How to Identify Common Poisonous Berries in North America

Don’t we all love berries! These juicy, colorful, fleshy fruits are very appealing and attractive. Now, some of these juicy berries can be harmful to humans. So be careful in choosing and eating berries!
Now how does one know which berries are edible? The best way is to learn about various species of harmful berries.
Below is a description of a few famous toxic berries.

Steps

1. Know the names of inedible berries. Some common names are: poison ivy berry, holly berry, nightshade berry, yew berry, pokeweed berry, Virginia creepers etc. Note some common North American berries that are poisonous:
   
   • Virginia creepers: Other names; American ivy, woodbine, and ampelopsis. They have five fingered leaves. They grow tall and are popular as a wall creeper. The berries are dark and blue in colour. They are sometimes confused with the three-fingered poison ivy.
   • Pokeweed: The plant is also called poke, inkberry or garget. This is a tall and bushy plant. The flowers grow in long clusters and the berries are purple black and are flat.
   • Bittersweet: This plant is easy to identify. Its berry is enclosed by an orange-yellow capsule. Make sure you don’t eat them!
   • Nightshade, also known as Solanaceae, belladonna, jimson weed etc. The flowers are white or purple in color and are star shaped. They are mostly found in warm regions, generally in tropical America. They are mostly found as creepers. All parts, especially the un-ripened berry is poisonous.
   • Ivy: They are green creepers. They also called English ivy, Japanese ivy etc. They are native to Europe and temperate Asia. The berries are poisonous.
   • Yew: The foliage is more toxic than the berries. Death is usually sudden without any symptoms. The berries are fleshy in appearance and bright scarlet in color. They have a cup like depression at the base.
   • Mistletoe: It maybe potentially toxic to the liver. This plant grows and survives on other plants. This parasitic plant has yellowish flowers, small, yellow- green leaves and waxy, white berries. It hasn’t been established if these berries are harmful to humans or not. But, it is good to avoid if you come across them, unless you know how to use it medicinally.
2. Have identifying information. If you are going on a hike or an expedition, carry a book with the names, pictures and descriptions of berries. This way you’ll know which berry you are looking at.
3. Know the symptoms of berry poisoning. You will likely experience intense digestive disturbance and nervous symptoms.
4. If in doubt about a berry, make sure to check it with a gardener.
5. Know what is in your garden. Berries grow on many trees and shrubs. Make sure you are familiar with what you grow in your garden. Don’t plant a berry tree if you are not sure if it’s toxic or not.

Tips

• Note that some berries may not be harmful to birds and animals but could turn out to be fatal to humans.
• Most berries are beautiful to look at and have attractive colours. Hence, they are used in decorations.
• Avoid using decorative berries that are harmful specially if there are children around.
• These berries may well be in other regions of the world; this is simply an article focused on what can be found in North American gardens, roadsides, parks, and back country.

Warnings

• Consult a doctor immediately if you think you have eaten an poisonous berry.
• Spit immediately. When you eat a berry that tastes bad, make sure to spit it out. Then wash your mouth thoroughly with water and seek medical advice quickly.
• Just because a bird can eat a berry safely does not mean that a human can do so.

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