShrub3.0 0-0 SLMHSNM511
Amelanchier arboreaDowny Serviceberry, Alabama serviceberry, Juneberry, Common Serviceberry, Downy ServiceberryTree10.0 5-8 SLMHSNM312
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Amelanchier confusa Shrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM500
Amelanchier humilisLow serviceberryShrub1.8 4-8  LMHSNM30 
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Amelanchier laevisAllegheny Shadberry, Allegheny serviceberry, Smooth ServiceberryShrub9.0 5-8 MLMHSNM512
Amelanchier lamarckiiApple ServiceberryShrub6.0 3-3  LMHSNM500
Amelanchier obovalisSouthern Juneberry, Coastal serviceberryTree1.5 5-9  LMHSNM301
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Amelanchier sanguineaRoundleaf Serviceberry, Gaspé serviceberryShrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNDM30 
Amelanchier spicata Shrub2.0 4-8  LMHSNM30 
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

Wiegand.

Botanical References

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Subject : Amelanchier stolonifera  
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