Amelanchier alnifolia |
Native Region: northwestern North America
Zone Range: 04-05
Preferred Climate: temperate
Harvest Date: Sunday 22 July, 2012
Seed count: 25-30
Description:
This deciduous shrub has oval leaves that turn bright red or yellow in autumn. Bears pure white flowers in racemes up to 3 inches long in late spring, followed by small purple-black fruit. Height and spread 12 feet. With a sweet nutty taste, the fruits have long been eaten by Canada's Aboriginal people as pemmican, a preparation of dried meat to which saskatoon berries are added as flavour and preservative. They are also often used in pies, jam, wines, cider, beers and sugar-infused berries similar to dried cranberries used for cereals, trail mix and snack foods.
Notes:
Although the popularity of this berry has resulted in many common names over the years, in the hearts and minds of most Canadians, it's still known as the Saskatoon Berry. And, in case you were wondering, the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is named after the berry, not the other way around.
Cultivation:
Keep seed refrigerated until ready to sow. Sow seed in a seedbed as soon as ripe. Grow in acidic, fertile, moist yet well-drained soil in sun or part shade.
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