From coastal orchards to boreal edges, Canada’s climates support a wide array of edible plants—from backyard trees to wild berries that define local seasons. Whether you’re foraging, gardening, or shopping at a farmers’ market, a quick guide helps you know what’s local and when it’s best.
There are 32 Fruits of Canada, ranging from Apple to Thimbleberry. For each entry we list Scientific name,Region(s) found,Season (months) so you can identify species, see where they grow, and plan harvests — you’ll find below.
How can I safely identify wild fruits before eating them?
Use multiple sources: regional field guides, trusted foraging apps, and local extension services. Learn key ID features (leaf shape, fruit cluster, season) and watch for poisonous look-alikes; when in doubt, take a photo and ask an expert or avoid eating it. Always get landowner permission before foraging.
How do seasons vary for these fruits across Canada?
Seasons depend on latitude and microclimate: many berries ripen mid to late summer, apples and some plums peak in late summer to fall, and northern areas shift those windows later. Check the Season (months) column in the list below for region-specific timing.
Fruits of Canada
| Name | Scientific name | Region(s) found | Season (months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Malus domestica | British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prairies | Aug–Oct |
| Pear | Pyrus communis | Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec | Aug–Oct |
| Peach | Prunus persica | Southern Ontario, British Columbia (Okanagan) | Jul–Aug |
| Nectarine | Prunus persica var. nucipersica | Southern Ontario, British Columbia | Jul–Aug |
| Apricot | Prunus armeniaca | Okanagan (BC), Southern Ontario | Jul |
| Plum | Prunus domestica | British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec | Jul–Sep |
| Sweet cherry | Prunus avium | British Columbia (southern), Ontario | Jun–Jul |
| Sour cherry | Prunus cerasus | Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia | Jul |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | British Columbia, Prairies, Ontario, Quebec | Aug–Sep |
| Saskatoon | Amelanchier alnifolia | Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario | Jun–Jul |
| Blueberry (highbush) | Vaccinium corymbosum | Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Maritimes | Jul–Aug |
| Blueberry (lowbush) | Vaccinium angustifolium | Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario | Jul–Aug |
| Cranberry | Vaccinium macrocarpon | British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia | Sep–Oct |
| Raspberry | Rubus idaeus | Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec | Jul–Aug |
| Blackberry | Rubus fruticosus agg. | Southern British Columbia, Ontario, Atlantic Canada | Jul–Sep |
| Black raspberry | Rubus occidentalis | Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia | Jul |
| Thimbleberry | Rubus parviflorus | British Columbia, Alberta | Jun–Jul |
| Salmonberry | Rubus spectabilis | Coastal British Columbia (Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii) | Jun–Jul |
| Cloudberry | Rubus chamaemorus | Northern Canada, Labrador, Yukon, Nunavut | Jul |
| Huckleberry | Vaccinium membranaceum | British Columbia, Alberta, western interior | Jul–Aug |
| Gooseberry | Ribes uva-crispa | Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Atlantic provinces | Jul–Aug |
| Currant (red) | Ribes rubrum | Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Maritimes | Jul–Aug |
| Currant (black) | Ribes nigrum | British Columbia, Ontario | Jul–Aug |
| Haskap (Honeyberry) | Lonicera caerulea | Prairies, Ontario, British Columbia | Jun–Jul |
| Grape | Vitis vinifera (and hybrids) | Niagara (Ontario), Okanagan (BC), British Columbia, Ontario | Sep–Oct |
| Strawberry | Fragaria × ananassa | Across Canada (Maritimes to BC) | Jun–Jul |
| Elderberry | Sambucus canadensis | Ontario, Quebec, Prairies, British Columbia | Aug–Sep |
| Rose hip | Rosa acicularis (wild rose) | Widespread across Canada | Sep–Oct |
| Aronia (chokeberry) | Aronia melanocarpa | Ontario, Quebec, Prairies | Aug–Sep |
| Sea buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides | Prairies, British Columbia (niche plantings) | Aug–Sep |
| Mulberry | Morus rubra (native) / Morus alba (introduced) | Southern Ontario, parts of BC | Jul–Aug |
| Pawpaw | Asimina triloba | Extreme southern Ontario (rare pockets) | Sep |
Images and Descriptions
Apple
Crisp, sweet-tart fruit used fresh, baked, canned and for cider; many cultivars suit cold Canadian climates. Widely grown commercially and in home orchards across BC, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and the Prairies, with harvest mid-summer to fall.
Pear
Juicy or crisp depending on variety, pears are eaten fresh, baked, poached or canned. Grown by orchards and gardeners in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec; harvest generally late summer into early autumn when fruit softens and sugars develop.
Peach
Fragrant, sweet stone fruit prized for fresh eating, baking and preserves; modern cold-hardy varieties allow reliable crops in southern Ontario and Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. Harvest is typically mid to late summer when flesh is soft and juicy.
Nectarine
Smooth-skinned peach relative offering similar sweet-tart flavor, eaten fresh, grilled or canned. Grown on a smaller scale in southern Ontario and parts of BC; season overlaps peaches, mainly in Jul–Aug for most Canadian backyard and farm trees.
Apricot
Small, sweet stone fruit with floral aroma, excellent for drying, jam and fresh eating. Thrives in the Okanagan, southern BC and sheltered pockets of southern Ontario; harvest usually in July when fruit blanches easily from stems.
Plum
Sweet to tart stone fruits used fresh, for preserves, and in baking. Many European and Japanese cultivars are grown commercially in BC, Ontario and Quebec; harvest seasons vary widely from Jul through Sep depending on variety.
Sweet cherry
Firm, juicy fruit with a range of sweet flavors, enjoyed fresh and in desserts. Important commercial crop in southern BC and parts of Ontario; peak season is early to mid-summer when trees produce glossy, colorful fruit.
Sour cherry
Bright, tart cherries ideal for pies, preserves and juice; they hold up well in cooking. Grown in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia; harvest is usually in July and fruits are often processed soon after picking.
Chokecherry
Astringent small cherry with tart, intense flavor used for jams, syrups and traditional medicines after cooking or sweetening. Native across much of Canada from BC to the Prairies and into Ontario; berries ripen late summer to early autumn.
Saskatoon
Also called serviceberry, sweet, nutty berry eaten fresh, baked into pies or made into preserves. Native prairie and boreal shrub common in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and parts of BC and Ontario; harvest typically in Jun–Jul.
Blueberry (highbush)
Large sweet blueberries grown commercially and in gardens, great for fresh eating and baking. Common in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and the Maritimes; cultivated highbush harvests are usually Jul–Aug depending on latitude and cultivar.
Blueberry (lowbush)
Smaller, intensely flavored wild blueberries prized for jam, baking and freezing. Native to Atlantic Canada, Quebec and parts of Ontario; wild lowbush berries ripen short-season in Jul and early Aug and are harvested commercially and by foragers.
Cranberry
Tart bog berries used for sauces, juice and dried snacks; key commercial crop in eastern Canada and British Columbia. Grown in peat bogs and harvested by flooding or by hand; season runs Sep–Oct when bogs are ripe.
Raspberry
Bright, fragrant berries ranging from sweet to tart, popular fresh, frozen or in preserves. Widely cultivated in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, with home gardens across Canada; main harvest is mid-summer but some varieties crop into fall.
Blackberry
Sweet, sometimes tart aggregate fruits eaten fresh, baked or made into jams and liqueurs. Common in southern BC and parts of Ontario and Atlantic Canada; cultivated and wild blackberries ripen mid to late summer and can be invasive in some regions.
Black raspberry
Deeply flavored, aromatic black raspberries prized for sauces, jams and wines; less common than red raspberries but grown in Ontario, Quebec and BC. Harvest is typically mid-summer and berries are fragile and seasonally short.
Thimbleberry
Soft, large, raspberry-like berries with delicate texture and mild sweetness, excellent for jams and fresh eating. Native to coastal and interior British Columbia and parts of Alberta; fruits ripen early to mid-summer and don’t store well.
Salmonberry
Orange to red berries with sweet, floral flavor eaten fresh or cooked in coastal Indigenous and settler cuisines. Native to Pacific Northwest coastal regions from Haida Gwaii down Vancouver Island and mainland BC; ripens in early to mid-summer.
Cloudberry
Golden amber, tart-sweet berries treasured in northern and Arctic cuisines for preserves and desserts. Native to bogs and tundra across Northern Canada and Labrador; harvest brief in mid-summer and fruits are prized for their rarity and rich flavor.
Huckleberry
Wild mountain berries with concentrated sweet-tart flavor used fresh, baked, or dried. Found in forested highlands of British Columbia and Alberta and parts of the western interior; season is summer, often Jul–Aug depending on elevation.
Gooseberry
Tart to mildly sweet small berries eaten fresh, baked or made into sauces; green or red varieties vary in flavor. Grown and foraged in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Atlantic provinces; harvest generally in mid to late summer.
Currant (red)
Tangy, seedy red clusters used for jellies, syrups and baking; tart flavor mellows with sugar. Garden and farmed in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and the Maritimes; season typically Jul–Aug with berries picked when fully colored.
Currant (black)
Dark, intensely tart blackcurrants prized for cordials, syrups and preserves; very aromatic and high in vitamin C. Grown commercially in parts of British Columbia and Ontario and available from specialty growers and markets during summer.
Haskap (Honeyberry)
Elongated, tangy-sweet blue berries bred for cold climates, eaten fresh, in jams or baked goods. Widely planted across the Prairies, Ontario and BC as a commercial and backyard crop; harvest is early summer, often Jun–Jul.
Grape
Table and wine grapes grown across Niagara, the Okanagan and other vineyards; flavors range from sweet to tart depending on variety. Grapes are harvested Sep–Oct and form the backbone of Canada’s wine and fresh‑fruit industries.
Strawberry
Sweet, aromatic berries eaten fresh, in desserts and preserves; a garden staple and large commercial crop. Grown across Canada from the Maritimes to BC, with main harvests in Jun and Jul and everbearing types extending the season.
Elderberry
Dark, tart berries cooked into syrups, jams and wines; raw berries and other parts can be toxic unless prepared. Grown and foraged in Ontario, Quebec and parts of the Prairies and BC; harvest late summer to early autumn.
Rose hip
Vitamin‑rich, tart fruit of wild roses used in teas, syrups and jams; hips have seedy texture and intense floral notes. Widespread across Canada in hedgerows and wild areas; picked in autumn after first frost for best flavor.
Aronia (chokeberry)
Small, astringent dark berries used mainly for juice, syrups and health products after sweetening; valued for antioxidants. Cultivated in Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies and available at markets; harvest typically late summer into early fall.
Sea buckthorn
Bright orange, very tart berries high in vitamin C used in jams, juices and preserves; unconventional but increasingly farmed for niche markets. Grown on some farms in the Prairies and BC; harvest is Aug–Sep.
Mulberry
Sweet, blackberry-like fruit from native red mulberry and introduced white mulberry trees, eaten fresh or in jams. Scattered wild and cultivated trees in southern Ontario and parts of BC; harvest in mid to late summer when berries darken.
Pawpaw
Creamy, custard‑like tropical-flavored fruit rare in Canada but native to small pockets of extreme southern Ontario; prized by foragers and specialty growers. Fruit ripens late summer and is delicate, best eaten fresh or used in desserts.
