No consensus exists regarding the enumeration of North American Amelanchier taxa. In eastern North America, most floras and regional treatments have roughly the corresponding number (although sometimes not the same species) as G. N. Jones (1946); though often substantial differences of opinion exist regarding circumscriptions of individual taxa. Disagreement is deeper for western North America, for which Jones had seven species and P. Landry (1975) had but one.
Identification of individual taxa can be difficult because of the variability within each species. In addition, some species have not diverged much from one another genetically.
In general, we are following the treatment in the Flora of North America[]. However, we are including this species here at present (even though the Flora of N. America treats it as a synonym of Amelanchier spicata) because it is still recognized as distinct in several other floras and we are growing a particularly good fruiting specimen of it[].

Common Name: Quebec Berry

General Information

Amelanchier stolonifera is a deciduous shrub growing around 1 - 3 metres tall. The plant suckers freely, forming a dense clump of stems[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and sometimes as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America

Habitat

Dry acid rocky or sandy open habitats[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Dislikes calcareous soils[]. Prefers a rich loamy soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[, ] but thrives in any soil that is not too water-logged[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates dry soils[].
All members of this genus have edible fruits and, whilst this is dry and uninteresting in some species, in many others it is sweet and juicy. Many of the species have potential for use in the garden as edible ornamentals. The main draw-back to this genus is that birds adore the fruit and will often completely strip a tree before it is fully ripe[].
Produces suckers quite freely, the plant forms thickets. When propagated by these suckers, the new plants can begin producing a crop of fruit in their second year[].
The sub-species Amelanchier stolonifera micropetala was seen growing in dappled shade at Hilliers Arboretum, England in early April 1999. It was about 2 metres tall, suckering freely with some suckers more than 50cm from the parent plant, and flowering freely[].
Hybridizes with Amelanchier arborea, Amelanchier bartramiana, Amelanchier laevis and Ame;amchier sanguinea.
Grafting onto seedlings of Amelanchier lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is sometimes practised in order to avoid the potential problem of hybridizing[].

Edible Uses

Edible fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. Sweet and juicy with a good flavour that has a hint of apple[, , , ]. The plant usually yields very well in Britain and the well-flavoured fruit means that it has excellent potential as a commercial crop[] The fruit is rich in iron and copper[].

Medicinal

The root bark has been used as a tonic[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - it is best harvested 'green', when the seed is fully formed but before the seed coat has hardened, and then sown immediately in pots outdoors or in a cold frame. If stored seed is obtained early enough in the autumn, it can be given 4 weeks warm stratification before being left out in the winter and it should then germinate in the spring. Otherwise seed can be very slow to germinate, perhaps taking 18 months or more. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a sheltered outdoor position, planting them out once they are 20cm or more tall.
If there is sufficient seed it is best to sow it thinly in an outdoor seedbed[, ]. Grow the seedlings on for two years in the seedbed before planting them out into their permanent positions during the winter.
Layering in spring - takes 18 months[].
Division of suckers in late winter. The suckers need to have been growing for 2 years before you dig them up, otherwise they will not have formed roots. They can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required.