How Can I Identify Huckleberries?

Where to Look

• According to weeksberry.com, huckleberries are mostly grown along the Pacific Coast and in inland coniferous forests from Northern California to Montana, and up into Alaska. The colder the temperatures, the more likely that the huckleberry is an evergreen huckleberry, which has deep green foliage and grows five to six feet tall. The red huckleberry has light green leaves and grows six to eight feet tall.

What to Look For

• Look for huckleberry shrubs in shaded areas and on fallen tree stumps. The plant displays round leaves and fine twigs, according to ourbigearth.com. During the spring when the plant is blooming, the flowers are pink. Blueberry plants have white flowers at this time. Between June and August, the peak seasons for berries, the berries are round and about the same size as a blueberry.

What to Taste For

• According to Montanamuffins.com, huckleberries are not cultivated commercially and can only be found in the wild. Though they look similar to a blueberry, they have thicker skin and are crispier because of the edible seeds found inside. Look for thick skin that is blackish blue or a purplish red-black tone, instead of the dark blue of a blueberry, and taste for a stronger flavor and larger, crispier seeds.