Smokey Saskatoon is a large, deciduous, woody shrub. It is a variety of Saskatoon Serviceberry, which is native throughout Canada except for eastern Atlantic provinces. These plants bloom in early spring before the foliage emerges, usually around May. The attractive clusters of creamy white flowers produce dark blue, sweet edible fruit that ripens in June/July. Berries are similar in size to blackcurrants and also appear in clusters. They are soft, juicy and highly nutritious with a few small seeds in the centre. The fruits can be used in jams, juices, pies, or just eaten straight off the branch. Smokey Serviceberry is one of the best yielding varieties and it is self pollinating, so you don’t need other nearby Serviceberry to produce fruit. Often Serviceberry is pruned and maintained as a small ornamental tree in urban environments. This shrub grows vigorously and spreads by forming many suckers (remove suckers early on, if only one contained plant is desired). Serviceberries are easy to grow. They can tolerate a range of conditions from full sun to full shade, dry to wet moisture, and most soil types. Additionally, this plant is native and beneficial for wildlife food and habitat as well as for local pollinator species. These traits make this plant great for naturalization, and riparian soil stabilization in Canada.
