Rosaceae / Amelanchier sp. (A. utahensis, A. alnifolia) / Serviceberry

Ahhhhh, its almost Serviceberry season! While I used to simply regard them as a placeholder for blueberries, finding more-tasty individual bushes in the wild (they can be hit or miss) and growing our own has been a game-changer.

The easiest way to distinguish a Sierran Serviceberry between the plethora of other forest shrubbery are their unique leaves. Simple and mostly entire, abruptly switching it up at roughly the halfway mark to serrated edges.

They take the form of multitrunked shrubs or less frequently, small trees. Sometimes reaching up to 15 feet in height. to Stems are nothing special; a grey- to reddish-brown that blends in seamlessly to it’s surroundings. The gorgeous 5-petaled white flowers are classically Rose Family. Each containing 5 styles, 10-20 stamens, and an inferior ovary. These eventually produce dark purple, blueberry-like pome fruits.

We have two species in our area; A. alnifolia and A. utahensis. These are primarily differentiated by the hairy twigs, leaves, and ovary in A. utahensis and the glabrous/smooth counterparts of A. alnifolia.

Where it is plentiful, it is an important component to the winter diet of many species of animal. Browsing everything from the berry to the twigs, reliance on this plant is most substantial when snow is at it’s deepest.

While the leaves make an excellent tea; these are often an afterthought when we are loaded with pounds of the berries each fall. Like many Roseaceae family plants, taste is markedly improved after a frost or two. We love them dried and frozen throughout the year and of course, fresh right off the bush.