It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 0.5–8 metres (1.6–26.2 ft) tall with one to many stems and a narrow, fastigiate crown. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to ovate-oblong, 1–5.5 cm long and 1.8–2.8 cm broad with a rounded to sub-acute apex; they are downy below, and have a serrated margin and an 8–15 mm petiole. The flowers are produced in early spring in loose racemes 4–6 cm long at the ends of the branches; each raceme has four to ten flowers. The flower has five white petals 7.6–11 mm long and 2–4 mm broad, and 20 stamens. The fruit is a pome, 7–10 mm diameter, dark purple when ripe; it is edible and sweet. Fruits become ripe in June and July in its native range.
Amelanchier canadensis is a deciduous, small tree that flowers in the early spring. Its height ranges from 6–20 ft. The leaves are subtly serrated and about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches in length and they have a simple alternate pattern.
The bark is smooth and ash gray color when it is younger but as it gets older, the bark begins to form long, dark ridges and shallow furrows as it grows older.
The fruit is pome-like and is less than 1 inch in both width and length. As the fruit ages it turns from a green color to red to purple and finally to black as it reaches maturity. The fruits are a food source for many different species of birds and small mammals including cardinals, woodpeckers, robins, orioles, chipmunks, and squirrels.
When leaves are young they are covered in fine hairs but they become glabrous as they become older but the underside of the leaf retains short hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped and have finely serrated margins. The leaves are arranged in a simple alternate pattern and are 1 to 3 inches long and less than 1 inch wide. Deer do not usually feed on this species.
Like the leaves, The stems are hairy when they are young and become glabrous over time. They have a brown or copper color. The buds also have fine hairs.