Arctic bramble
Rubus arcticus
Finland's prized mesimarja: tiny, intensely fragrant berries on knee-high plants. Plant two clones to get fruit.
Hardiness: zones 1 to 5
Light: full sun
Size: about 0.5 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Harvest: July to August
From: Finland, Sweden, Russia and northern North America
Here: Wants more winter cold than the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a) provides.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: Northern Europe & the taiga, Alaska, Western Canada, Eastern Canada. Hardy in zones 1 to 5.
The story
Arctic bramble, the nagoonberry of Alaska and the mesimarja of Finland, has been gathered by Sámi, Yup'ik and Finnish families as the most fragrant berry of the north, and Finnish distillers make a liqueur from it that costs more than cognac.
Planting
Full sun in a cool climate, moist, acid, peaty soil; it needs cold. Plant two different clones a foot apart; it spreads slowly as a 6-inch groundcover.
Growing
Keep moist and weeded; it hates competition and heat. Mulch with peat. Very hardy.
Harvest and use
A few deep red berries per plant in late summer; eat at once or make a small jar of the best jam you will taste.
What to watch for
Heat, drought, and grass.
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More berries and small fruit
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home