Saskatoon, Amelanchier alnifolia "smokey", taste nice?

thevictorian

Hi, I was at the garden centre getting a amelanchier and saw "smokey" available, which seems a possible edible cultivar. I like amelanchier and just bought ballerina as an ornamental but know the species where the berries are edible, don't tend to be as showy. The one thing I'm now wondering is if the berries are worth it? I've looked at saskatoons and there are mixed reviews as to how they taste (if the birds don't get them first) but was as wondering if people like them enough to grow them just for the fruit?
I've been bitten by the bug before and grown things that were really dissapointing like goji berries and whilst saskatoons look much better, I don't think I'd bother if it wasn't worth it.

Thanks in advance.  

robairdmacraignil

I've got Amelanchier spicata, A. canadensis and A. lamarkii and have eaten some of the fruit as I think the fruits of all of the Amelanchier's are edible. I found them to not have a great flavour and am happy to leave them for the birds most of the time but I don't think these are specific cultivars known to be grown for their fruit.

Happy gardening!

Blue Onion

I have an edible variety.. they remind me of dried blueberries.  Sweet but not juicy.  My boys like them.  I don't harvest them.. we just eat them in passing, in the garden.  They might make a good jelly or jam.. but not something you would sprinkle on your ice cream.  Probably nice in oatmeal.  

thevictorian

It's in the garden centres fruit section which is why I was wondering. I also saw it advertised here

https://www.bluebellnursery.com/Amelanchier/3203753-Amelanchier-alnifolia-Smokey.html

and was wondering if it was shoehorned into edibles because people like me fall for it, or whether there really is something in them. I know alot of berries are eaten in the Scandinavian diet which aren't popular over here but equally companies are selling things like choke berries, which taste horrid, but won't do any harm. 

Johnny canoe

They are native to my province of Alberta. They grew wild all over the farm I was raised on. I use to just grab a handful off the trees as I passed by on my horse. Depending on the moisture and heat condition, I've seen the so tiny that I didn't bother to eat any but once every few years with the right conditions, they would be the size of small grapes.

raisingirl

I've never managed to get to them before the blackbirds

thevictorian

Thanks, judging by the way the sparrows have nipped nearly every bud of my new amelanchier, I'm not sure it's worth it.

Papi Jo

Edible means not poisonous. It does not necessarily mean delectable!

Johnny canoe

Birds and the Hutterites get them around here. A friend who picks the berries would get discouraged every year. A huge area full of the bushes grows just outside the city, the Hutterites camp out shortly before the berries ripen, when it's time they swoop in and they leave none for other berry pickers.