Cusick's serviceberry
Amelanchier cusickii

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A shrub to 3 m high. The flowers are large being 5 cm across. The fruit is 1 cm across.

There are about 25-30 Amelanchier species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally on hillsides from near sea-level to the sub-alpine zone, mainly in the Rockies in Western North America. Plants are hardy to cold to at least - 20 °C.

Countries/locations it is found in

North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are a tea substitute.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - tea

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed, layering or suckers. Seed can take 18 months to germinate and layers can take 18 months to form roots.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Amelanchier alnifolia var. cusickii (Fernald.) C.Hitchc.; Amelanchier florida var. cusickii (Fernald) M. Peck;