Autumn Brilliance Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Sweet Gale - TreeTime.ca

Autumn Brilliance Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Sweet Gale

Myrica gale

Amelanchier x grandiflora Autumn Brilliance

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Sweet Gale
Autumn Brilliance Saskatoon (Serviceberry)

Sweet Gale is a native, nitrogen-fixing shrub known for its aromatic foliage. Tiny glands on the leaves release a balmy, bay leaf-like scent with floral and citrus notes. In spring, the yellowish male catkins provide one of the earliest sources of pollen for bees and other insects. While later in the season, the female catkins produce seeds that are eaten by waterfowl. Sweet Gale is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants.

Sweet Gale thrives in wet, acidic soils and is commonly found along wetlands and lakeshores. It can help stabilize shorelines, while its dense growth provides valuable cover for wildlife. It is well-suited for naturalization, wetland restoration, and erosion control projects.

Prized for its brilliant orange-red fall color and disease resistance, this exceptionally bright tree is an excellent focal point for your garden. In the spring, clusters of fragrant white flowers give way to edible purplish black fruit that is heavenly in jams, jellies and pies. Use this Saskatoon in shrub borders or as a small tree.

Sweet Gale Quick Facts

Autumn Brilliance Saskatoon (Serviceberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, thicket-forming
Spreading: suckering - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: medium


Foliage: dotted with yellow glands, sweet scented
Fall colour: yellow
Fall colour: gold to red
Bark: reddish-purple, dotted with yellow glands
Berries: deep purple and sweet
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, YT, NT
Other Names: bog myrtle, meadow-fern, sweet bayberry, sweetgale