Identifying a bush with violent berries in your garden can serve keep you and your family safe , because some species are toxicant while others are harmless .
Dozens of shrub species produce red berries , so the cognitive process of identifying a shrub with that trait can be daunting . However , by examining the shrub nearly to observe all of its traits , you could eliminate possibilities and finally make an educate guess about the shrub ’s individuality .
Look for Thorns
One of the most identifying traits to look for in shrubs with red berries is thorns . Many cerise - berried bushes have thorns , so the comportment — or absence — of sticker will help narrow the possibility .
Firethorn Bushes
One common species grown in landscape gardening within USDA hardiness zone 6a to 9b is firethorn ( Pyracantha coccinea ) , a broadleaf evergreen bush grown for its showy bunch of red berries . The stems are cover in spikelet that are typically less than 1 inch in duration , and the deep greenish leaf are small and shiny with smooth edges .
Tip
Firethorn cultivar such as Tiny Tim ( Pyracantha coccinea’Tiny Tim , ' zones 6 to 9 ) are thornless while others produce yellow fruit or else of Red River .
Scarlet Hawthorns
The ruby haw ( genus Crataegus coccinea , zone 4 to 7 ) is another red - berry bush that is wide grown in garden . It is a deciduous bush with dark green , oval - form leave that can extend to 3 inches in distance .
One of the most distinguishing characteristics of this bush is its thorns , which draw the stems . It also produce dainty livid flowers in bound that give off an unpleasant smell .
The bright red Berry of scarlet hawthorn are called " haw . " They are technically edible but are not palatable to humans .
Raspberries and Blackberries
Raspberries ( Rubusspp . ) produce edible ruddy berries along their setaceous , thorny canes . These low spreading shrubs grow well in moist grunge and fond shade or full Dominicus within USDA hardiness zones 2 to 8 , and they sometimes escape polish to grow unwarranted in ditches and along creek beds .
Their close cousin the blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus , zones 4 to 10 ) shares a similar overall appearance , and the edible Berry are bright red when unripe , which occurs in early summer . Both species produce hairy , extremely textured leave of absence that spring up in bunches of five .
Both raspberries and blackberries produce white or pinkish efflorescence in former summer , which can aid you identify the shrub before the berries form .
Silver Buffaloberry
silvery buffaloberry ( Shepherdia argentea ) shrubs are setaceous deciduous shrubs that can pass 12 feet in height at maturity . They grow best in full sun within USDA zones 3a to 9b , where they are sometimes grown as hedging shrubs .
Silver buffaloberry shrub have some trait that can help discover them from other spiny , red - bacciferous shrub . They acquire yellow flowers in springtime and blind drunk clusters of round , 1/4- to 1/3 - inch - diameter fruit in summer . The fruit is almost semitransparent in visual aspect with a single seed inside .
silvery buffaloberry earned its common name from the silvern color of its bark .
Silverthorn or Thorny Olive
Sometimes ring barbellate olive , silverthorn ( Elaeagnus pungens ) grow undecomposed in well - drain grease within USDA zone 7a to 9b . Its grey - green foliage is complemented by showy silver - red berries in fall , which appeal birds
Silverthorn shrubs have 2- to 3 - column inch - farseeing prickle along their ramification which can hook onto nearby structures and trees , allowing this shrub to climb vertically to a height of 12 to 24 groundwork .
Silverthorn is an encroaching species and is a common sight in garden and in empty force field throughout its preferred clime range .
Examine the Leaves
Leaf Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe offer another cue to identifying blood-red - berried shrubs . Some shrub have very classifiable leaves , while others necessitate a closer expression to chance upon any notable traits .
American Holly
One of the most recognizable leafage types of any red - berried shrub is find on the American Buddy Holly ( Ilex opaca , zones 5a to 9b ) . The glossy , sullen - green leaves motley in shape from oval to deeply toothed with needlelike spines on the edge .
The ruby-red fruits are brilliant violent in color and remain on the shrub during the fall and winter months . aboriginal to eastern North America , American holly is typically a large shrub but it will also grow into a small-scale tree diagram over time .
Cranberry Cotoneaster
Cranberry cotoneaster ( Cotoneaster apiculatus , zone 4a to 7b ) is a low - growing shrub that grow an copiousness of blood-red berries in belated summer and into the winter months . The farewell are oval - shaped and less than 3/4 inch longsighted with a sorry greenish color that shifts to bronze , purple or red in the fall .
Cranberry cotoneaster has an easily identifiable growth habit too , with bolt arch main stems that dislocate out to a breadth of 3 to 6 understructure .
Red Chokecherry
The small cerise berries produce by the red chokecherry shrub ( Aronia arbutifolia , zones 3a to 9b ) are only part of its ornamental ingathering . These showy deciduous shrubs also produce eye - catching fall semblance that make them easily recognizable .
ruddy chokeberry fruit starts out brilliant red in summertime and ripens to a dark purplish - total darkness in fall just as the foliage turns a glorious , fiery red color . The fruit persists after the leaves pass , hanging in drooping clusters during the winter month .
Red chokecherries ' edible fruit can be used in jellies , sirup and electronic jamming .
Common Poisonous Red Berries
A handful of vulgar garden bushes give rise ruby-red berries that are deadly poisonous , so learning how to identify them is important .
Common or English Yew
The common or English yew ( Taxus baccata , zones 6a to 7b ) is an evergreen tree or large shrub that is deadly poisonous , if consumed , but is grown for its class - round foliage . Yew berry are easily recognizable by the large hole find at the base , which typically reveals a large seed inside .
English yew foliage is needle - like and resembles the foliage of a sequoia tree ( Sequoia sempervirens , zone 7a to 9b ) or a rosemary works ( Salvia rosmarius , zones 8 to 10 ) , but its foliage is interlard with its sporty red-faced Berry .
Bittersweet Nightshade
semisweet nightshade ( Solanum dulcamara , zone 4a to 8b ) is a very small bush or big repeated industrial plant with an eye - get appearance that is sometimes add to pollinator garden .
Warning
All parts of bittersweet nightshade are extremely toxic and can cause fatal poisoning , if consume .
The plant flower resemble those of an garden egg ( Solanum melongena ) with purple petal and chickenhearted stamen at the center . The ellipse - shaped , 1/2 - column inch - diameter berries start out unripened and ripen to a bright , shiny violent color .
