Red Berry - Holly tree with berries - Hawthorn with haws

Even a single bright red berry seen on an evergreen tree in wintertime is a thing of true beauty to behold. When I imagine a red berry I always think of the holly tree in particular. Birds are attracted to the red berries on trees during wintertime but the holly tree with its prickly leaves can deter the birds and the holly red berries can last all the way until Christmastime. The contrast between the red berry holly and the dark green foliage of the tree is lovely to behold.

Dangers of wild berries: Edible red berries

The obvious red berry foodstuffs are strawberries, cranberries and raspberries but other red berries can be eaten too. You must be careful when preparing a fruit salad because some berries are poisonous and the color of the berry (red or otherwise) is not a good indicator so you should stick to known berries until your knowledge level increases.

The holly tree is a wild red berry tree

The red berry holly tree (pictured) holds connotations of religious beliefs as in the crown of thorns worn by Jesus with the red berry fruit representing a blood drop. Festive Christmas decorations and wreaths are often made with branches of this beautiful tree and the holly bush is considered to be a good luck charm if you have one growing on your property. A holly tree will grow in the wild but it may not have berries at all because pollination will depend on there being more than one holly tree.

The red berry hawthorn tree

The hawthorn tree (pictured) produces nice red berries in the autumn and provides food for the bird community who are attracted by the color. The tree has tough thorns and can tear skin easily so care is needed in the vicinity of this tree even when you brush off it whilst cutting grass or doing other garden maintenance tasks.

Haw berries

The berries are known as haws hence the hawthorn tree name. You can brew a tea (in a teapot) made from hawthorn’s berries and this infusion is believed to be a very good general tonic, but some scientific doubt exists regarding the validity of this claim. The red berry of the hawthorn tree does contain Vitamin C so there may be some truth in the above statement which was handed down from generation to generation. The berries can be used in jam making or in hawberry wine.

NOTE: Be very careful with the hawthorn bush or tree when picking haws because the thorns are wicked and can give you a fair jab. It is best to used strong gloves but even then the sharply pointed thorn can pierce right through them. The problem is that the hawthorn is so dense and the branches mingle and overlap each other, so much so, that it can be nigh on impossible to work with this tree. Even when logs are cut from the old tree limbs the spikes can still stick into you when you go to lift the wood.

Dangers associated with some berries

Honeysuckle, Holly, Bittersweet, Lily of the valley and Black Bryony are all poisonous despite their attractive red berries. The Yew tree has scarlet berries and they should never be eaten because they are deadly poisonous. Seek immediate professional medical advice if you consume berries which cause you any concern at all.

Edible red berries

Wild red berry concerns: To eat or not to eat?

This list contains some of the edible red berries growing wild in the countryside but if you do not recognize a berry then do not eat it. Many berries are poisonous (as detailed above) so great care and attention to detail is required.

Bearberry: This is an evergreen shrub which does not grow too high and produces white flowers and then red berries which can be used to make an herbal tea or tincture.

Red Cranberries: The small red cranberries grow on stems that grow in acidic or boggy ground. Makes great traditional sauces.

Raspberries: Raspberries are red but can be other colors too. The raspberry cane has small thorns and the berries are hollow on their inside.

Strawberries: Well known red berry but sometimes confused with similar-looking wild berries which are poisonous.

Thimbleberries: Similar to raspberries but flatter in shape and usually bigger too but are softer than raspberries.

Salmonberries: Salmonberries are rich in vitamin C. and are close relatives of the raspberry although sometimes confused with cloudberries.

Rosehips: Sometimes rosehips are called wild rose, the berries are oval shaped and colored red and are a high source of Vitamin C.

This list is not comprehensive as there are numerous red berries (both wild and cultivated) available. A red berry on a tree, shrub or bush is such a pleasant visual experience that it seems a shame to eat or cook it.