Because of the profusion of berries and the ease of picking them once frost has subdued the biting insects, Partridgeberries have traditionally been a staple of Labrador diets. Small alternate dark green leathery leaves are deeply indented along the midrib and have margins slightly turned under. Clusters of small, pink drooping bell-shaped flowers bloom at the tips of stems in June. Red berries ripen after being exposed to frost. Quite common along birch area of McLean Lake Trail and Scott's Run As with Mountain Ash, the red berries of Squashberry persist after leaves have fallen and look quite decorative after the first snowfall.
Berries are good fresh or preserved.
Dark green, unevenly three-lobed, coarsely toothed leaves grow opposite each other on the branches which can be up to 1.5 m high. Clear orange-red fruit ripens by September. The white flowers grow on long stalks above the leaves. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Edition 1970, Dover Publications, New York.