Wild cherries - are they edible?

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Found a wild cherry tree - are the cherries OK for humans to eat?

Thanks! :j

podcake

I too would like some thoughts on this.

Last year I discovered that my local supermarket ( I'll not name it, but lets say Associated Dairies and people will figure it out). Have a chunk perimeter planted with what appear to be various types of Cherries. I would have loved to pick them all and make jam with them but I was somewhat nervous of making myself ill.

After much (extensive) research on numerous websites the general consensus was that if it looks like a cherry then yes you can eat it. However, please don't take my word for it I'd sooner find out off somebody more knowledgeable too..

this:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/urban-tree-survey/cherry-survey/identify-cherries/cherries-key/index.html

seemed useful

as did this:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/urban-tree-survey/cherry-survey/identify-cherries/cherry-lookalikes/index.html

I seem to remember that there was one cherry which wasnt edible and was a Japanese ornamental. although I could be wrong..

I hope this has been a start for you (and maybe somebody else will know more accurately)

Money_maker

I reckon you may have found a cherry plum tree. Fruit is falling off these like no ones business in the high winds today.

Try a little googling - if it is cherry plum then they're perfectly edible (if you can beat the birds to them!).

Becles

There are loads of wild cherry trees in the woods near our house. When they are ripe and we take the dogs out, we always take a carrier bag

We also know where there are wild raspberries, blackberries and a gorgeous apple tree.

The bairns think it's great fun picking the fruit, and it's fresh, organic and full of vitamins so it's very good for them

rosie383

We have loads of cherry trees in the streets around us and the fruit is falling off them but seems a bit unripe at the minute. Is it worth picking up the windfalls anyway? Otherwise it would just rot. Can I use it?

emiff6

Wild cherries are very edible if you get to them before the birds. Their Latin name is Prunus avium because they are so loved by birds. The common name is gean or bird cherry. They won't be as big as cultivated cherries, but they are very sweet.

A cherry plum has bigger fruit, and is thorny. the fruit of both should be ripe around July time.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Thanks all

What *IF* it's a Japanese Ornamental? How can I tell? What would happen if I ate one?

I'll try to get pics of the tree, leaves and budding fruit tomorrow for further identification...

Money_maker

Good idea, leaf will be especially useful.

podcake

I figure one or two would probably give you a really nasty gut for a day or so. its eating a number that would cause problems. Also the thing with those trees is that ( from what I can tell) they are bred for the flowering not the fruiting, so they rarely set fruit.

BASICALLY take some good quality photographs of the leaf ( particularly around the base of the leaf and the stalk). Take some photos of the fruit and how it attaches to the stalk. and compare to that link I sent. Once u've identified which you think it is look that particular tree up on the internet and see if it is edible or not.