Chokecherry
Extra care neededChokecherry fruits in long hanging clusters and has a hard pit.
Culinary reference
Saskatoon serviceberry.
Amelanchier alnifolia
Also found as Serviceberry · Juneberry
A western shrub with early white flowers and sweet, dark purple berries like small apples.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Before any gathering or use
Seeds contain small amounts of cyanogenic compounds; do not crush large quantities.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 24,432
- People who recorded it
- 8,498
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- May–Jul
- Records span
- 1980–2026
| January | 41 |
|---|---|
| February | 39 |
| March | 134 |
| April | 2795 |
| May | 8273 |
| June | 4770 |
| July | 4424 |
| August | 2417 |
| September | 1010 |
| October | 438 |
| November | 55 |
| December | 34 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Oval leaves toothed mainly on the upper half.
- 02
Early clusters of white, strap-petaled flowers.
- 03
Purple-black berries with a small crown at the tip.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Buckthorn
Rhamnus fruits are black and laxative, with several seeds.
Use the botanical sourceSelected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Western and central North America.
Watch the plant stage
Flowers in spring; fruits in early summer.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Documented use & care
Parts discussed: Fruit
Eat ripe berries raw, dried, or in pies.
Care for the patch
Share with birds; harvest by hand.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Amelanchier alnifoliaBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Amelanchier alnifoliaTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction