How to Find Wild Juneberries

Juneberries grow wild across the country yet go almost entirely neglected, despite their abundance and wonderful flavor. Also known as shadbush, Saskatoon or serviceberry, the juneberry grows on bushes or small trees. There are many varieties throughout the country and some are tastier than others, but all are edible. Easy to miss, you'll soon spot them everywhere once you know what to look for.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the bark and leaves. The bark is smooth and gray, often with darker vertical streaks. The leaves alternate along the branch, meaning they don't appear in symmetrical pairs, and have finely serrated edges. The tips of the leaves are pointed in some species and more blunt in others.

    • 2

      Examine the berries. They resemble blueberries, but are related to apples. They are red when immature and purplish-blue when ripe. Each berry has a crown on the bottom end, as blueberries and even apples have. The blossoms are white with five petals.

    • 3

      Scout areas for juneberries early in the summer. Since they blossom before most other flowering trees, they're easy to spot during this stage. There won't be any berries, but note where you observe the trees and return in a few weeks. Juneberries grow under various conditions, so there's no single environment in which to look for them. But often they're found along riverbanks, streams or lakes, or in thickets and at the edges of woodlands and clearings.