Important ID's

• Simple, oval, serrated leaves
• Leaves grow alternate
• White to yellow flowers with five petals, close to branch, sweet scent
• Dark red to purple berries

Animal Use

• Provides a good mule deer and elk browse
• Birds and small mammels eat the berries

Human Use

• Native peoples would crush and dry the berries in cakes for a travel food as well as use in pemmican, a winter staple.
• Early Utah settlers canned a syrup of the berries

Almost as widespread in its use as the Golden Current, Serviceberry is a sweet, juicy snack; it needs no processing and can even be frozen without harming its flavor. Jellies, syrups and wine are sweet and flavorfull, but fresh berries in pies, muffins and pancakes are a real treat.

Berries mature Mid-Fall but may be absent if plant has a rust infestation.

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