Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Peking Cotoneaster - TreeTime.ca

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) vs Peking Cotoneaster

Amelanchier alnifolia Smoky

Cotoneaster acutifolia

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

(new stock expected: fall of 2027)

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry)
Peking Cotoneaster

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.

Peking Cotoneaster is a medium-sized shrub that is well adapted to colder climates. Best suited for use as a hedge, Peking Cotoneaster has dark green foliage that turns a stunning reddish orange in the fall.

Hardy fruit guru, Bernie Nikolai (DBG Fruit Growers), has started to recommend grafting hardy pear varieties to Peking Cotoneaster after his experiences were successful and produced fruit faster than other rootstocks. Remember to leave some nurse limbs if you try this.

Smoky Saskatoon (Serviceberry) Quick Facts

Peking Cotoneaster Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 4 m (14 ft)
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 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: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: glossy upper surface
Fall colour: orange to red
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Flowers: white, spring
Berries: produces large edible berries great for eating raw
Berries: black fruit
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
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