Now
20°C · Overcast
Today
23° / 15°
Rain, 7 days
9 mm
Season
Fall · frost in ~28 d
Foraging around Winnipeg
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyForaging in Winnipeg: Early Fall Harvest
In season now
Saskatoon Berry (late season)
Where: Shrubby areas, riverbanks, disturbed ground throughout the region
Dark purple berries, 8–12 mm, with a waxy bloom; pick when fully dark (not red). Eat fresh or dry for winter storage.
Look-alikes: Chokecherry berries are similar but smaller and more astringent; taste a few to confirm sweetness.
Wild Plum
Where: Hedgerows, thickets, and open woodland edges, especially near old homesteads
Yellow to red stone fruits, 2–3 cm diameter, with a single large pit. Fully ripe fruits are soft and sweet; use for jam or eat fresh.
Look-alikes: No dangerous look-alikes; distinguish from chokecherry by larger size and single large pit.
Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
Where: Moist thickets and woodland edges throughout Manitoba
Bright red translucent berries in clusters, tart and firm; harvest after light frost for best flavor. Use for jelly, sauce, or fresh.
Look-alikes: Baneberry has white or red berries on unbranched stems and is toxic; cranberry berries grow in flat clusters and are much larger.
Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis)
Where: Wet ditches, stream margins, and disturbed moist ground
Square stems, opposite leaves with minty aroma when crushed. Harvest leaves anytime; dry or use fresh for tea.
Look-alikes: Catnip has similar square stems but hairier leaves and a different scent; both are safe but taste different.
Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
Where: Disturbed areas, roadsides, and recent burn sites
Young seed pods (siliques) are edible raw or cooked when still green and tender; older pods become fibrous. Leaves are also edible when young.
Look-alikes: No dangerous look-alikes; the four-petaled magenta flowers are distinctive.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Where: Dry grasslands, prairie margins, and open disturbed areas
Lavender-pink tubular flowers in dense clusters; harvest flowers and upper leaves for tea with a minty-oregano flavor.
Look-alikes: Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) has similar purple flowers but smaller, denser spikes; both are edible.
Coming soon
Rose Hips (Rosa spp.)
Bright red or orange fruits appear after frost; rich in vitamin C. Harvest after a hard freeze for best flavor and texture.
Rowan Berries (Sorbus aucuparia)
Orange-red berries in clusters ripen in late September; tart and best used for jelly or after frost. Confirm species—native rowan is rare here but planted ornamentals are common.
Wild Grapes (Vitis riparia)
Small dark purple grapes ripen in late September; use for juice, jelly, or eat fresh. Vines cling to trees and shrubs along waterways.
Safety in this area
- Ticks are active in tall grass and brush through fall; check skin and clothing after foraging, especially in wooded areas.
- Poison ivy (three leaflets, glossy, red in fall) is present in disturbed areas and woodlands; learn to recognize and avoid.
- Always forage on public land or with explicit permission; much of the region is private farmland or Crown land with restricted access.
- No grizzly bears in Manitoba, but black bears are present in northern and eastern regions; make noise while foraging in remote areas and never approach wildlife.
Foraging information is educational. Confirm every identification with a regional field guide or expert before eating anything wild.
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