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Amelanchier stolonifera

Dwarf Serviceberry · Dwarf Shadbush · Running Serviceberry

Family RosaceaeGenus Amelanchier

A branch carrying loose clusters of white five-petalled flowers with green centers, among fresh oval leaves
FlowerCephasCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteRead from the photograph on this page
Native range
Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • This low juneberry, a hybrid of Amelanchier alnifolia and Amelanchier humilis, bears edible fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked. Native to North America and very hardy, it is considered invasive in Scandinavia. Wikipedia: Amelanchier × spicata

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 7, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 6, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 4 days.

59% germination in 2–4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Amelanchier p. 13Public domain
Show the original text
Amelanchier (Rosaceae). All three species gave similar behavior. A. stolonifera germ. 70D-40-70D-40-70D(59% in 2-4 d) and 40-70D(40% jn 2- 10 d). The remaining seeds rotted so that no further germination wóuld occur. All rotted in either OT or 70 GA-3. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Amelanchier p. 13. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 26, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 10 days.

40% germination in 2–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Amelanchier p. 13Public domain
Show the original text
Amelanchier (Rosaceae). All three species gave similar behavior. A. stolonifera germ. 70D-40-70D-40-70D(59% in 2-4 d) and 40-70D(40% jn 2- 10 d). The remaining seeds rotted so that no further germination wóuld occur. All rotted in either OT or 70 GA-3. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Amelanchier p. 13. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 7, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 6, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

Steps after step 5 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 4 days.

60% germination in 2–4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Amelanchier p. 19Public domain
Show the original text
Amelanchier (Rosaceae). All seeds were WC 7 d, all experiments were conducted in the dark, and neither GA-3 or OT initiated germination. A. stolonifera germ 40-70(40% in 2-20 d)-40-70-40-70 and 70-40-70-40- 70(60% in 2-4 d)-40. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Amelanchier p. 19. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 16, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 20 days.

40% germination in 2–20 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Amelanchier p. 19Public domain
Show the original text
Amelanchier (Rosaceae). All seeds were WC 7 d, all experiments were conducted in the dark, and neither GA-3 or OT initiated germination. A. stolonifera germ 40-70(40% in 2-20 d)-40-70-40-70 and 70-40-70-40- 70(60% in 2-4 d)-40. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Amelanchier p. 19. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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