Killarney Raspberry vs Mountain Huckleberry - TreeTime.ca

Killarney Raspberry vs Mountain Huckleberry

Vaccinium membranaceum

Rubus x Killarney

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Mountain Huckleberry
Killarney Raspberry

Mountain Huckleberry is a small shrub known for its tart to sweet berries. The berries range from purple-black to red-black, and can be eaten fresh or used in jams and syrups. It is a plant native to Alberta and the berries are frequently enjoyed by both people and wildlife.

In traditional Indigenous fire management practices, berry patches were burned after harvest. This would reduce the invasion of other plants allowing the Mountain Huckleberry to thrive. Its foliage has low flammability and can survive low severity fires, and even if destroyed they regrow from the roots.

Note: Mountain Huckleberry requires specific soil conditions. They need moist, well-drained, acidic soil with a pH around 5.5.

Killarney Raspberry is extremely robust, with some of the best cold and disease resistance available. This could be due, in part, to it being bred in Manitoba.

It is also known for its good flavor and for being firmer than other varieties, which lends to its use in processing like pies, jams, and jellies or for U-Picks.

The Killarney Raspberry is a fast-growing floricane. This means that raspberries will not grow on canes the year they first grow. The mature canes they do grow on, however, produce more berries than primocane varieties.

Mountain Huckleberry Quick Facts

Killarney Raspberry Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $5.49 - SAVE UP TO 31%
Zone: 5a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: dark purple
Berries: large, tasty raspberries
Firmness: firm
Flavor: sweet, acidic
Harvest: mid to late summer
Harvest: early-mid summer
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: high




Other Names: big huckleberry, black huckleberry, tall bilberry, thinleaf huckleberry