Alternate name: Saskatoon, Saskatoon Serviceberry, Juneberry

Family: Rosaceae, Rose view all from this family

Description Shrub or small tree, usually with several trunks, and with star-shaped white flowers.
Height: 30' (9 m).
Diameter: 8" (20 cm).
Leaves: 3/4-2" (2-5 cm) long and almost as broad. Broadly elliptical to nearly round; rounded at both ends; coarsely toothed above middle; usually with 7-9 straight veins on each side. Dark green and becoming hairless above, paler and hairy when young beneath.
Bark: gray or brown; thin, smooth or slightly fissured.
Twigs: red-brown; slender, hairless.
Flowers: 3/4-1 1/4" (2-3 cm) wide; with 5 narrow white petals; in small, terminal clusters; in spring with leaves.
Fruit: 1/2" (12 mm) in diameter; like a small apple, purple or blackish, edible, juicy and sweet with several seeds; in early summer.

Habitat Moist soils in forests and openings.

Range Central Alaska southeast to Manitoba, W. Minnesota, Colorado, and west to N. California; local east to SE. Quebec; to 6000' (1829 m).

Discussion The fruit of this and related species are eaten fresh, prepared in puddings, pies, and muffins, and dried like raisins and currants. They are also an important food for wildlife from songbirds to squirrels and bears. Deer and livestock browse the foliage, although in concentrated doses the twigs and leaves, which contain cyanide compounds can fatally poison these animals.