A TreeTime.ca Guide to Saskatoons (Serviceberries)

Saskatoon berries are the iconic prairie berry. While it’s not widely known everywhere, most of us who live on the Canadian prairies are familiar with this quintessential fruit. Saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia), also known as Serviceberries, Juneberries, and Shadbush, are a native shrub found throughout much of Canada, reaching as far east as Ontario. 

While the fruit from native plants is enjoyed by many, varieties have been selected from the wild for their larger, more flavorful berries. Whether you’re hearing about Saskatoons for the first time or already love this classic Canadian berry, our Saskatoon Fruit Guide is a helpful resource. If you’re looking to add them to your backyard, start a U-Pick or orchard; it can help get your project started.

Saskatoon Berry Basics:

  • Appearance:
    • Shrub: Grown as a multistemmed shrub. The different varieties tend to have different shapes, ranging from upright, rounded, or spreading. 
    • Berries: The fruit produced is technically a pome (like apples and pears) but is commonly referred to as a berry. When ripe, it has a similar appearance to a blueberry.
      • When ripe, the skin is dark blue to dark purple.
      • The size and color of the berries are dependent on variety.
    • Flowers: Clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring, often before the leaves have fully emerged.
      • Provides an early source of pollen and nectar for pollinators.
  • Taste & Flavour:
    • Trying to describe the taste of Saskatoon berries isn’t easy! They have a natural sweetness with a nutty almond flavour. Some say they taste like mild blueberries, while others detect hints of apples and crab apples.
      • They also have a distinct chewy texture that is different from other fruits and berries.
  • Varieties:
    • The Saskatoon varieties we sell were originally discovered in the wild and selected for desirable traits such as fruit size or growth form. They were then propagated to preserve these characteristics.
      • These are sometimes referred to as nativars, which are cultivars of native plants.
      • The varieties we sell were either discovered in Saskatchewan or Alberta. Check out our Saskatoon Fruit Guide for more information. 
    • Our Saskatoon seedlings are grown from seed, meaning each one may have slight natural differences. Of the varieties we sell, Northline Saskatoon is considered the most true to seed.

Planting & Care:

  • Pollination:
    • Saskatoons are self-fertile; however, planting with additional varieties for cross-pollination can increase yields.
  • Cold Hardy:
    • Once established, Saskatoon shrubs are extremely cold-hardy and adaptable. With hardiness zones ranging from 1a to 2a, they are well suited to the harsh winters of the Canadian Prairies.
  • Watering needs
    • Like most plants, once established, they become more drought-tolerant and can go longer periods without water. If there is enough rainfall, watering may not be necessary. However, during extended droughts, additional watering will help support healthy growth.
      • When growing Saskatoon shrubs from seedlings, it’s important to ensure they receive regular watering for the first 2–3 years. By this point, their root systems will be established enough to tolerate extended periods without water.
  • Pruning:
    • Pruning the damaged, diseased, and unproductive areas of the plant helps improve its health, yield, and fruit quality. New shoots (two to four years old) produce the best-quality fruit.
    • Proper pruning and thinning of your Saskatoon shrub helps to keep the canopy open, allowing more light penetration and air circulation. This supports healthy growth, helps the fruit develop evenly, and makes harvesting easier.
      • The best time to prune is in the late winter or early spring, before new growth appears. 
  • Suckering:
    • Suckering tends to occur in all Saskatoon plants, but the amount of suckering will differ between varieties. Refer to our Saskatoon Fruit Guide for more information.
      • This can be an advantage, as suckering results in a wider shrub that can produce more fruit. This is especially beneficial for large-scale Saskatoon farms.
  • Mulching:
    • Applying mulch is highly beneficial for trees and shrubs, including Saskatoons. The general consensus is that any mulch is better than no mulch for plant growth and success.
  • Bird Protection:
    • Birds enjoy fruits and berries as much as we do. So it is a good idea to protect your crop from birds, especially if you live in a rural area. There are many methods used for deterring birds. These include:
      • Bird netting:  Cover shrubs with netting to prevent bird access.
      • Diversion Planting: Grow other, more attractive food sources nearby to divert birds.
      • Visual Deterrents: Hang shiny, reflective objects in the surrounding area
      • Predator Decoys: Use fake owls, hawks, or even snakes to scare away birds
      • Sound Devices: Use motion-activated sound devices that play predator calls.
      • Enclosures: Plant Saskatoons within an enclosed structure like a frame with chicken wire.

Saskatoon Harvest:

  • Yields:
    • They may produce a few berries in the first couple of years but start bearing reliably after 3–5 years. Full production is typically reached around 8 years.
      • Yields vary from 2000 lb to 6000 lb/acre for most orchards but can go higher (8500 lb/acre reported)
  • Ripening:
    • Berries tend to ripen 6-8 weeks after flowering. But this can vary by plus or minus two weeks
      • On the Canadian prairies, this tends to be around mid to late July for an average year. 
    • The harvest window usually lasts 10–14 days, but weather conditions can affect this. In very warm weather, it may shorten to just 5 days, while cooler temperatures can extend it to 3 weeks, often leading to more uneven ripening.
    • Whether a Saskatoon ripens uniformly is dependent on the variety
      • Martin and Northline ripen uniformly, whereas Smoky, Thiessen, and Honeywood can ripen unevenly.
      • Regardless of the variety, you will never achieve 100% uniform ripening—there will always be some fruit that will ripen slower than others.
  • When to Pick:
    • You shouldn’t judge ripeness by color alone—when Saskatoon berries first turn purple, they might not be at their ripest. It can take the fruit a couple more days to become fully ripe.
      • About half of the sugar content develops in those final days
      • Once the fruit is picked, it stops ripening, so waiting for full maturity is important for the best flavor.
    • It’s recommended to harvest your Saskatoons during the cooler parts of the day, either in the morning or later in the evening. Storing the picked berries in a cool location as soon as possible will help preserve their flavor, as berries kept in the heat can lose their flavor quickly due to respiration.
  • Harvest Methods:
    • There are three main methods used for harvesting Saskatoons.
      • Hand-picking: This is the most common harvesting method. It allows for only the ripe berries to be harvested and is the gentlest approach, minimizing damage to the berries.
      • Shaking: To harvest by shaking, place a tarp or small plastic kiddie pool around the shrub and gently shake it. This method helps release the berries from the branches, but it may also result in some unripe berries and debris being collected, as well as some berries getting damaged.
      • Mechanical Harvesting: Saskatoons are well-suited to mechanical harvesting, but it requires some planning. Before planting your seedlings, consider the size of the harvester to determine the appropriate row spacing. As your plants grow, you’ll also need to prune them to ensure they remain within the harvester’s reach.
        • Plants that are uniform in size and shape, with consistent fruit and ripening, are better suited for mechanical harvesting.
  • Storage and Uses:
    • Saskatoons can be enjoyed in many ways, whether fresh or baked into cakes, muffins, cobblers, crisps, and pies. They’re also great for making juice, preserves, liqueur, wine, or fruit leather.
      • If the berries are cooled as soon as possible after picking, they can keep for 3-5 days in the fridge.
      • You can also preserve them by freezing, fermenting, dehydrating, or canning.

From their spring blossoms to their sweet, flavorful berries, Saskatoons are a valuable addition to any garden or orchard. With a little care and attention, they can provide bountiful harvests for years to come. Whether enjoyed fresh, baked into treats, or preserved, Saskatoons are a versatile fruit that embodies the Canadian prairies. If you have tips or strategies that have worked well for you, we’d love to hear them—share your insights so we can help others grow and enjoy this prairie favorite!

If you want more information or are looking to purchase Saskatoon seedlings, visit our Saskatoon page on TreeTime.ca, or feel free to contact us at 1-844-873-3700 or [email protected].

Sources:

University of Saskatchewan. Gardening at USask, Saskatoons
Government of Alberta, 2013. Saskatoon Berry Production Manual
Government of Alberta, Agrifacts 2012. Saskatoons in Alberta
University of Idaho Extension, 2009. Growing Saskatoons in the Inland Northwest & Intermountain West