Wild Berries: Separating the Good from the Bad

How many times have you warned your child not to eat the wild berries growing in Grandma’s backyard? Every toddler and child is riddled with a strong sense of curiosity – in fact, they can’t seem to leave anything untouched. While taking part in a fun exploration is a great way to learn, it can be hard to teach kids the difference between good and bad berries.

Do you know which berries are cause for concern? Chances are, you’ve been taught to avoid every mushroom or berry that grows wild (most likely because our parents didn’t know the difference, either). However, searching for ‘good’ berries can be a wonderful camping pastime during the warmer seasons – as long as you know how to differentiate between a wild strawberry and a poisonous red berry.

Holly plants are common in many areas and often associated with Christmas. In fact, a real holly shrub looks very similar to the images shown during the holidays, with small red berries and rigid leaves with sharp points. The berries somewhat resemble a shrunken tomato, yet redder in colour. Warn children to steer clear of these plants, since even a couple of holly berries can lead to nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.

The evergreen yew also produces poisonous berries. Similar in appearance to a Christmas tree, this type of shrub boasts soft red berries with a green center. Like the holly, just a few berries are enough to cause serious illness. Before you embark on your camping adventure, be sure to research the trees, shrubs, and berries native to the area, and warn kids to stay away from any berry that a parent or guardian has not given permission to eat.

The safeness of Juniper and dogwood remain uncertain, so it’s best to stay away. While juniper has traditionally been used in recipes, many individuals have had adverse reactions to the bluish-purple berries. Although the bright red berries appearing on a dogwood tree are not technically poisonous, a rash may develop just by touching the tree.

Unless you consider yourself to be a berry expert, it’s wise to stick with the most common of the wild berries, such as strawberries and blueberries. Just be sure to inspect the berries for small insects and give them a quick wash before eating.

If you can’t seem to find any wild berries in the area, ask one of the locals – you may just be visiting out of season.