[Tweeters] re: Types of Serviceberry

[Scott Downes]

Unlike birds, plants can go by many common names, and Serviceberry is no exception. I've seen in plant field guides as Serviceberry referred to as "Saskatoon" in addition to Serviceberry. The plant in the wild that we are all referring to is Pacific Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). For plants its often helpful to refer to scientific name as that the somewhat constant among plants, while common names can readily change. Though scientific names do change from time to time just like bird sci names do change periodically.

I attached a link to the USDA entry on Serviceberry that may be of interest to some. I believe that the nursery types are cultivars of the native plant (several of the names mentioned are listed under the cultivars of page 4 of the attached). 
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_amals.pdf

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA
 
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