Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Arnold Hawthorn - TreeTime.ca

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Arnold Hawthorn

Crataegus arnoldiana

Amelanchier alnifolia Smoky

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Arnold Hawthorn
Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry)

Arnold Hawthorn is a low-branched tree favored by wildlife and landscapers. This tree's beautiful white flowers and bright red berries make it an attractive ornamental in anyone's yard. Arnold Hawthorn is also used in windbreaks and riparian planting.

Despite its thorns, Arnold Hawthorn is a popular choice of food and shelter for deer and birds. Humans can also eat these berries fresh or preserved, but Arnold Hawthorn will not have high yields until it matures at 5-8 years.

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.

Arnold Hawthorn Quick Facts

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 4 m (14 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: yellow
Fall colour: orange to red
Bark: gray to brown
Flowers: white
Berries: red pomes about 1 cm in diameter
Berries: produces large edible berries great for eating raw
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