Are berries edible on this wild tree? What is it?

10 years ago

We have voluntary trees along the county road in our yard with small half inch Purple berries. The berries grow in a cluster like grapes. There is no crown on the bottom of the berries like on Juneberry/Serviceberry. There is a single round seed in each berry, sort of like cherries but smaller. The trees are between 4' and 8' tall now and branches grow upward like cherry trees.

Does anyone know what this is? Can we make jam? I took pics of the tree but they are not in the files now. Will have to edit them again.

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Comments (10)

coloradogardener2009
10 years ago
Is it black currant? What do others think?
RugbyHukr
10 years ago
Prunus virginiana?
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yeah.. they were right next to the quince preserves ... when are you going to learn .. that i say these things.. just to get my brit friend worked up ... lol ... you guys do like your toast and jams.. preserves.. jellies ... lol BTW flora .. i have alpine currants .. rather useless fruit .. IMHO ... but the most brilliant clove scented flowers for a week in spring ... worth having even if they host the juniper damaging ribes disease .... ken
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If you have a fireplace, you could cut them up for firewood. It perplexes me as to why these are still being offered in the nursery trade. It's like if the grocery store was selling food made from industrial toxic waste.
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Iris GW
10 years ago
Yep, looks like a wild black cherry.
sewwht
Original Author
10 years ago
I found a better picture that I misfiled:) Those are some great answers, thank you. I will look them up. Still, if anyone has these trees, or has collected the berries please let me know if we can eat them:) The berries are only 3/8" in diameter.
saltcedar
10 years ago
Yes, you can eat them however I find them bitter.
abgardeneer
10 years ago
Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana. The berries have an astringent quality, but can be used for jelly (a little bit of an acquired taste).
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
a lot of the tiny cherries... if that ID is correct [and i have no reason to doubt these wizards] ... is about 95% pit ....

and astringent.. is an understatement ... lol

my usual joke.. is that my left boot could be a jelly.. if you add 50 pounds of sugar.. lol ... and that would surely be.. an acquired taste.. lol ...

having many prunus serotina ... which makes billions of tiny cherries per tree ... and having driven under them mowing the lawn.. and later finding large purple stains on my shorts and tshirt.. i would not be surprised if the indians didnt use it for a dye ... but i never looked that up ...

i swear.. every single one will sprout ... so i would hesitate to keep it in a maintained garden ....

ken
Iris GW
10 years ago
so i would hesitate to keep it in a maintained garden ....

Native cherries are top plants for wildlife, not just for berries but for the foliage that is that used by butterflies for a host plant - and those butterfly caterpillars are a big source of bird food. If you have a wild cherry in your yard you are giving back to the local ecosystem in a huge way (if you live in the mid-Atlantic/eastern states - does "NE" mean Nebraska?).

We worry far too much about "our garden" and don't give enough thought to everything that lives around us. Their habitat is shrinking and "our" gardens can contribute to helping if we think a little less about what we want.
abgardeneer
10 years ago
Chokecherries have a very pronounced suckering habit, yet are usually sold in tree form, e.g. forms such as 'Schubert'. They sucker like crazy to try to re-establish their natural bush form. This does indeed make them less desirable for a maintained garden than many other trees/shrubs. Great in the wild or in semi-wild plantings, but unless one likes extra maintenance (cutting out or mowing off suckers), there are better choices for the maintained garden.
sewwht
Original Author
10 years ago
"every single one will sprout ... so i would hesitate to keep it in a maintained garden .... "
Thank you Ken, that's good to know. Our yard is not the average yard with a lawn. It is only for wildlife, not looks. Clover instead of grass, beneficial flowers, herbs, gardens, Sunflowers and trees everywhere. Our yard blooms! I love it:)

I collected some berries today. I probably will not make jam, but will plant more trees for the birds. Sometimes the county and power company come along and cut the trees down on that side. On Earth day last year they came and butchered all the trees on one side of our yard. I was very upset!

esh_ga, yes it is Nebraska. These trees are staying if I can help it. In fact I am going to plant lots more. We also have tons of Mulberry trees for the birds. They share a few berries with me when I am out in the gardens, lol.

abgardeneer, our small acrage is not semi-wild, its Wild! Love it! I even saw some Milkweed pods today.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate all the great information.
Dianne