Amelanchier interior leaves are simple, alternate and regularly toothed and are often reddish when young. They may be either glabrous or somewhat pubescent at maturity. The top of the ovary is clearly tomentose at flowering time. The plants are often multiply-stemmed from the base, with height less than about 10 meters maximum, therefore appearing as a small tree or a tall shrub. The bark is smooth and gray, and the trunks are less than 10 cm in diameter. The flowers are showy with bright white petals opening in (April) May or early June and producing numerous red or purple fleshy fruits.

Individual plants are often easy to place in the genus, but the species can be difficult to distinguish in the absence of flowers. In fact they may be difficult even with the flowers and some individuals will appear to be intermediate, making identification very frustrating. Collectors are urged to take abundant samples and to record good field notes. There are also several other species of Amelanchier in Wisconsin, and it is common to find two or more species in the same area. Hybridization has been widely reported, though it is less often supported convincingly beyond the presence of variable and confusing specimens. Our common Amelanchier species all appear to do best in sunny and dry sites, but they may persist under forest canopy and they are also found in smaller numbers in a wide variety of habitats.

Amelanchier interior is found throughout the state, but the true distribution and commonness is difficult to assess due to reluctance of botanists to collect (and keep) vouchers of these very challenging species.