Wild Berries of the Inland Northwest

BY DAVID OTTERSTROM

Berry picking is a summer feel-good activity in the Inland Northwest due to the incredible edible varieties we have right in our backyard.

Golden Currants (Ribes aureum)

Golden currants are my favorite wild currants. They are both sweet and tart. Their flavor reminds me of a mixture of pie cherries and oranges, and the high pectin content makes them nice to use in jams and tarts. They range in colors from golden to dark burgundy and taste great raw or cooked. You can find these berries scattered throughout the region, especially in ravines and near waterways. Golden Currants are ripe by early summer and can be found in abundance locally in the scablands just west of Spokane.

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

This berry is super sour, but I wanted to mention it because it’s abundant in our region and can be surprisingly tasty when prepared correctly. I can only stand eating a few raw. They’re best in jelly and desserts when sugar is added and seeds are strained. You can find these berries along rocky hillsides and probably right in your neighborhood. Oregon Grapes are ready to pick in mid- to late-summer once they are a dark blue and easily fall off the branches.

Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus)

This blackberry’s flavor is a 10 out of 10, in my opinion. The sweetness and juiciness are perfect. You can usually find these ripe berries in large quantities. The Himalayan Blackberry is not originally from this region but now grows in many areas, especially near waterways. The only hard part is picking them since these shrubs have giant thorns. These berries are ready by mid to late summer.

Blackcap Raspberry (Rubus leucodermis)

There was a nice patch of these near my childhood home north of Spokane. I have fun memories of picking handfuls in the summer and bringing them home to enjoy with lunch. These black raspberries are delicious but also have quite large thorns. You can find them growing scattered throughout the area, especially in riparian zones and rocky hillsides. Blackcap Raspberries become ripe by mid-summer.

Black Huckleberries (Vaccinium membranaceum)

This berry is a favorite in the Northwest. They are sweet and delicious and can be found in lush meadows and forests of the region. Mount Spokane and Priest Lake are two examples of great spots to pick huckleberries. Huckleberry ice cream, pie and pancakes are just a few of my favorite ways to enjoy them. These berries are ready to harvest starting in mid-summer.

Thimbleberries (Rubus parviflorus)

This berry is incredible, tasting like honey and raspberries and sometimes a bit tart as well. They are delicious raw or baked in pies. They are red and look similar to raspberries. You can find them growing along lush roadsides throughout the region, from low to high elevations. They also like to grow along shady streambanks and moist forest groves. Their large fuzzy leaves stand out in the forest. The only problem is it can be hard to find enough in one area to pick a decent quantity. Thimbleberries are ripe starting in mid-summer.