Do Huckleberries Have Thorns?

Identification

• Unlike wild raspberries or blackberries, huckleberries produce smooth, rounded fruit that resemble blackberries. Depending on the variety, the fruit may be blue, purple, black or red. The plants range in size from compact varieties that grow 15 inches high to shrub forms that reach 6 feet at maturity. The stems may have short hairs or reddish branches, but they do not have thorns.

Area

• Eastern huckleberries grow from the Southeastern U.S. into Canada. These plants produce fruit of inferior quality that is generally reserved for wildlife consumption. Western huckleberries are found throughout the Western U.S., Canada and Alaska.

Growing Conditions

• All thornless huckleberries prefer moist, slightly acidic soil. They produce fruit best in full sun, unless the soil is very dry. Huckleberries have been an important food source for Native people for thousands of years, but wild stands of berries are dwindling due to overharvesting for commercial use. Huckleberries have a shallow root system and are difficult to propagate in commercial plantings or home gardens.

Harvest and Use

• Harvest huckleberries in the fall when they are sweet and slightly soft for use in jams, jellies and pies. The berries are easy to harvest due to the lack of thorns. Grasp them in your palm and gently remove them from the bush. Check with local authorities before harvesting huckleberries. Some states have designated areas and rules governing quantities harvested. Use a field guide to positively identify huckleberries by their leaves and stems, as well as their fruit, since some look-alikes are toxic. Take a cell phone and first aid kit and let others know where you are going.