Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) - TreeTime.ca

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)

Amelanchier alnifolia Smoky

Hippophae rhamnoides l.

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry)
Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)

Smoky Saskatoon is a large deciduous shrub that suckers and produces edible fruit. Smoky Saskatoons are one of the most productive and widely used Saskatoons and have large sweet berries with good yields.

One of the oldest and first good yielding cultivars, a majority of the commercial saskatoon orchards were based on this cultivar until Northline and other cultivars were introduced.

Smoky has slightly smaller fruit than Northline and a milder taste but is not acidic like Pembina, Thiessen or Honeywood.

Sea Buckthorn, aka Seaberry, is a nitrogen fixing shrub that produces attractive berries high in vitamin C.

While we can't confirm claims that the berries are effective in treating various ailments, many people believe consuming the berries helps with arthritis, infections, and asthma, among other things.

Sea Buckthorn plants have attractive pale silvery-green leaves, dense branches, and large thorns, people like to grow in ornamental hedges or as a first row in a shelterbelt.

Note: these plants typically reach maturity and make their sex easily known (females producing fruit) in their 3rd or 4th year of growth. Our seedlings are too young to identify their sex.

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) Quick Facts

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $7.89 - SAVE UP TO 28%
Lowest Price: $1.49 - SAVE UP TO 75%
Zone: 1a
Zone: 2b
Height: 4 m (14 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: orange to red
Berries: produces large edible berries great for eating raw
Berries: small, edible
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: high


In row spacing: 0.9 - 1.2 m (3 - 4 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)


Other Names: alder-leaf shadbush, dwarf shadbush, pacific serviceberry, pigeon berry, smokey saskatoon, smokey serviceberry, western juneberry, western serviceberry
Other Names: sallowthorn, sandthorn, seaberry