Saskatoon Berry Tree Seeds | Saskatoon Serviceberry | (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Saskatoon Berry Tree Seeds | Saskatoon Serviceberry | (Amelanchier alnifolia)
The berry that fed the frontier. The shrub that feeds everything else.
Amelanchier alnifolia, the Saskatoon Berry, is one of the most productive and ecologically valuable native shrubs in North America. It produces sweet, blueberry-like fruit early in the season and supports pollinators, birds, and wildlife from spring through winter. With early white blooms, cold-hardiness, and adaptability to tough conditions, it earns its place in any functional landscape.
- Produces sweet, blueberry-like fruit early in summer
- Critical early-season nectar source for bees and pollinators
- Extremely cold-hardy, thriving to zone 2
- High wildlife value; berries feed dozens of bird and animal species
- Drought-tolerant and adaptable to a wide range of soils
Things You Probably Didn’t Know
It helped sustain entire cultures.
Saskatoon Berries were a key ingredient in pemmican, a nutrient-dense food relied on by Indigenous peoples for survival during long winters and travel.
It gave a city its name.
The city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is named after this plant, derived from the Cree word misâskwatômina.
It blooms before almost everything else.
Often flowering while snow is still on the ground, it provides essential early nectar for pollinators emerging from winter.
The fruit is highly nutritious.
Saskatoon Berries are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and minerals like iron and magnesium, making them comparable to or exceeding blueberries in nutritional value.
Growing Details
- Botanical Name: Amelanchier alnifolia
- Stratification: Required; 90 days cold moist stratification
- USDA Zones: 2–7
- Soil: Adaptable; prefers well-drained loamy or sandy soil
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Height: 6–15 feet
- Spread: 6–12 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate (1–2 ft/year)
Plant it at the edge of a field or along a fence line and let it feed the bees in spring, you in summer, and the birds all winter long.
FAQ
FAQ
Do you pre-stratify the seeds?
Most of our seeds are not pre-stratified. They are stored under dry, cold conditions to preserve viability without initiating stratification, allowing you to time germination for your local growing season.
The exception is recalcitrant seeds. Because these seeds must remain moist to stay viable, they are kept in moist, cold storage and are therefore in a pre-stratified state. Depending on how long a particular batch has been stored, some may arrive with an emerging radicle and be ready to plant immediately. Radicle development is not guaranteed.
Please refer to the individual product page and included growing instructions for species-specific requirements.
Do any of your seeds need to stay moist? (Recalcitrant seeds)
Yes. Some species we offer, including Chestnut, Hazelnut, and Paw Paw, are recalcitrant and must remain moist to stay viable.
Please refrigerate these seeds immediately upon arrival unless they have already developed a radicle. Seeds with an emerging radicle should be planted promptly.
Do you ship internationally?
No. We currently ship within the United States only.
We previously shipped to Canada, but tariffs, duties, and import fees resulted in customers receiving significant and unpredictable additional charges upon delivery. Because we cannot reliably calculate or absorb these costs, we have suspended shipping to Canada.
At this time, we do not ship to Canada or other international destinations.
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & Packaging
• Hand-packed in resealable kraft paper seed bags
• Stratification and planting instructions included on every seed pack
• Ships within 3–5 business days via USPS within the United States and U.S. territories
Return Policy
Return Policy
Due to the nature of our products, we do not accept returns on seeds.
If your order arrives damaged, contains incorrect items, or is missing items, please contact us within 7 days of delivery so we can resolve the issue.
