Saskatoon is fairly slow growing and will reach a height of 2 to 3 metres at maturity. It propagates by seed, root sprouts and also by stolons, forming colonies. White flowers appear early in the season and the fruit, purple and berry-like, usually ripens in July. Limitations of saskatoon include numerous insect and disease problems such as cedar apple rust. As well, the species is difficult to establish.
Saskatoon provides cover, nesting and roosting for several bird species.
Saskatoon berries are sought by numerous song and game birds as well as whitetail and mule deer. Rabbits browse the twigs. Sea-buckthorn was introduced from Eurasia and is sometimes found naturalized in the wild. This shrub or small tree is drought resistant and well adapted for growth on sandy soil and steep slopes. It also possesses some tolerance to salinity.