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The varieties of Wild Berries

Under the name “wild berries” have been grouped all the "berry” species that grow spontaneously, and more recently, also cultivated, in the underwood of hills and woods. The most spread varieties of wild berries in the European and world fruit and vegetable sector are of course blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, currant and wild strawberries, even though there are many other varieties that can be classified as berry “minor fruits” or wild berries, such as the less widespread gooseberry.

The most widespread species of wild berries are:

Among the most widespread varieties present on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

    • AUTUMN BLISS RASPBERRY: ever bearing that ripens in two separate periods of summer, with the first blooming from the first days of June to the first days of July and a second blooming from the end of July until the first colds of October. Fruits are medium, weigh about 3 gr, they are dark red, flavoured and have a good resistance to the handling phases (harvesting, packaging) and the storing phases.
    • FALLGOLD RASPBERRY: it is an ever bearing variety that appears as a bushy and thorny plant that can be of different height (up to 1.5 metres), characterized by a great ability to reproduce. Fruits are small, conical more or less elongated, yellow and very sweet (more sweet than the more known and consumed red raspberries).
    • GLEN AMPLE RASPBERRY: variety of raspberry more late than the Tulameen; fruits are slightly less good, but the plant produces more fruits.
    • GLEN LYON RASPBERRY: even though the fruits are medium-small, the taste is quite good, the harvesting is easy and fruits are resistant to handling.
    • GLEN MOY RASPBERRY: : variety introduced about 20 years ago; it is an early variety that in some areas ripens already from the second week of June. The fruits are medium, good and particularly resistant to aphids. Moreover, this variety has the advantage to have a stem without thorns.
    • GLEN PROSEN RASPBERRY: resistant , with medium-large fruits, particularly resistant to atmospheric agents and to handling. The harvesting takes place from the beginning of July to the end of the month. Fruits are medium-large and roundish.
    • HERITAGE RASPBERRY: the most widespread cultivar among the ever baring varieties; very vigorous and productive plant with medium-large fruits, of a quite bright red, with a very sweet taste and with an excellent resistance on the plant.
    • HIMBO TOP RASPBERRY: it is a new very interesting hybrid selected by a research in Switzerland. It is a very productive variety with large berries, compact, tasty, excellent both frozen and traded fresh.
    •  LLOYD GEORGE RASPBERRY
    • MALAHAT RASPBERRY: variety of raspberry more early than the Tulameen; fruits are slightly less good, but the plant produces more fruits.
    • MEEKER RASPBERRY
    • POLKA RASPBERRY
    • PORANNA ROSA RASPBERRY: June bearing variety, with medium-large fruits, approximately round, similar to the black raspberry. Raspberries are yellow or slightly orange, compact and quite tasty. This variety is characterized positively by an excellent resistance to rotting problems and negatively as the ripe fruits decay quickly.
    • ROSSANA RASPBERRY: late variety of raspberries, whose fruits are very sweet and resistant to the handling phases. They ripen in July.
    • RUBY RASPBERRY: ever bearing variety with large fruits.
    • SEPTEMBER RASPBERRY :ever bearing variety, with large fruits and a great decorative effect.
    • SUGANA RASPBERRY: variety with quite large fruits.
    • TULAMEEN RASPBERRY: it is the best cultivar nowadays on the market. Medium-late variety (from mid-July to mid/end of August) appreciated and traded for the medium light red fruits that have a full-bodied taste. They are quite resistant to handling and to atmospheric events such as rainfalls and to the storing ability that is absolutely higher than the average of other varieties.
    • WILLAMETTE RASPBERRY: varieties that produces large and very tasty fruits. They ripen from mid-July to mid/end August.

There is a particular kind of blackberry called Tayberry that is a hybrid between blackberries andraspberries: it is a climbing plant with fruits similar to raspberries but very long. There is also the Boysenberry variety, a new Zealand hybrid, whose fruits are dark like blackberries, but far more sweet and free from the typical acid taste of blackberries.

Among the most widespread varieties present on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

    • ARAPAHO BLACKBERRY: early variety of blackberry formed in 1993 by Clark at the University of Arkansas (USA). It is an upright blackberry variety, vigorous and resistant. It is a variety with a medium production level: fruits are medium and of a good quality.
    •  BLACKSATIN BLACKBERRY: very vigorous and rustic variety of blackberries that produces medium-large, conical fruits with a rounded point, bright black with violet nuances. The flesh is quite thick, black-violet, juicy, acidic and not very sweet. This variety ripens and is harvested from mid-July to the end of September.
    • BOYSENBERRY BLACKBERRIES: hybrid variety of blackberry from New Zealand; fruits are dark like blackberries, but far more sweet and free from the typical acid taste of traditional blackberries. 
    • CHESTER THORNLESS BLACKBERRIES: medium-late variety of thornless blackberries from Illinois that grow on a bush with semi-upright suckers; it is a variety resistant to colds, but very vigorous and productive. Fruits are medium, dark, firm and sweet and ripen late.
    •  HULL BLACKBERRY: variety of blackberries that is very resistant to cold, very vigorous and productive. Fruits are medium, dark, firm and sweet. They ripen not too late and not too early.
    • LOCHNESS NESSY BLACKBERRY®: medium variety of blackberry selected in Scotland and spread after 1988, nowadays is the most cultivated variety in Italy and in Europe on the fresh market: fruits are large, bright black, sweet and flavoured when completely ripe. They ripen in July-August.
    • NAVAHO BALCKBERRY: medium-early variety of blackberries produced in 1989 in Fayetteville (USA). The plant of this variety has very large upright branches. Fruits are medium, firm and good as to quality. It is a variety with a low ability to reproduce that can have problems to engraft.
    • SMOOTHSTEM BLACKBERRY: thornless variety of blackberries native to the USA that grows on a bush with semi-upright suckers; it is a late variety whose fruits are harvested starting from the end of July up to September: fruits are large, flavoured, sweet only when completely ripe, suitable to the production of fruit jams and less to fresh consumption.
    • TAYBERRY, LOGANBERRY, BOYSENBERRY, TUMMELBERRY: particular varieties coming from breeding between blackberries and raspberries. They are climbing plants with fruits similar to raspberries, very long, with an intense flavour, but different from the classic flavour of blackberries and the wild European raspberries. These varieties are probably more suitable to the production of fruit jams and are more sensitive to winter frosts
    • THORNFREE BLACKBERRY: thornless variety of blackberry from the North-East of the USA. It is a very strong and extremely productive cultivar; the production of this variety is perfect also for the Italian Mediterranean areas as it is more resistant to drought; however, this variety of blackberry needs a certain number of hours of winter cold to ripen regularly. Fruits are white-pinkish, large (they can weigh up to 8gr) long and black. The flesh of this variety of blackberry is blackish, juicy, acidic, flavoured and tasty.

Among the most widespread varieties present on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

Red cluster varieties

    • JUNIFER CURRANT: red variety of currant selected by Inra in France. It is an early variety, with good production levels and quite long clusters; it is a variety suitable also for temperate climate regions (in Italy up to Campania region). Fruits are beautiful and tasty and are suitable for any usage, both as a fresh fruit and for the production of jams, sauces, etc.
    • ROVADA CURRANT: late Dutch variety of red currant, very productive and vigorous, with long clusters and juicy and flavoured berries. Nowadays it is the most cultivated variety as to the red cluster currant and the fact that it is easy to harvest.
    • DUTCH CURRANT: : variety with long clusters and very good dark red fruits.

White currant varieties

    • BLANKA CURRANT: late variety of white currant, vigorous and very productive with long clusters formed by 18-20 berries.
    • VERSAILLES CURRANT: variety of white currant with long clusters, yellow berries and a delicate taste.
    • ZITAVIA CURRANT: variety of white currant that ripens early; it is vigorous, has a medium production and fruits are firm and good tasting.

Black currant varieties

    • BLACK LAMOND CURRRANT
    • BOOSKOOP CURRANT: variety of black currant, vigorous, with small clusters formed by 8-10 berries; fruits are acidic and flavoured. The variety reproduces with Noir de Bourgogne.
    • NOIR DE BOURGOGNE CURRANT: variety of black currant, vigorous and with short clusters.
    • TITANIA CURRANT

Yellow currant varieties

    • VICTORIA CURRANT: medium late variety of yellow currant, sweet if completly ripe; it resists well on the plant, which is rustic and easy to cultivate.

Hybrid varieties:

    • There are some varieties that come from the breeding of black currant with gooseberry, such as the jostaberry; the taste is a mix between the two species.

In general the most productive varieties are those with the bigger (diameter more than 5mm) and longer sprouts.
Among the most widespread varieties present on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

    • BERKELEY BLUEBERRY: medium-late variety of blueberry, very suitable to different areas. It has high production levels and fruits are large and pruinose, even though not very flavoured and suitable only for the fresh market.
    • BLUECROPBLUEBERRY: medium variety of blueberry with a constant and high production, whose fruits are large, light blue and slightly elongated, very resistant to handling; this variety of blueberry is particularly suitable to transports and to be stored; in the refrigerator at +1°C this variety keeps well for two weeks. It is the most resistant variety to winter frosts.
    • BRIGITTA BLUE BLUEBERRY: late variety of blueberry, vigorous and productive whose fruits are of an excellent quality; they keep easily and can be stored and therefore consumed for a long period. It is the most recent variety selected in Australia, but in general it is less productive compared to the previous varieties.
    • COVILLE BLUEBERRY: medium-late variety of blueberry, with an upright, very vigorous and productive plant. Blueberries are large, very sugary and excellent in quality.
    • DUKE BLUEBERRY: early variety of blueberry, resistant to the spring cold as to late blooming, very productive, whose fruits are good, flavoured and medium-large.
    • ELIZABETH BLUEBERRY: late variety of blueberry, whose bush is vigorous and upright. Berries are large and quite sugary. It is a good option for late harvestings.
    • LATEBLUE BLUEBERRY: late variety of blueberry, whose fruits are large. It has spread above all to extend the trading period up to late-summer and the beginning of fall.
    • LEGACY BLUEBERRY: medium-late variety of bluberry, whose bush is vigorous, upright and large. Fruits are large and have good organoleptic qualities that keep for a long period the pruine. They are sweet and flavoured, easy to harvest.
    • OZARKBLUE BLUEBERRY® : medium-late variety of blueberry, whose bush is vigorous and has good production levels. Fruits are large and their production is constant during harvestings. They have good organoleptic qualities, they are particularly flavoured, easy to harvest thanks to the fact that they usually ripen in the same period. They keep well.
    • PATRIOT BLUEBERRY: early variety of blueberry, with a rustic and productive plant; fruits have good organoleptic characteristics and are very flavoured.
    • SPARTAN BLUEBERRY: early variety of blueberry, quite resistant to cold, whose fruits are large and light blue. The flesh is firm, and very tasty.
    • TOP HATBLUEBERRY: dwarf variety of blueberry, with a bush that is 40 cm tall, more suitable to be cultivated in pots.

Belonging to the genus Vaccinium, species vitis-idaea, there are red blueberries that grow spontaneously, but are also cultivated. They are suitable to produce jams and sauces that have a typical acid taste. Red blueberries are cultivated in intensive plantings almost only in Germany and come from selections of the wild red blueberry present above all in Scandinavian countries and in Northern Europe countries.
This new species can be cultivated in the same areas where the giant blueberry is cultivated as soil and climate needs are similar. The plant of red blueberries, however develops less, with a diameter of 30 cm and they ripen when the harvesting of the giant blueberry is already finished, that is in September. Furthermore, as there is a strong demand of red blueberries by the industry, in Germany a new machine has been developed, to ease the harvesting and to fight the presence of great quantities of wild blueberries on the market in particularly good years.

  • WILD STRAWBERRY

Among the most widespread varieties present on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

    • ELSANTA WILD STRAWBERRY: variety of wild strawberry appreciated for the great production and the good quality of fruits; the fruits are uniform, consistent and have a pleasant and always fresh appearance. It is the most used variety for mountain areas where it adapts well to the climate.
    • FERN WILD STRAWBERRY: variety of wild strawberry with a medium production, a low thriving vegetation with a lot of inflorescences; fruits are medium, red but not bright and have a good taste.
    • IRVINE WILD STRAWBERRIES: variety of wild strawberries with high production levels; the plant is vigorous and has a great blooming; fruits are large and good.
    • MARALINE WILD STRAWBERRY: variety of wild strawberry particularly suitable for its good production; the vegetation is thriving and fruits have a good appearance, they are bright red and have a good taste.
    • MISS WILD STRAWBERRY: variety of wild strawberry with a medium production, whose fruits have a good appearance, but are large, sensitive to botrytis and to Colletotrichum . It is preferable if the planting is protected by tunnels.
    • REGINA DELLE VALLI: variety of wild strawberry with a great production, a vigorous plant, small, but very flavoured fruits which have a good taste; this variety is the most widespread variety of wild strawberries.
    • SEASCAPE WILD STRAWBERRY: variety of wild strawberry with a high production, a vigorous plant whose fruits are medium-large, intense red and good as to quality.

Other interesting varieties are Dea delle Valli and Alexandria.

Among the most widespread varieties present on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

    • GOLDA GOOSEBERRY: early variety of gooseberry that has been introduced recently, quite vigorous and productive, whose berries are quite large, round and yellow, almost hairless, firm and good as to taste. It is not very sensitive to powdery mildew.
    • GOUDBAL GOOSEBERRY: old variety that ripens early and that is not very vigorous, but has good production levels; fruits are long and quite large, smoothe, gold-yellow, firm and good as to taste. It is not very sensitive to powdery mildew.
    • MAY DUKE GOOSEBERRY: old variety that ripens early, whose fruits taste good; the plant is vigorous with quite large berries that are bright red and almost hairless.
    • PAX GOOSEBERRY: new thornless variety, medium vigorous, whose fruits are medium-large and good as to taste. The plant is resistant to powdery mildew.
    • ROSKO GOOSEBERRY : variety that has been created recently, whose berries are bright red-rose, almost hairless, very large, firm and good as to taste. The variety is not very vigorous, therefore it is necessary to be carefull during pruning and when the main branches are tied up. The ripening period is medium and this variety is less sensitive to powdery mildew than other varieties and red fruit.
    • ROTULA GOOSEBERRY: variety of new generation, less sensitive to powdery mildew than the classic varieties.
    • WHITE SMITH GOOSEBERRY: old variety with light green fruits that have a good taste, suitable therefore to the fresh consumption, unlike other more recent varieties with green fruits created in East Malling (“Invicta” and “Greenfinch") not very tasty and therefore more suitable for the industrial processing.
  • JOSTABERRY

Among the most widespread varieties present on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

    • BOYSENBERRY: this variety is the result of a breeding between raspberry and blackberry, obtained in New Zealand. The plant of Boysenberry is very vigorous and needs stakes; fruits, large and black-violet, are similar to blackberries, but are more sweet and rich in vitamins. They ripen in July.
    • GLENCOE JOSTABERRY: hybrid variety obtained by crossbreeding black raspberry with red raspberry. The plant has thornless stalks; fruits are seedless, violet and have an intense taste; they are suitable also for the industrial processing. This variety permits to obtain high quality fruits in dry seasons.
    • TAJBERRY: it is an hybrid between blackberry and raspberry, whose plant is medium vigorous and has long and thin branches with few thornes. Fruits, the same colour of raspberries, are large and quite long (4-5 cm) with a slightly acid taste, a good firmness and a far more intense flavour. The harvesting takes place at the beginning of July, earlier than the progenitors and finishes very soon.
    • TUMMELBERRY: it is a hybrid obtained by crossbreeding Tajberry and another breeding between raspberry and blackberry. It differs for the fruit that is of a pleasant red colour, more sour and less flavoured than Tajberry.

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