Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Diablo Ninebark - TreeTime.ca

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Diablo Ninebark

Amelanchier alnifolia Smoky

Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry)
Diablo Ninebark

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.

Diablo Ninebark is a small, low maintenance, multi-stemmed shrub, that is used to add texture or color to any yard. This plant grows dark purple leaves in the spring and grows slightly faster than Common Ninebark. It features flaky red to brown bark, clusters of white flowers, and long, maple-like leaves. Diablo Ninebark can make a dense and colorful hedge, or it can be an attractive ornamental by itself.

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) Quick Facts

Diablo Ninebark Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 4 m (14 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: reddish-purple
Fall colour: orange to red
Fall colour: yellow
Bark: brown to red, exfoliating
Flowers: white
Berries: produces large edible berries great for eating raw
Berries: red
Seeds: inflated seed capsules
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, YT, NT
Other Names: alder-leaf shadbush, dwarf shadbush, pacific serviceberry, pigeon berry, smokey saskatoon, smokey serviceberry, western juneberry, western serviceberry
Other Names: eastern ninebark, purple ninebark