Historically, native fruit species were important to indigenous peoples and European settlers. Some of these have been cultivated and cross-bred for many years and are now considered heritage varieties. A number of these berry species are listed below. Native berries that are edible, but not altered through cultivation are listed on our Native Plant Database – look for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and others there.

Blueberry

Bluecrop. Ripens July 15 – August 15. Very large, firm, bright blue fruit with excellent flavour. Vigorous, upright and very productive bush.

History: Introduced in 1952, New Jersey.
Availability: Strawberry Tyme Farms (Ontario)
JRT Nursery (minimum $500 order) (British Columbia)
Lareault Nursery (minimum 50 plants) (Quebec) 

Jersey. Medium-size dark blue fruit. Produces the largest bush of all common cultivated blueberries.

History: Introduced in 1923, New Jersey.
Availability: Strawberry Tyme Farms (Ontario) 

Cranberry

Wild (Viburnum macrocarpon), also known as Bog or American Cranberry.. A beautiful evergreen trailing shrub with nodding, pinkish-white flowers with four backward-pointing petals in clusters. Leaves are oval and shiny, coloring a glorious red and purple in the fall. The large, red cranberries are wonderful, particularly on such a small plant. Originally known as "Crane-berries" because of the resemblance of their petals and anther "beak" to the head of those wading birds.

History: The species from which cultivated varieties of cranberry were developed.
Availability:Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta)
Salisbury Greenhouse (Alberta) 

Chokeberry

Black Chokeberry. 3–10' tall. Large, persistent black fruit and wine-red fall color. Adaptable to many soils, in sun or part shade.

Availability: Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta)
Salisbury Greenhouse (Alberta)

Red Chokeberry. 6–10' tall. Noted for its glossy red berries and brilliant red fall foliage colour. Clusters of white to pinkish flowers in spring followed by abundant glossy red fruits (3/8" diameter), which appear in dense clusters along the branches. Flowering and fruiting is best in full sun.

Availability: Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta)

Red Currant

Red Lake. Fruit ripens in July. A superior strain of red currant, introduced in 1933. Red currants are smaller and more tart than black currants, but they make excellent jelly.

Availability: Golden Bough Trees (Ontario)
Greenview Nurseries (Alberta)
Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta)

Black Currant

Consort. Medium long clusters of somewhat soft, half-inch black berries. Sweet, unique, musky flavour. Excellent dried, and high in vitamin C. Shrub is 4–6' tall, very hardy.

History: Introduced in 1950 at the Central Experiment Station in Ottawa.
Availability: Corn Hill Nursery (New Brunswick)
Salisbury Greenhouse (Alberta) 

Boskoop Giant. Fruit ripens in July. Large, sweet, richly flavored berries. Vigorous, productive bushes. Hardy and easily grown.

History: In the 1930s this was rated as the best black currant in England. Grown throughout Canada, especially in the west, from the early 20th century.
Availability: Golden Bough Trees (Ontario)
Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta) 

White Currant

White Pearl. 1m tall. Very hardy. Large, pearl shaped berries with translucent pale yellow-white skin. Mild, sweet flavour.

History: Originated in Holland before 1850.
Availability: Greenview Nurseries (Alberta) 

Elderberry

Cultivars 'Adams', 'Johns', 'Nova','Summer Blue', or any tree or shrub called 'Sambucus canadensis'. 2–3m or taller. Compound medium green leaves and yellowish-white. Very showy sky to dark blue fruits in large clusters, making good jam and pie. For full sun to part shade.

Availability: Corn Hill Nursery (New Brunswick)
Greenview Nurseries (Alberta)
Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta)

Gooseberry

Pixwell. Hardy variety. Large light-green berries turn rosy pink when fully ripe. Easy to pick (hence its name) since unlike other gooseberries it is practically thornless. Thrives in sun or partial shade, drought resistant.

History: Introduced in 1932.
Availability: Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta)
Salisbury Greenhouse (Alberta) 

Saskatoon Berry

Cultivars 'Pembina', 'Smokey', or any tree or shrub called Amelanchier alnifolia. 10' tall tree with star-shaped white flowers in June, purple fruit that ripen in late July. Easy to grow: hardy, resistant to drought.

History: Native to the Canadian West, saskatoons have always been a very important source of vitamins for aboriginal peoples of the prairies.
Availability: Greenview Nurseries (Alberta)
Hole's Greenhouses (Alberta)

Credits

Much of the varietal information in the listing is courtesy of Seeds of Diversity.