Mountain Huckleberry vs Coho Raspberry - TreeTime.ca

Mountain Huckleberry vs Coho Raspberry

Vaccinium membranaceum

Rubus idaeus Coho

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Mountain Huckleberry
Coho 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.

Coho Raspberry is a high-yielding raspberry that is known for having large, very firm berries. They are bright red with a great flavour. Their firmness allows for easy picking and makes them well suited for freezing. They are one of the last raspberries to ripen, allowing for fresh berries later in the season.

They are named after the Coho Salmon which are known for their bright red colouring and late spawning runs.

The Coho 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

Coho Raspberry Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: dark purple
Berries: large, bright red
Firmness: very firm
Flavor: sweet, acidic
Harvest: mid to late summer
Harvest: late July into August
Flowers: white
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: high




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