Serviceberry

What’s not to like about early August on PEI?  There’s sandy beaches and warm water, new potatoes and garden vegetables, and wild fruit in abundance. Raspberries and blueberries are nice, but it’s hard to beat Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp)!

Photo 1: Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) flowers in May.

There are at least six different species of Serviceberries on the Island, but I rarely bother to identify them to that level. They are difficult to sort out – especially when not in flower – and can hybridize, creating plants with characteristics of each parent to make things even more confusing. Fortunately, all are edible.

In addition to having many different species, this plant has many different common names. You may know it as Chuckley Pear, Juneberry, Saskatoon Berry, Shadbush, Sugarplum, Wild Pear, Wild Plum, and likely some other names I haven’t heard of.  No matter what you call it, if you know this plant you know it’s delicious.

Serviceberry trees are easiest to spot when they’re flowering in May (Photo 1). The creamy white flowers and rust-coloured leaves stand out in hedgerows and fields, and along roadsides and trails, making them easy to spot even from a distance or at highway speed.  I have a few go-to spots for foraging Serviceberries in late July and early August, but am always on the lookout for new, publicly accessible locations.  Not every tree has a good fruit crop every year, so it’s nice to have a selection of sites.

Photo 2: Delicious Serviceberries are ripe now on PEI.

Those flowers are an important early-season food source for our native Bees and Butterflies, and once pollinated each one begins the slow process of maturing into a sweet, juicy fruit (Photo 2).  This is my favourite wild fruit, hands down. It’s also a favorite of birds from Blue Jays to Waxwings, and I’ve seen Chipmunks, Squirrels, Raccoons, Skunks, and Foxes feasting on berries either on the tree or from among those that have dropped to the ground. Suffice to say competition for Serviceberries is fierce!

Usually, I just eat my fill of Serviceberries in the field, with fingers ending up sticky and purple and juice running down my chin. But this is an incredible year for wild fruit, and I’ve been collecting bowlfuls to take home (Photo 3).  I’ll eat these as-is, or over yoghurt or ice cream, but they also make excellent jam, jelly, pie, syrup, wine, and baked goods.

Photo 3: It's a tremendous year for Serviceberries on PEI, and I've been able to collect them by the bowlful.

While many people know and love Serviceberries for their fruit, fewer know about their wood.  These small trees – similar in size to our wild Cherries – have some of the hardest, densest wood found on PEI. In terms of hardness, Serviceberry is second only to Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) among our native species, and it exceeds Ironwood in strength.  Although not commercially available, Serviceberry wood is prized by some woodworkers and craftspeople when they can get it locally.

Serviceberries are ripe now and can be found along roadsides and trails across PEI (including along the Confederation Trail). Keep your eye out for this delicious wild fruit as you explore PEI untamed!