It is a deciduous shrub or small tree that most often grows to 1–8 metres (3–26 feet),[3] rarely to 10 m or 33 ft,[4] in height.

In A. alnifolia, they are about 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) across, with 20 stamens and five styles,[7] appearing on short racemes of 3–20,[5] somewhat crowded together, blooming from April to July.

[10] Quercetin, cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin were present in saskatoon berries.

[7] A. alnifolia is susceptible to cedar-apple rust, Entomosporium leaf spot, fireblight, brown rot, Cytospora canker, powdery mildew, and blackleaf.

[8] With a sweet, nutty taste, the fruits have long been eaten by Indigenous peoples in Canada, fresh or dried.

They are well known as an ingredient in pemmican, a preparation of dried meat to which saskatoon berries are added as flavour and preservative.

[8][27][28][26] In 2004, the British Food Standards Agency suspended saskatoon berries from retail sales[29] pending safety testing; the ban eventually was lifted after pressure from the European Union.