Varying in plant type from a small shrub to a medium-sized tree, the Saskatoon berry can be easily distinguished in April and May by its five-petaled flower, or by the dark blue berries which hang in clusters from the branches during most of the summer. The leaves are sharply pointed and bluish-green in colour. The Saskatoon berry is very high in vitamin B and iron.

Since they were not found in the Fraser Valley, Saskatoon berries were typically traded down the Fraser River from the Thompson First Nations in a pre-processed cake form, much in the same manner as some Stó:lō berries were exported. Saskatoon berries were often used as sweeteners in a variety of foods or included in soup stocks.