• Ask Mark
    • Search the Library
    • Mark’s Blog
    • eNewsletter / Subscribe
    • Books
    • Links
  • Cullen’s Foods
  • Trees For Life
  • Events
    • Gardening Communities
  • About Mark
    • Mark and Ben’s Bio
    • Book Mark as a Speaker
    • Mark in the Media
    • Contact Us
September 17, 2014

Berry Interesting

Last week I showed you the collection of trees and some of their seeds that I collected during a stroll on a nearby trail. I like to take walks this time of year: the weather is cooler and the colours are rich. There are still late season blooms to look at (asters and goldenrod are prevalent alongside the trail I walk) but, beyond that, I can see the results of pollination. Seed heads and pods are around and I like thinking about how the seeds are transported just by looking at how they are designed.

Berries, though, are colourful reminders of a process we all too often take for granted. I took a stroll after a very wet, rainy day and my pictures reflect that as you can still see water dripping from the leaves and fruit.

Not all wild berries are edible. I tend to snag a few blackberries and raspberries when I see them and know absolutely 100% for sure that’s what they are. Unless you’re a berry expert, I would recommend looking and not touching, let alone eating.

Blackberries (Rubus allegheniensis)
Blackberries in my area are finishing up. There are a few patches of the stuff that don’t get quite as much sun and so they are slower to ripen. I like the look of a blackberry bush when its berries are in between ripe and ripening. The unripe berries range from white, as you can see in the photo, to bright red right before turning black.

I grow blackberries on my property in a more managed way and I would suggest that if you’re thinking about growing your own, you buy a good quality plant from a trusted nursery. Wild blackberry bushes can get pretty, well, wild and I have seen them climbing up and over trees just to reach the light.
Sept17_1

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)
The raspberries on the trail are pretty much finished – I was lucky to get this photo! They are delicious when they are in-season and I generally give them a quick once-over to check for insects before chomping down. Like the blackberries, though, if you’re going to plant your own, I would suggest a cane variety. These wild raspberries tend to get unruly, spreading their vines over top of everything in sight.
Sept17_2

Doll’s Eyes (Actaea pachypoda)
These have to be one of my favourite berries to see in the late summer/early fall. The colours alone are striking and they do, indeed, look like the eyes of a doll. Not to mention the bright pink stem they grow from. Native to my area, doll’s eyes are also known as white baneberry. Berries are eaten by birds who disperse the seeds.

These berries are NOT edible and human consumption can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Sept17_3

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
A strikingly awkward-looking plant when in bloom, Jack-in-the-pulpit doesn’t look any less awkward when in berry (is that a term?). Native to eastern North America, the plant is composed of three leaves, a spadix (Jack), and a spathe (the pulpit). The spathe is the hooded feature that covers the spadix. The bright red berries you can see here are created through pollination by flies.

Again, not a plant to be eating as it can cause burning and irritation.
Sept17_4

Smooth Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
Smooth Solomon’s seal has berries that are lined up along the stem beneath the leaves. Beginning as small white flowers that hang down, pollinated flowers will turn into green berries that eventually mature to the blue-black blueberry-looking berries you can see in the photo. They are a hardy plant that does well in shady areas. They do take a while to become established, so are not for the impatient gardener.

Native in my area, and throughout North America, but again, DO NOT eat the berries. Leaves and stems are also poisonous and can leave you feeling rather ill.
Sept17_5

False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosa)
False Solomon’s seal looks similar to that of smooth Solomon’s seal until the flowers form. Where smooth Solomon’s seal has large dangling flowers, false Solomon’s seal contains a white flower cluster at the end of an arching cascade of leaves.

The berries turn from speckled white-pink to red and are located at the end of the leaf stem (known in the horticultural world as a terminal cluster). The ripe red berries are edible, though I have never tried them myself. I have heard mixed reviews about their palatability and think I’m just not quite ready to take the plunge.
Sept17_6

Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum canadense)
Lily-of-the-valley is a bit of a controversial plant but largely because it has a non-native, rather aggressive, counterpart that will do everything in its power to take over well beyond where it is planted. The native sibling, however, also known as Canada Mayflower, is an important understory plant and often one of the first to resprout after a forest fire, reducing soil erosion from wind and water.

I wouldn’t suggest eating these berries. Not poisonous but are known to cause digestive problems.
Sept17_7

Climbing Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
The only plant in this list that is a non-native weed, climbing nightshade is rather aggressive. During my walks I see it climbing trees, plants, and posts put in place to direct pedestrians. In the summer, the vines have fairly attractive purple flowers with yellow centres. Berries change colours slowly as they ripen, starting green then turning yellow and orange before finishing at red. The ripe berries are eaten and distributed by birds. The plant is poisonous to livestock and berries have been known to be poisonous to some people but not all. Best to just avoid this one.
Sept17_8

When it comes to wild berries, it’s always best to take a ‘look, don’t touch’ approach. Unless you are familiar with the plant, don’t eat berries you see. They are interesting to watch grow, however, and I encourage you to get out into some ‘wild’ space this fall to check them out for yourself.

← Previous post
Trees and Seeds and Leaves Galore

Next post →
The Fungus Amongst Us

Search

Recent Posts

  • Signs of Spring March 27, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week February 2, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week January 11, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week December 9, 2020

Mark’s Blog by Month

Ask Mark

  • eNewsletter
  • Radio/Podcast
  • Magazine article
  • Newspaper column
  • TV

Recent Tweets

Mark Cullen Follow

Best selling Canadian gardening author as seen on TV, radio, online and print.

MarkCullen4
2 Mar

Was a pleasure visiting with our #tree loving friends @TonyDiGiovanni1 and @MarkCullen4 today @vinelandrsrch!

Reply on Twitter 1631375315615318018 Retweet on Twitter 1631375315615318018 1 Like on Twitter 1631375315615318018 10 Twitter 1631375315615318018
19 Feb

Increase biodiversity in your yard with these tips from Mark and Ben Cullen. @MarkCullen4

http://ow.ly/u2sE50MVwTA

Reply on Twitter 1627294471200116736 Retweet on Twitter 1627294471200116736 1 Like on Twitter 1627294471200116736 4 Twitter 1627294471200116736
10 Feb

Excited to meet with Mark Cullen and Tony DiGiovanni today to learn more about the Trees for Life Program and how Less Mess can help!

Reply on Twitter 1624161096243240976 Retweet on Twitter 1624161096243240976 4 Like on Twitter 1624161096243240976 6 Twitter 1624161096243240976
12 Jan

This was a great way to start the new year. Congratulations, Landscape Ontario, on this milestone! Thanks to all who made it happen. We’re looking forward to the next one.

#TreesForLife #Congress #LOCongress #ClimateAction #GoGreen #HOHTC

Reply on Twitter 1613670790612017153 Retweet on Twitter 1613670790612017153 5 Like on Twitter 1613670790612017153 5 Twitter 1613670790612017153

Comments are closed.

About Mark and Ben


Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author & broadcaster and holds the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of Guelph and Dalhousie University.
More

Find Mark On

Sponsored Links

Highway of Heroes cullensfoods Share Agriculture Foundation Harrowsmith
© Mark Cullen. Go to top ↑