Edible White Berries From Native Plants

While on berry-picking expeditions, seeing white berries can cause you to run, not walk, in the other direction. It is common knowledge that most white berries found in the wild are poisonous. However, there are a few edible exceptions. These white berries vary in color from clear to almost green. In any case, when you do discover them, you will find them quite tasty.

The white blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius, forma albifructus), a native to north-central Florida, yields a moderate crop and survives only with good soil moisture levels. It was discovered near some clumps of sand blackberry in 1934. The white blackberry is considered an albino variant of the sand blackberry, so it tastes very sweet. Because the white blackberry is rather soft and easily squished, it must be consumed locally. Transporting it any distance would be disastrous. Since blackberries are notorious for staining fingers and teeth, this berry can be consumed without those telltale marks.

The white raspberry (Rubus erytrocaldus), native to Brazil, loves the subtropical climate with its rains and high humidity. It grows in shade as well as sun. The white raspberry is very sweet and tends toward a shade of light-green, but makes good jams and jellies provided you add some acidity such as lemon juice. It has a pleasing aroma. The berry will be smaller than the domesticated red varieties found in most gardens. Although not a heavy yielder, it steadily provides fruit throughout the growing season.

The white mulberry (Morus alba), native to eastern and central China, thrives on soils with little or no organic matter and withstands a lack of rainfall. It is considered a weed in the United States and Europe. This hardy tree will thrive even if planted in a pot. The fruit is sweet but translucent. This allows you to see the the darker seeds inside the fruit. As with most mulberries, the white mulberry fruit is thin and delicate, meaning its skin is very delicate. It also does not keep well.