Serviceberry

Serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia

It’s Latin name is Amelanchier alnifolia.

It is also known as Saskatoon. Native American Indians used the fruit as a food staple. The fruit can be used in pies and jams. I have yet to find any fruit so I cannot say what they taste like. I think the birds get all of mine. The flowers are bright white and very showy.

My example is a large shrub/small tree. It is growing close to a wetland. I bought ten more plants this spring from the Skagit County Conservation District. They were all one year old plants, or whips. Planted them in, and around, the two front wetlands. It looks like they are all going to make it. Maybe some time in the near future I’ll get some fruit off of them.