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Are Sugarplums Growing On Your Shrubs?

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Jun 16, 2014 9:00PM

Walking down the street today, I noticed some blue berries with a faint red blush growing on a neighbor's bush. With their pretty little crown, it was clear these were "serviceberries", also called "juneberries" and even "sugarplums." The latter name probably comes from their sweet and rosy flavor, yet many people just pass them by, thinking they are mere yard ornaments.

Members of the Amelanchier genus, serviceberries come from the same family as roses. In the past, they provided a great service to Native Americans, who added them to their pemmican, a traditional food made with meat and animal fat. They make a great snack out of hand or can be added to desserts and jams. As befits the juneberry name, they are in season right now.

Luckily they are easy to identify and not similar to any non-edible berries, but of course do not eat berries unless you know what they are and the usual foraging safety rules need to be kept in mind (unless it's your own garden or yard). If you are looking for a shrub to plant, consider this one, as it's a native species and the berries are delicious for both people and wild animals.