Canadian Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), proposed by AKÈNE
🌿 A little-known tree with tasty and abundant small fruits 🌿
Although its berries are often eaten as jelly without knowing where they come from , the Canadian Saskatoon berry remains too little known, despite its incredible generosity and exquisite taste . This shrub native to Quebec, which can reach 5 to 10 meters in height , is covered in fragrant white flowers in the spring, followed in the summer by an abundance of edible red-purple berries . These small fruits, sweet and juicy, are reminiscent of blueberries , but with a subtle hint of almond , and are a real treat for children and lovers of wild fruits .
🌱 Easy to grow, ultra-productive and resistant , the serviceberry grows in full sun as well as partial shade , and adapts to well-drained soils, even clayey and slightly damp . Its flamboyant foliage in autumn also makes it an exceptional ornamental asset .
🥧 What if this tree became a must-have in our gardens and orchards?
Characteristics of the variety
📅 Flowering : April to May
📏 Height : 500 to 1000 cm
🌱 Spacing : 300 cm
☀️ Exposure : Sun, partial shade
🌿 Life cycle : Perennial
🌾 Soil type : Sandy to loamy, well drained
💧 Soil moisture content : Dry to medium
🦌 Deer Resistance : Low
📦 Seeds per packet : 25
Sowing and cultivation
📏 Sowing depth : 3 mm
🌡 Germination time : 30 to 60 days
❄️ Cold stratification : 90 days
⚡ Scarification : Soaking before stratification
🔹 Indoor method (recommended for efficient germination) :
1️⃣ Soak the seeds in room temperature water for 24 hours .
2️⃣ Mix them with moist vermiculite and place them in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for 90 days .
3️⃣ After stratification, sow on the surface of well-drained potting soil , maintaining constant humidity.
4️⃣ Germination can be irregular and take between 30 and 60 days .
🔹 Outdoor method :
🌿 Sow directly in the fall to let winter naturally stratify the seeds.
💧 Make sure the soil is well drained and remains slightly moist.
🌱 Once well rooted, the Saskatoon berry grows quickly and requires little maintenance.
Culinary and medicinal uses
🍇 A little-known but exceptionally delicious fruit
Saskatoon berries are a forgotten treasure! They are sweet, juicy and tasty , perfect for eating fresh, in jam, syrup, in pies or even dried like raisins .
🥧 Kids love it , and once you've tasted it, it's hard to live without it!
💊 Medicinal properties : Rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber , Saskatoon berry is recognized for its benefits on cardiovascular health .
Ecological roles and utilities
🐝 A refuge for pollinators : Its nectar-rich spring flowers attract bees and butterflies .
🐦 A food source for wildlife : Its berries feed many birds , such as cardinals and orioles .
🦋 A host plant for Viceroy and Red Admiral caterpillars , contributing to biodiversity.
🌱 A pioneer tree : Promotes the restoration of degraded areas and the prevention of erosion .
Companion plants
🌿 Blueberry, elderberry, late cherry, alder
Enemy plants
🌿 None known
Why grow Canadian Saskatoon?
🍇 An ultra-productive native tree with delicious fruits
🐝 An asset for pollinators and birds
🍂 Spectacular foliage in the fall
🌱 Easy to grow and resistant to various conditions
🌿 Don't miss out on this little-known gem of our region! Plant a Saskatoon berry and rediscover a sweet, abundant fruit that's perfect for the whole family!
