Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) 30 Seeds

Description

Serviceberry is commonly called Shadberry.  It is a deciduous, early-flowering, tall shrub that features showy, 5-petaled, slightly fragrant, white flowers in drooping clusters which appear before the leaves emerge in early spring.  Flowers give way to small, round, green berries which turn red and finally mature to a dark purplish-black in early summer. The sweet, edible berries resemble blueberries in size and color, but have fewer and larger seeds that have an almond-like flavor.
Hardy in zones 3 – 6.
Many growers scarify seeds, planting them in a medium containing equal parts perlite, peat and vermiculite, and chilling them at 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit for three to six months.
Plant non-scarified seeds directly in prepared growing in late fall in full sun or part shade at a depth of 1/4 inch. Scarified seeds should be planted in the spring. Germination may take as long as eighteen months. Growth rate depends on species, variety and growing conditions. Water seedlings regularly during dry spells.