Edible Berries in Texas

Ashe Juniper Berries (Juniperus asheiom)

• Ashe juniper berries of the species come from the juniper tree and can be used as a flavoring or spice for meat dishes, and soups and they can also be made into a tea. They are a dusky blue colored berry. Red juniper berries can also be used and are sweeter with just a trace of the resin taste. They were an important wild food collected by Native American Indians in the area. In Texas, they are found in greatest abundance on the eastern and southern portions of the Edwards Plateau and extending into the Central Mineral Region, Grand Prairie, Cross Timbers and North Central Prairies Ecoregions.

Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis)

• Elderberry bushes have bluish purple berries, which can be used to make an interesting colored dye for fabrics. The berries also make good jam and a table wine can be made from fermented berries. They grow all over Titan County, Mt. Pleasant and also in Cedar Park.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier Species)

• The serviceberry is a rare wild berry found in Texas, mostly in national parks in the Trans-Pecos area. Serviceberries ripen late in the summer and can be eaten raw or cooked into jellies or pies.

Strawberry ( Fragaria Species)

• Wild strawberries have much smaller fruit than cultivated strawberries, but the flavor is strong and a little tart. All the large colonies of wild strawberries in Texas are found growing in protected national parks, but scattered groups of one or two plants can still be located in many places scattered across Texan countryside. They can be cultivated in pots or in your garden and the fruit makes a flavorsome jam. They are also good in mixed fruit pies.

Hackberry (Celtis Species)

• Hackberries are red, brown or orange fruits which are also called sweetberries. Hackberries can be used to make a sauce mixed with lemon or orange juice or they can be baked in pies. Hackberries can be found in Cottle County, and many other places in the Texan countryside along streams where the soil is moist.

Agarita and Barberry (Berberis Species)

• The agarita and barberry both have delicate round succulent red berries that are about 1 inch in diameter. The berries have an extremely high acid content and can only be eaten raw in small quantities. They are good for stewing, for making fruit pies and making jellies. A refreshing drink is made from crushing the agarita berries and simmering them for 10 minutes. The mixture is then strained through a muslin and sweetening to taste. Chill before serving. Baberry trees grow all over southeastern Texas in the countryside and in national parks.

White Mulberry (Morus Alba species)

• White mulberry bushes have white fruit, as the name suggests and look great in fruit salad as they do not bleed black juice like regular mulberries. These berries have a delicate flavor and can be cooked into pies or eaten raw mixed with other fruits.