Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila
Dwarf service berry
(c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila (Dwarf service berry) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by found at 1400-2600m elevation in Siskiyou, Plumas, and El Dorado counties.
Dwarf service berry is a California native shrub found in the northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains on the eastern slope, inhabiting open, often moist mountain scrub at elevations of 1,400 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate white flowers in clusters of 4 to 8 blossoms, with petals 8 to 12 millimeters long. Growing as a compact shrub 1 to 3 meters tall with an upright form, it develops a sturdy branching structure. Its leaves are distinctive, with blades 10 to 50 millimeters long and 10 to 20 millimeters wide, appearing smooth and glabrous or occasionally with sparse hairs. The shrub produces edible dark fruits approximately 8 to 9 millimeters in diameter, making it both an ornamental and potentially useful landscape plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; found at 1400-2600m elevation in Siskiyou, Plumas, and El Dorado counties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, often moist scrub, mountain slopes
Elevation: 1400-2600 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Plumas, El Dorado, Alpine, Butte, Inyo, Kern, Placer, Shasta, Sierra, Tulare, Mono, Nevada, Lassen, Fresno, Tehama, Mariposa, Trinity
Outside California: to Montana, Colorado
Bloom period
Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila blooms May-Jun.
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 var. pumila native to California?
Yes. Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila bloom?
Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila grow?
Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila occurs in Siskiyou, Plumas, El Dorado, Alpine, Butte, Inyo, Kern, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 1400-2600 m.
What plant family does Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila belong to?
Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila is in the Rosaceae family, genus Amelanchier.
What habitat does Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila grow in?
Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila grows in Open, often moist scrub, mountain slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.