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Cloudberry

Cloudberry is the common name for *Rubus chamaemorus*, a low, creeping flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Cloudberry is the common name for *Rubus chamaemorus*, a low, creeping flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae. It is native to Arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and produces an edible amber to orange fruit that is widely used in jams, desserts, and beverages. The plant is especially associated with boreal bogs, tundra, and wet peaty habitats.

Taxonomy and naming

Cloudberry is the common name for *Rubus chamaemorus* in the family Rosaceae. It has several regional names, reflecting its wide distribution and cultural importance across the north.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in Arctic, subarctic, and boreal parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, Alaska, and other northern regions. It is associated with bogs, wet meadows, tundra, and other peat-rich, moisture-rich habitats.

Description and reproduction

Cloudberry is a low, creeping perennial herb with separate male and female plants. It produces white flowers and a raspberry-like aggregate fruit that ripens to amber or orange.

Uses

The fruit is eaten fresh and is commonly processed into jam, juice, coulis, desserts, and liqueurs. In some regions, the leaves have also been used for tea and the plant has traditional food and medicinal uses.

Key facts

  • Cloudberry is a flowering plant species in the rose family.
  • It is native to circumpolar northern regions across North America, Europe, and Asia.
  • The plant grows in cold, moist, acidic habitats such as bogs and tundra.
  • Its fruit is edible and is commonly used in jams, desserts, juices, and liqueurs.
  • Cloudberries are known for their tart flavour and high vitamin C content.
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Canadian context

Cloudberries grow in northern Canada and are known by regional names such as bakeapple and aqpik; they are especially associated with Indigenous and northern food traditions in Arctic and subarctic communities.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cloudberry?
A cloudberry is the edible fruit of *Rubus chamaemorus*, a low perennial plant in the rose family native to northern bogs and tundra.
Where do cloudberries grow?
They grow in Arctic, subarctic, and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in wet, acidic habitats such as bogs and peatlands.
Are cloudberries edible?
Yes. The fruit is edible and is eaten fresh or used in preserves, desserts, juices, and alcoholic drinks.
What do cloudberries look like?
The fruit resembles a raspberry but is typically amber to orange when ripe.
Why are cloudberries notable?
They are valued for their flavour, high vitamin C content, and importance in northern food traditions.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_chamaemorus
    Supports: Scientific name, family, common name, regional names.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/cloudberry
    Supports: Plant type, native range, edible fruit.
  3. NordGen — https://www.nordgen.org/projects/crop-wild-relatives/plant-portraits/cloudberry-rubus-chamaemorus/
    Supports: Circumpolar distribution, fruit uses, vitamin C, leaves used for tea.
  4. University of Alaska Fairbanks — https://www.uaf.edu/ces/publications/database/food/cloudberries.php
    Supports: North American common names, including cloudberry and baked apple berry.
  5. Alimentarium — https://www.alimentarium.org/en/fact-sheet/cloudberry
    Supports: Habitat, fruit description, culinary uses, vitamin C and antioxidants.