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11 Wild Edible Berries to Look For on Your Next Outdoor Adventure

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If you’re put off by all the wild edible species that need hours (or even days) of preparation before you can eat them, berry foraging is the perfect activity.

All you need to do is pluck them from the bush, and voila – they’re ready to eat!

Once you know how to identify several wild edible berries, you’ll be eating well on every hike and outdoor trip from now on.

11 Edible Wild Berries You Can Safely Forage

Summer and fall give foragers the perfect opportunity to gather baskets full of tasty berries.

Here are eleven edible wild berries you can safely forage in the US.

11 Wild Edible Berries You Can Safely Forage

1. Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)

Let’s begin with a foraging staple.

Blackberries are one of the best-known and easiest berries to identify in the wild, as most Americans have eaten cultivated varieties at one point in their lives.

You can identify blackberries not just via their intense dark purple color and staining juices, but also by the thick tangle of brambles they grow on.

Blackberry briar patches are a bane for many farmers and property owners, even if their fruits are delicious.

The best time to look for wild blackberries is in late summer, though this can change depending on your climate.

There are plenty of wild blackberry species, from the common blackberry to the Pacific blackberry, so take some time to learn which wild species grow best in your state.

2. Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)

Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)

On the other end of the popularity scale is the common barberry – not because it isn’t a fantastic berry, but because the average American has probably never heard of it.

The common barberry, also known as the European barberry, was brought to the US as an ornamental species before escaping cultivation and spreading in the northeast as an invasive species.

It bears prolific bright red fruits that have a slightly elongated oval shape. Barberries ripen in fall and persist through winter, and their color is so vivid that they are easy to spot in virtually any landscape.

Other edible barberry species, including the Japanese and native American barberry, can also be found in different parts of the country.

3. Chokecherry ​​(Prunus virginiana)

Identifying Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa and A. arbutifolia)

Now for a native wild berry species!

The chokecherry, part of the rose family, has a long history of indigenous usage. While the name may sound off-putting, these dark red and black summer berries are delicious when used properly.

Unfortunately, chokecherries are not ideal for fresh eating due to their bitterness (hence why some call it the “bitter cherry”).

However, if you’re willing to take a few pounds home you’ll find them excellent in preserves, syrups, fruit leather, and homemade wine. Their cooked flavor is often compared to cherry.

Chokecherry growth is concentrated in the north but can be found as far south as Texas and as far west as western California, according to the University of Minnesota’s Urban Forestry & Outreach extension.

Please note that, unlike some wild berry species, the rest of the chokecherry tree is toxic including its leaves and flowers.

4. Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.)

Identifying Hawthorn Berries (Crataegus)

A member of the rose family, the hawthorn tree and its berries have been used as a food source and a wild medicine for centuries.

Most hawthorn trees and scrubs are recognizable for their thorny branches, jagged-edged lobed leaves, small white flowers, and bright red berries that look like tiny crabapples.

There are plenty of hawthorn species in the US, and all of them have edible berries – also known as “haws” – with medicinal qualities, though the flavor of the berries can vary widely.

If you’re interested in foraging hawthorn berries, take a look at the species that grow best in your state. You may find yourself with lots of options!

Hawthorn berries can be eaten both raw and cooked, but their seeds – which can be toxic in large quantities – should be avoided.

5. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

Cranberry Plant (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

The most common species of wild cranberry, also known as the large cranberry or bearberry, is native to the northeastern US.

While its native range is limited, it is grown commercially in more than 10 states, according to the University of Massachusetts’s Amherst Extension.

Wild cranberry plants can be found growing in wet bogs and marshland. It is a low-growing vine rather than a bush, so foragers should keep their eyes to the ground when hunting for the bright red berries.

These cranberries should be ripe by mid-fall and can be used the same way you might use store-bought cranberries – in sauces, jellies, baked treats, and more.

These wild cranberries are not to be confused with the three edible highbush cranberry species (viburnum sp) found in the US, which are not true cranberries.

6. American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Elderberry is a true staple of berry foraging, and foraging in general. Foraging newbies should not miss a chance to harvest these useful, nutritious late-summer berries.

American elderberry is a shrub-like tree native to eastern North America, but it can be found growing wild in almost every state.

While it grows in a range of conditions it flourishes in moist soil with full sun exposure, so look out for them near streams, ditches, and forest edges.

Elderberries are rich in vitamins and minerals and have been used as a tonic in folk medicines for thousands of years.

While they should not be eaten raw, when cooked they can be incorporated into jellies, pies, syrups, and make amazing wine. The elderflower is also edible and has plenty of uses of its own.

7. Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp)

Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp)

Serviceberries might be one of the most criminally underrated berries, given how absolutely delicious they are.

Also known as Amelanchier, serviceberry trees grow as both small trees and multi-trunked shrubs and can be found growing abundantly all over the US.

Serviceberries are small, perfectly round fruits that look a little like blueberries. Most species start off red and gradually ripen to a dark blue and purple color.

It can be difficult to find them at this stage since birds often get to them first, but this is the stage where they are sweetest and juiciest.

Serviceberries can be eaten straight off the tree and used in countless sweet recipes, including practically any that calls for blueberries.

Many different species of serviceberry have adapted to climate conditions across the country. With a little research, you should easily find serviceberry species in your area.

8. Mulberry (Morus sp.)

Mulberry (Morus sp.)

Mulberries may be messy, but they’re definitely worth the stained hands and clothes! These large, juicy, and deliciously sweet berries begin ripening in early summer and can be found growing across the country.

If you’re going on outdoor adventures in summer, you have a good chance of stumbling across at least one mulberry species.

There are four mulberry species you can find in the US – the rare black mulberry, the Texas mulberry, the invasive white mulberry (which actually produces blue-black fruit), and the native red mulberry.

You are most likely to find the last two, though which one will depend on where you live.

Both fruits are equally tasty, both trees are prolific producers, and the leaves and young shoots of both are also edible.

You can add mulberries to juices, syrups, and jams, incorporate them into plenty of baking recipes, or eat them in handfuls directly from the tree.

9. Raspberry (Rubus sp.)

Raspberry (Rubus sp.)

Who doesn’t love a handful of raspberries?

They may be “basic” when it comes to foraging, but nothing gets me as excited as glimpsing a patch of these shiny dark-pink and red berries. Delicious!

Wild red raspberries ripen in summer and can be found growing across the United States in varying soil and climate conditions, but keep a close eye on walking trails and forest edges.

Wild black raspberries (rubus occidentalis) are also native to the eastern US and grow well in mountainous areas and on disturbed land.

You know when a raspberry is ripe because it will disconnect from its stems with the slightest tug. Late June through August in particular is the prime growing season.

10. Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)

Another unique member of the rose family is the cloudberry, a plant that grows best in alpine regions and arctic tundra.

Its native range in the US is limited to Alaska, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York. Cloudberry patches are scarce and difficult to find, but they are certainly worth keeping an eye out for foragers who live and travel in these states.

Cloudberries are approximately the same size as raspberries. Instead of growing in dense brambles, they grow on smooth, slender stems that shoot upward from the small, low-growing plant.

The berries ripen in fall, turning a soft peach and amber hue. Their flavor has been compared to baked apples, and they are famously rich in vitamin C.

11. Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Not all wild edible berries have to be found in the forests and hills. If you live near the ocean, it’s worth seeing if sea buckthorn, also known as the seaberry, can be found in your region.

This thorny fruit-bearing bush is native to Europe and Central and East Asia but was introduced in North America a century ago for use as a shelter belt and windbreak in coastal areas.

Its small orange berries grow in dense clusters, similar to grapes, and ripen in late summer through fall.

Sea buckthorn is tragically overlooked as a wild edible and medicinal source. The berries are extremely nutrient-rich, with high levels of vitamins E and C, protein, and fatty acids.

While it is usually too acidic and astringent to eat straight from the tree, it can be made into jam, jelly, sauce, tea, and even oil.

Important Disclaimer: Safety and Responsibility in Foraging

While most wild berry species mentioned above are relatively easy to identify, this doesn’t mean you should approach berry foraging casually.

Unless you’re already familiar with certain berries – like blackberry and raspberry – you should research thoroughly before attempting to forage any new species.

If you can’t ID local wild berries with 100% certainty, don’t pick them.

As well as understanding edible berries in your region, it is also worth learning more about some of the poisonous wild species growing in the US so you have an understanding of potential toxic lookalikes.

Species like yew, pokeweed, and some varieties of nightshade are good places to start.

And of course, foragers should always harvest wild species responsibly. This is especially true for berries, which are a valuable food source for local wildlife.

Make sure to leave plenty of fruit on the trees to avoid disrupting local ecosystems.

11 Wild Edible Berries to Look For on Your Next Outdoor Adventure
Shannon Campbell

Shannon Campbell

Shannon is a forager, mushroom hunter, and gardener who has embraced living off-grid. Passionate about nature and sustainable living, she shares her experiences to inspire others to connect with the natural world and foster their own self-sufficiency.