Riverbank Grape vs Mountain Huckleberry - TreeTime.ca

Riverbank Grape vs Mountain Huckleberry

Vitis riparia

Vaccinium membranaceum

ONLY AVAILABLE BY CONTRACT GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Riverbank Grape
Mountain Huckleberry

The Riverbank Grape, also known as the Frost Grape, or Wild Grape, is a cold-hardy variety that produces fragrant white flowers in the spring and then tart, purple grapes late in the summer.

The Riverbank Grape is a vigorous grower that attracts lots of wildlife, who enjoy the fruit and flowers. This plant is native to North America, and is also highly resistant to fungal diseases, making this a great addition to your city gardens. This plant does best with a trellis.

Note: We do not ship grape vines to BC due to regulatory restrictions from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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.

Riverbank Grape Quick Facts

Mountain Huckleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 5a
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: purple
Berries: dark purple
Firmness: firm
Flavor: tart
Flavor: sweet, acidic
Harvest: late summer
Harvest: mid to late summer
Flowers: fragrant white
Bark: yellow-red to brown
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: high




Other Names: frost grape, wild grape
Other Names: big huckleberry, black huckleberry, tall bilberry, thinleaf huckleberry