Amelanchier alnifolia
Saskatoon serviceberry
(c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon serviceberry) is a native California shrub / tree in the Rosaceae family, recognized by found in Humboldt, San Bernardino, and Mono counties.
Saskatoon serviceberry is a California native shrub found in northern mountain regions in forest and woodland habitats. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers with delicate ovate petals arranged in clusters. Growing to 1 to 3 meters tall with upright branching and smooth gray-brown twigs, the shrub forms a rounded, multi-stemmed shape. Its leaves are elliptical to round, generally serrated along the upper half, and become smooth in fruit, with blades 2 to 5 centimeters long. The fruit is a small, dark purple edible berry that provides food for wildlife.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; found in Humboldt, San Bernardino, and Mono counties
Habitat and range
California counties: Humboldt, San Bernardino, Mono, Del Norte, Butte, El Dorado, Plumas, Alpine, Alameda, Nevada, Trinity, Napa, Glenn, Modoc, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, Inyo, Calaveras, Lassen, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Marin, Amador, San Diego, Tulare, Sonoma, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Kern
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Prunus has smooth or single-pitted fruits; Amelanchier has berries with papery segments like tiny apples.; vs Symphoricarpos: Symphoricarpos has opposite leaves and white berries; Amelanchier has alternate leaves and blue-black berries.; vs Frangula: Frangula has smooth leaf edges; Amelanchier has finely toothed leaf margins in the upper half.; vs Cercocarpus: Cercocarpus has dry fruits with feathery tails; Amelanchier has juicy blue-black berries.; vs Ceanothus: Ceanothus has dry capsule fruits; Amelanchier has fleshy blue-black berries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amelanchier alnifolia native to California?
Yes. Amelanchier alnifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Amelanchier alnifolia grow?
Amelanchier alnifolia occurs in Humboldt, San Bernardino, Mono, Del Norte, Butte, El Dorado, Plumas, Alpine and other counties.
What plant family does Amelanchier alnifolia belong to?
Amelanchier alnifolia is in the Rosaceae family, genus Amelanchier.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.