Spacing for Amelanchier Alnifolia

Plant Size and Selection

• Saskatoon serviceberry typically grows 6 to 12 feet tall with a 6- to 10-foot spread, but there are several smaller varieties and cultivars available. The cultivar "Regent" grows 4 to 6 feet tall with a 4- to 6-foot spread. This hardy cultivar grows in USDA zones 2 through 7. The dwarf serviceberry variety pumila, (Amelanchier alnifolia var. pumila) grows just 3 to 5 feet tall with a 3- to 5-foot spread and is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8.

Landscape Uses

• Before determining how far apart to space Saskatoon serviceberry plants, decide how you will use this shrub in the garden. This deciduous shrub has fragrant white flowers in spring and edible, glossy berries in summer and fall. The multi-stem growth habit of Saskatoon serviceberry works well for hedge planting or with other shrubs in a naturalized border area. While not generally used as a specimen plant, the dwarf variety can make an attractive accent shrub for rock gardens.

Spacing Hedges

• To create a dense hedge, space low-growing dwarf Saskatoon serviceberry plants 18 inches apart. For the "Regent" cultivar and the standard Saskatoon serviceberry, space 3 to 4 feet apart to create a dense hedge without overcrowding the plants. Saskatoon serviceberry makes a thick hedge or visual screen during the growing season, but the deciduous leaves drop in fall leaving the dense twigs bare until spring.

Landscape Spacing

• For a mass planting or when adding Saskatoon serviceberry to shrub borders, space dwarf varieties 3 feet apart and larger varieties 7 to 8 feet apart. When planting Saskatoon serviceberry shrubs around buildings, determine the mature width of the variety you are planting and divide in half. Position the center of the planting hole half the width of the shrub. In general, space dwarf varieties 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 feet from the structure. For a standard variety, leave about 6 feet between the new shrub and structure or more.