Description
Amelanchier alnifolia is best-known as the Saskatoon berry but is also called the western or alder leaved serviceberry. It is a super hardy medium sized to large deciduous shrub that produces lovely white flowers in spring followed by tasty blue to purple-black fruit in summer that can be used in jams, jellies, pies, and herbal teas. The fruit has a similar nutrient profile to blueberries and was an important food for First Nations peoples who added the berries to dried meat to make pemmican. It is also an important larval host to the caterpillars of various swallowtail butterfly species. The fruit is eaten by birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. ‘Thiessen’ ripens early but over a long period of time perfect for regular picking for breakfast and snacks. Highly productive, the fruit is large with excellent flavour. Low suckering. Photo: Wikipedia.
