5 Poisonous Berries You Might Be Growing in Your Garden

There are two native species of pokeweed in North America; one can be found throughout much of the continent, and the other is only found in California as well as the southwest. A few tropical species were either mistakenly introduced through imported goods or deliberately as ornamentals. The roots, stem, leaves, and fruit of these purple berries, which resemble grapes, are poisonous.

As the plant ages, its toxicity tends to increase, and ingesting the berries can be lethal.

Foraging Berries in the Wild

Other lethal berries can be found in the wild. Some poisonous berries even resemble those that are edible.

Due to this, extreme caution must be used when gathering wild berries. It's advised to stay away from wild berries when in doubt.

Knowing what to look for and being able to spot common dangerous berries are both crucial.

Yellow, white, and green berries should be avoided by inexperienced foragers since they are frequently hazardous. although green berries may be young blackberries and raspberries. Red berries have a 50/50 chance of being poisonous, with clusters being riskier than individual berries.

With a few obvious exceptions, aggregate berries like raspberries and blackberries are generally harmless. Plants with spines are another item to watch out for. Spines are a bad indicator, but thorns are acceptable. Plants that smell bitter or have milky sap are advising you to be careful.