Rosaceae (Amelanchier)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Amelanchier

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Rosaceae

Family Common Name:
Rose

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Amelanchier

Species:

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Authors:

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

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Other Information:

Common Name:
serviceberry

Species Code:
AME

Ecotype:
George Washington Memorial Parkway

General Distribution:

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
plants

Propagation Method:
seed

Product Type:
Container (plug)

Stock Type:
1, 2, or 3 gallon container seedlings

Grow Time:
3 Years

Target Specifications:
It took approximately 9 months, including stratification of seeds, for seedlings to reach 1 gallon size and additional 1 to 2 years for roots to fill 2 and 3 gallon containers respectively.
Finished Height: 18-24".
Root system: fibrous, extensive, firm rootball in Spin-Out treated containers.

Propagation Collection:
Collection Date: 6/20/97
Location: George Washington Memorial Parkway, median after Key Bridge

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
Fruit is collected soon after ripening, macerated and washed over screens to remove pulp. (Brinkman, 1974) Extracted seeds are dried and stored in sealed containers in a seed cooler at 40F, 35% relative humidity.

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
Seeds have embryo dormancy and require cold, moist stratification to overcome this. Seedcoats of some species may inhibit germination. (Brinkman, 1974)
Seeds were put in a mesh bag in a container of moist sand, given a fungicide drench, sealed and stratified at 40F for approximately 16 weeks from late October through early March.

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Propagation environment: seedlings were started in the greenhouse. Larger pots are held in an outdoor container nursery under shade.
In early March, stratified seeds were hand-sown into 4"x4" trays filled with a 1:1 mix of screened peat and sand. Media was kept evenly moist.

Establishment Phase:
Germination occurred within a week or two of sowing. Seedlings grew quickly and in 4 weeks had 4 expanded leaves and full, interwoven roots extending to the bottom of the 4"x4" trays. They were teased apart and transplanted individually to 2 1/2" pots in a mix of Sunshine #1 and slow release Nutricote 18-6-8 at 20 oz. per bale of mix. Supplemental water soluble fertilizer was applied at half strength about every two weeks.

Length of Establishment Phase:
About2 months

Active Growth Phase:
Seedlings were bumped up to quarts then to gallon containers within 9 months and grown in a customized woody mix (3.8 cu. ft. Sunshine #1, 4 cu. ft. pine bark mulch, 20 oz. of 180 day controlled release 18-6-8 fertilizer with micros, and endomycorrhizae.)
In the second and third season, plants were bumped up to 2 and 3 gallon pots, successively. Woody mix was used and they were top-dressed as needed with 180 day controlled release 18-6-8 fertilizer with micros following recommended rates. Matching container size to rootball is important as roots may be slow to fill an overly large pot.
Larger containers (gallon and above) spent the growing season in a container nursery shade house under overhead irrigation.

Length of Active Growth Phase:

Hardening Phase:
As the plants in the shade house entered dormancy in the fall, irrigation was decreased.

Length of Hardening Phase:

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Larger container plants (gallon and above) are overwintered outdoors under microfoam. Dead leaves and debris are removed from the containers of dormant plants prior to storage. Pots are watered, overlapped on their sides on weed barrier fabric and covered with a microfoam insulating blanket. Rodenticide baits are placed at intervals under the blanket to discourage gnawing rodents. The microfoam is then anchored.

Length of Storage:
early December to Mid-March

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:

References:
Brinkman, K. A. 1974. Amelanchier. In: Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States. Forest Service, USDA. Agricultural Handbook 450. Washington, DC. 212-215.
Brown, Russell G. and Melvin L. Brown. 1992. Woody Plants of Maryland. Port City Press, Baltimore, MD.
Dirr, Michael A. and Charles W. Heuser, Jr. 1987. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Varsity Press, Inc., Athens, GA.
Gleason, Henry A. and Arthur Cronquist. 1963. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. D. Van Nostrand Company, New York, NY.
USDA-NRCS National Plant Materials Center. Unpublished records and data.

Citation:
Davis, Kathy; Kujawski, Jennifer. 2007. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Amelanchier plants 1, 2, or 3 gallon container seedlings; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/06/13). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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