People in the Midwest may not have much experience with this berry, but western Montana is Huckleberry Heaven. The small, purple-ish berries are real, and they’re spectacular. Huckleberries in Montana are everywhere.
Are huckleberries from Montana?
Is a huckleberry a fruit? Yes! While these pricey purple berries packed with antioxidants are popular berries in Montana, they’re actually the state fruit of Idaho, Montana’s neighbor to the west.
What berry only grows in Montana?
huckleberries
Montana’s huckleberry is actually in the genus Vaccinium, which includes blueberries. Different species of huckleberries can be found throughout the northern latitudes of North America. While a bush might have up to 50 shoots, not every shoot will produce a berry.
What states have huckleberries?
Where can you find huckleberries? You can find huckleberries in many Pacific Northwest and Northwestern National Forests. Huckleberries often thrive in the Rocky Mountains – and specifically in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
What species of huckleberry grows in Montana?
globulare, the huckleberry plant most commonly encountered in Montana (Lesica 2012, M. Lavin personal communication 2015). The “Globe Huckleberry” or “Blue Huckleberry,” V. globulare, is known for large, sweet berries (Lesica 2012).
What berry is native to Montana?
A wide range of berry and small fruits thrive in Montana soils and climates. These include Strawberries, Honeyberries or Haskaps, Raspberries, Juneberries, Currants, Gooseberries, Bush Cherries, and Aronia.
What fruit is Montana known for?
Few things taste more like summer for Montanans more than flathead cherries. Named for the temperate region in which they’re grown surrounding northwestern Montana’s Flathead Lake, Flathead orchards produce naturally sweet and tangy Lapin, Rainier, Van and—most quintessentially—heart-shaped Lambert cherries.
Are huckleberries expensive?
Huckleberries can sell for upwards of $10 per pound.
Why is Montana huckleberry famous?
Huckleberries look similar to darker blueberries. Late summer is considered to be huckleberry season in Montana, with the tastiest berries available for picking between mid-August and mid-September. Locals have been known to keep their favorite huckleberry-picking spots secret to avoid competition.
Where is the best place to pick huckleberries?
Since huckleberries thrive at higher elevations, going into the mountains is an absolute must.
This list contains some good places for you to start huckleberry picking in Idaho.
- Coeur d’Alene National Forest.
- Priest Lake.
- Ponderosa State Park.
- Teton Valley.
- Huckleberry Creek, Sawtooth Mountains.
Where can I find wild huckleberries in Montana?
Huckleberries can easily be found in many of Western Montana’s state parks, along hiking trails or ski slopes, and even campgrounds.
Here a few sweet spots in that area:
- Lake Inez Campground.
- Morrell Falls hiking trail.
- Boy Scout Road Hiking Trail near Seeley Lake Campground.
Can you eat huckleberries raw?
Also known as winter huckleberry or California huckleberry, this fruit is found in coastal forests at low elevations from central California to British Columbia. These berries are sweeter than blueberries and can be eaten raw, dried, and used in jellies and jams.
What do huckleberries taste like?
What Does a Huckleberry Taste Like? It depends on their color. Red huckleberries tend to be more tart, while darker purple, blue, and black berries are sweeter in flavor. They have a somewhat mild flavor, similar to that of a blueberry.
Can you pick huckleberries in Montana?
Huckleberry Picking
Summer is the best time for berry picking in Montana, with most berries at their peak in mid to late summer. The best time to go out in search of huckleberries is around August.
Are huckleberries wild blueberries?
Strik said while true huckleberries are related to blueberries, it’s an entirely different genus. “What we commonly called huckleberry [in the West] are native blueberry species, and all the different huckleberries that we have here are genus Vaccinium which is the same genus as commercial blueberries,” Strik said.
What does calling someone a huckleberry mean?
What exactly does it mean? A What it means is easy enough. To be one’s huckleberry — usually as the phrase I’m your huckleberry — is to be just the right person for a given job, or a willing executor of some commission.
What berries are in Yellowstone?
Yellowstone has a wide variety of nutritious berries – serviceberry, chokecherry, buffaloberry, twinberry, huckleberry and others – that are highly palatable to bears.
Why do huckleberries only grow in the wild?
Washington State University researchers are setting their sights on domesticating the wild huckleberry, a goal that has eluded plant scientists for decades. Huckleberries are notoriously fickle plants. The mountain shrubs don’t transplant well and even huckleberry bushes grown from seeds seldom produce fruit.
What berries are in season in Montana?
Raspberries, June into August. Choose raspberries without any mold or mushiness, since one bad berry will turn a whole pint overnight. Rhubarb, May through June. Choose firm stalks with fresh cuts and no browning.
What is Montana’s state fruit?
Amazingly, many states have not legislated an official state fruit.
Popular Varieties of Blueberries.
| State | Fruit |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | |
| Missouri | Norton Cynthiana Grape |
| Montana | |
| Nebraska |
What’s the most popular food in Montana?
The state of Montana is widely known for its game meat, especially elk, and juicy elk burgers made with tender, dark-red meat are among the most popular local dishes.