Identify Wild Berries in Michigan

Learn how to identify wild berries in Michigan and forage for natural sources of fruits. Many easily recognizable berries, such as cranberries and blueberries, grow in Michigan, along with a few other varieties.

Wild berry picking is fun.

The easiest way to identify wild berries in Michigan is to begin with fruit that is familiar. Lake Superior Photo offers photos on their site to help you identify wild berries in Michigan. For a complete list of berries as well as other trees, shrubs and native plants of Michigan, visit the Department of Environmental Quality website.

Northern Michigan is home to an astonishing amount of wild growing blueberries. In the late summer, these low-growing shrubs produce juicy blueberries ripe for the picking. You can find an abundance of blueberries growing on the sandy soil in the Great Lakes region. You can eat them right off the plants, or use them to make pies, jams and jellies.

Cranberries are another fruit that most people can identify. Cranberry plants grow in wet boggy areas. The berries float near the surface of the water. Fresh cranberries may be too tart for most people, but you can certainly make them into cranberry sauce or cook them into various dishes to enjoy. Dried cranberries are also very easy to make. Simply lay the berries out in the sun to dry out, then store in air tight containers until ready to use.

Blackberries are often mistaken for raspberries early in the season. If you think you've found wild raspberries, wait a few days to a week and see if they begin to turn black. Once they start turning, wait until the berries are a deep, rich, dark color before picking. The darker the color, the sweeter the berry. Wear heavy gloves when blackberry picking or be prepared for a lot of scratches. The canes often have big thorns.

Wild strawberries look like the strawberries you find in the supermarket, but the berries may be smaller. They're sweet, juicy and great eaten fresh or picked and used in recipes. Like other types of strawberry plants, they grow on plants low to the ground and are often found in clusters since strawberries spread through runners, which create more plants.

Sumac berries are typically harvested and made into a medicinal tea. Sumac tea is said to be a diuretic as well as have antimicrobial properties. The berries grow on the sumac shrubs and are harvested in the fall. Tea is made by boiling the berries, straining away the fruit, and sipping the decoction. Always check with an herbalist before trying to make tea from wild berries to ensure that you've picked the right ones, and do check with your health care provider before trying this or any other herbal remedy.

Harvesting and foraging for wild plants is fun, but play it safe.

• Always let people know where you're going and the time expected back when hiking through wilderness areas.
• Take a friend with you for safety, and carry water, a cell phone (although there may not be service in all areas), rain gear and a first aid kit.
• If harvesting berries in areas frequented by bears, sing, clap or talk so that bears scatter before you arrive. If you see a bear, don't chase it or try to make friends, no matter how cute it looks. Bears can be dangerous, especially if you stumble across a mother bear with cubs nearby.
• Know the difference between edible berries and poisonous ones. Just because you see birds or animals eating berries doesn't mean they're safe for human consumption. Check with a guide book, look at the pictures on the websites suggested, or take a course on wild edibles foraging to accurately identify wild berries.
• Be sure to harvest berries only in areas where it is legal to do so. Never trespass on private land, and check state park regulations to make sure it is okay to harvest berries. Some restrict or prohibit activity such as berry picking.
• Take along a pail or container and gloves to protect hands.
• Watch out for poison ivy and other poisonous plants that may grow among berry plants.

With a few simple safety precautions, you can enjoy the delicious taste and health benefits of picking and eating wild berries.

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