Wisconsin Edible Berry Shrubs
Whether they're on your cereal or in jams, jellies and pies, berries are a favorite sweet treat and there are
species that are berry shrubs native to our area — providing a sustainable garden that also supports
native pollinators.
The wild fruit of Wisconsin offers a variety of fresh and delicious flavors. They can be used alone or combined
with other fruit for a unique twist in your favorite jam, sauce or baking recipes. Include these plants in your
‘edible forest’ or general landscape, and have a bounty that you can both enjoy and share with the birds, bees
and butterflies that visit your garden!
Edible gardening generally brings to mind beds of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, and other foods with
origins in distant continents. As natives of often vastly different climates and growing conditions, many of
these plants require a lot of time and attention to bring to a successful harvest
Home cultivation of these native plants for edible usage is a sustainable way to increase existing
wild populations of valuable plants and the genetic resilience they hold, as well as support the vast array of
wildlife that depend on the presence of native plants for their own survival.