Fall · September 8, 2026
City of Fredericton, New Brunswick
Now
15°C · Clear
Today
19° / 11°
Rain, 7 days
17 mm
Season
Fall · frost in ~43 d
Foraging around City of Fredericton
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyForaging in Fredericton: Early Fall Harvest
In season now
Wild grapes (Vitis riparia)
Where: Riverbanks, fence lines, and disturbed edges along the Saint John River valley; common in thickets.
Dark purple-black berries in loose clusters, waxy bloom, small seeds; eat fresh or make jam. Leaves are palmate, deeply lobed.
Look-alikes: Pokeweed berries are similar but grow in tight upright spikes and are poisonous; grape clusters are looser and hang downward.
Caution: Verify ripeness—unripe grapes are sour and astringent.
Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)
Where: Roadsides, field edges, and disturbed areas throughout the region; prefers well-drained soils.
Fuzzy red berry clusters (drupes) ripen now; soak in cold water for 15 minutes to make tart, lemonade-like drink. Velvety stems and compound leaves are distinctive.
Look-alikes: Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) has white or cream berries and smooth stems; staghorn has red berries and hairy stems—never touch poison sumac.
Caution: Confirm red berries and hairy stems before harvesting; poison sumac is highly toxic.
Highbush cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
Where: Moist thickets, streamside areas, and disturbed woodlands; scattered throughout the Saint John River valley.
Bright red translucent berries in flat-topped clusters; tart and firm, best after frost. Opposite, maple-like leaves with three lobes.
Look-alikes: Guelder rose (same species, ornamental form) is identical and edible; no dangerous look-alikes.
Caution: Berries contain a stone; some people prefer to strain them for juice rather than eat whole.
Wild mushrooms: Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
Where: Dead or dying hardwoods (oak, maple, birch) in mixed forests; found on fallen logs and standing dead trees.
Bright orange and yellow shelf fungus, soft when young, no gills (pores underneath); slice and pan-fry. Fruiting now through October.
Look-alikes: Jack O'Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus) glows faintly, has true gills, and is poisonous; chicken of the woods has pores and is not bioluminescent.
Caution: Some people have mild digestive upset; cook thoroughly and try a small amount first.
Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Where: Roadsides, field margins, and disturbed areas; invasive but edible; common in the Fredericton region.
Small red berries with silver speckles, mealy texture, tart-sweet flavor; eat fresh or make jam. Narrow, silvery-backed leaves.
Look-alikes: No dangerous look-alikes; distinctive silver-speckled berries and leaf undersides.
Caution: Invasive species—harvest freely to help control spread.
Wild mint (Mentha arvensis, M. spicata)
Where: Moist areas, stream margins, and disturbed ground; common throughout the region.
Aromatic leaves, square stems; strip leaves and dry or use fresh in tea or cooking. Mint flavor intensifies as weather cools.
Look-alikes: Catnip (Nepeta cataria) has similar square stems but hairier leaves and different scent; both are safe but mint is more palatable.
Caution: Mint spreads aggressively; harvest from wild patches only.
Coming soon
Wild apples (Malus sylvestris, feral varieties)
Small hard cider apples ripen late September through October; excellent for pressing or cooking. Look for trees in old orchards and abandoned homesteads.
Caution: Verify access to private land before harvesting.
Hazelnuts (Corylus cornuta, C. americana)
Brown nuts in leafy husks mature late September; crack and eat raw or roast. Found in mixed woodlands and thickets.
Caution: Squirrels harvest heavily; collect early and check for insect damage.
Wintergreen berries (Gaultheria procumbens)
Bright red berries persist into winter; minty flavor; use for tea or chew fresh. Evergreen groundcover in acidic woodlands.
Caution: Slow to regenerate; harvest sparingly and only where abundant.
Safety in this area
- Tick season peaks in fall; wear long sleeves and pants, check skin after foraging, and remove ticks promptly with tweezers.
- Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is common in disturbed areas and field edges; learn the three-leaflet pattern and avoid touching.
- Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) causes severe phototoxic burns; it has large white umbrella-shaped flower clusters and grows 1–2 m tall—do not touch or brush against it.
- Black bears are present in the region; make noise while foraging, avoid dawn and dusk, and never forage alone in remote areas; report sightings to NB Natural Resources.
Foraging information is educational. Confirm every identification with a regional field guide or expert before eating anything wild.
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