Tree Serviceberry Seeds

currently unavailable Fast Growing Selection-Tree Like Growth-Reddish Purple Great Tasting Berries

I received this large tree selection from seedlings purchased through an east coast wholesale nursery called Hess  about 40 years ago. It was listed as a hybrid and I grew the plants on my farm for other edible wild enthusiasts at the time. It was an east coast form different than the Michigan ones I had and possibly had a different type of fruit. What I found was a very nice seedling trees with clean foliage and excellent fruit production. It was a favorite of the birds. The reddish purple fruit is very sweet and makes a delicious sauce. In the meantime, the parent tree produced numerous seedlings which were even faster growing than the parent so I separated them out and planted them out and waited a decade for them to fruit and evaluate. They are very much like the parent and essentially true to type from seed. Interesting in that this plant produces fruits with few seeds.  The trees are very vigorous and the fastest growing of any serviceberry I have propagated from seed. Can be pruned easily to a single trunk. 

This seed selection could further be evaluated and named and grown from cuttings. It is the size of the tree that is most apparent. For this reason, I have one seedling I selection due to its size and delicious purple fruit. But in general, a larger grow out of the seedlings would allow for stronger more vigorous trees with heavy fruit production without sprays needs for insect or diseases. 

'Varietal:   "Blue Sky"   Selection based on tall growth habit, heavy fruiting and fast growth habit. The purple fruit is delicious. One of the most tree like of the Amelanchiers and is one of the most vigorous seedlings I found in one of my grow outs from Hess. I am not sure this is actually a hybrid as hybrids in this genus can easily be mis-identified but for now leaving as it is. Scions will be available with the seeds during the dormant season.

To germinate the seeds: Very similar to apple seeds and should be treated like so. Seeds should not be too dried to germinate properly. The seeds need a cold period of 90-120 days of cold and moisture to germinate. Putting in a zip lock bag with light moisture is ideal. Remove after 120 days and seeds will sprout quickly. Seeds are susceptible to damp off so careful on over watering. Seeds can take two years but usually only a portion are like that. Lightly covering the seeds and keeping moist is a good idea in early spring when the weather is cool. This is the ideal conditions to grow these seedlings and is similar in all Amelanchier from seed.