Get to Know Your Native Berries!

The summer months make for a “berry” tasty time out in the forest. Walking through Seattle’s parks at the start of summer, you can easily spot the peachy colors of salmonberry fruit hiding in the foliage; while later in the summer, you start to notice the deep-blue berries from such native plants as salal and Oregon-grape. Picking berries can be a fun and rewarding hobby; but knowing what berries you are picking is critical in keeping yourself safe, as some berries can be toxic and have adverse affects on your health.

Identifying your native plants is the first place to start when it comes to picking edible berries. For help on plant identification, check out these tips and tricks from Washington Native Plant Society’s Elizabeth Housley. Once you’ve ran through some of Elizabeth’s practice examples, we suggest scrolling through the photos below to learn about the identifying characteristics of common native berries that you’ll encounter in our forests. The following native berries are all edible, but remember that everyone has a different preference in taste; so some may seem sweeter than others. But take the time to get familiar with the following native berries, and we promise it will make your summers in Seattle that much sweeter!

Blackcap Raspberry –

Rubus leucodermis

Leaf: Alternate and deciduous with white undersides; sharp-toothed leaflets; stalks and stems are white and waxy

Berry: Hairy raspberries that begin red, and darken to a purple or almost black

Habitat: Disturbed sites, thickets and open forests at low to middle elevations

Oregon-Grape –

Mahonia spp.

Leaf: Evergreen, leathery leaflets of 9 to 19; oblong-shaped with sharp teeth (often confused with the leaves of invasive English holly)

Berry: Clusters of deep blue berries, similar color and size as a store-bought blueberry

Habitat: Prefers drier to moist conditions at low to mid-elevation; can be found under a closed canopy, as well as in open forests

Red huckleberry –

Vaccinium parvifolium

Leaf: Small, alternate oval-shaped leaves; their stems have a noticeable jagged shape

Berry: Round berries that ripen to bright red; usually the size of a pea

Habitat: Thrives in soils rich with decaying wood, and often can be seen growing out of nurse logs; most often in coniferous forests

Salal – 

Gaultheria shallon

Leaf: Alternate, evergreen leaves that have a leathery texture; leaves are egg-shaped and shiny

Berry: Dark blue to purple berries, solid in color and not iridescent

Habitat: Common understory plant in coniferous forests, but can also be found on rocky bluffs and near the seashore

Salmonberry –

Rubus spectabilis

Leaf: Alternate and deciduous, usually with three leaflets that are dark green with sharp teeth; stems and stalks are woody and covered in thorns

Berry: Looks like a large raspberry, and range in color from yellow to red

Habitat: Moist areas in forests and disturbed sites, often along stream edges

Thimbleberry –

Rubus parviflorous

Leaf: Alternate, deciduous leaves that are large and soft with fine hairs on both sides; leaves resemble the shape of a maple leaf

Berry: Bright red, resembles a “velvety” raspberry

Habitat: Found in open clearings to open forests at low to subalpine elevations

Trailing blackberry –

Rubus ursinus

Leaf: Alternate and deciduous with three leaflets; leaves are dark green with large teeth; stems are white and waxy with small thorns

Berry: Berries start red and ripen to black; berries are smaller than the invasive Himalayan blackberries

Habitat: Found growing in disturbed sites, thickets, and dry open forests