Understanding the True Cherry (Prunus) and Its Toxic Parts
Many people are unaware that while the fleshy fruit of a true cherry (from the Prunus genus) is safe to eat, other parts of the plant are not. The leaves, stems, and especially the seeds (pits) contain cyanogenic glycosides. If a cherry pit is chewed or crushed, these glycosides can be converted into highly toxic hydrogen cyanide. This poses a risk to both humans and animals, particularly livestock like horses, which can be lethally poisoned by eating wilted cherry leaves.
Wild Cherries to Approach with Caution
Certain wild cherries, while technically edible in some parts, are not palatable or require careful processing.
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana): The fruit of this shrub-like tree can be made into jams or syrups once processed, but the raw fruit is quite astringent and can make you pucker. The pits, leaves, and bark are poisonous and must be avoided.
- Bitter Cherry (Prunus emarginata): As its name suggests, this cherry is intensely bitter and generally considered inedible due to its taste. While the flesh is not toxic, the bitterness prevents most people from consuming enough to cause harm from the pit, which contains toxic alkaloids.
- Bird Cherry (Prunus padus): This ornamental cherry from Asia can have toxic glycosides in the fruit pulp, with wild varieties potentially being harmful if consumed in quantity. Cultivated forms are often safer but still astringent.
Dangerous Lookalikes That Are Not True Cherries
Some of the most dangerous cases of "cherry" poisoning come from plants that are not in the Prunus genus at all. Their superficial resemblance can be misleading and fatal.
- Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna): Sometimes called 'devil's cherry', its deceptive appearance and sweet taste are extremely dangerous, especially to children. Symptoms of poisoning include hallucinations, paralysis, and coma. Its unique star-shaped calyx distinguishes it from true cherries.
- Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum): This ornamental houseplant from the nightshade family produces small, round, red or orange fruit that is poisonous. The toxic compound, solanocapsine, can cause severe gastrointestinal and central nervous system issues.
- Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus): Though technically a Prunus species, this is not a culinary cherry. The flesh of its fruit is edible with great care, but the rest of the plant, especially the leaves, is toxic. The leaves have a distinctive almond-like scent when crushed.
Comparison of Edible, Toxic, and Lookalike Cherry Species
| Plant | Genus | Edible Parts | Toxic Parts | Key Differentiators | Dangerousness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Cherry (e.g., Bing) | Prunus | Fruit flesh | Leaves, stems, seeds (pits) | Round, dark red fruit; pits are large and easily avoided. | Toxic parts are easily identifiable and avoided. |
| Sour Cherry (e.g., Morello) | Prunus | Cooked fruit flesh | Leaves, stems, seeds (pits) | Tart, not palatable raw. Used in cooking. | Toxic parts are easily identifiable and avoided. |
| Chokecherry | Prunus | Ripe fruit flesh (astringent) | Leaves, stems, seeds (pits) | Fruit grows in hanging clusters (racemes). | Low toxicity from fruit, but leaves and pits are risky. |
| Bitter Cherry | Prunus | Fruit flesh (intensely bitter) | Seeds (pits) | Red to purple fruit with one large pit; named for its taste. | Fruit is so unpalatable, accidental ingestion of toxic parts is unlikely. |
| Deadly Nightshade | Atropa | None | All parts | Shiny black berry, leaves have no teeth; NOT a true cherry. | Extremely high, potentially fatal toxicity. |
| Jerusalem Cherry | Solanum | None | All parts, especially unripe fruit | Small, round red/orange fruit on a compact plant; part of nightshade family. | Very high toxicity; often grown indoors as an ornamental. |
| Cherry Laurel | Prunus | Fruit flesh (with care) | Seeds, leaves, stems | Evergreen shrub with almond-scented leaves when crushed. | All parts are toxic; fruit requires extreme caution. |
Safe Foraging and Consumption Practices
When foraging or gardening, exercise extreme caution. Always be certain of a plant's identity before consuming any part of it. When eating true cherries, do not chew or swallow the pits. If you have an orchard, be mindful of wilted leaves from true cherry trees, which are particularly toxic to grazing animals.
For additional resources on plant toxicity, consider consulting the ASPCA's guide to toxic and non-toxic plants. When in doubt, it is always safest to assume a wild cherry or its lookalike is inedible and potentially poisonous.
Conclusion
While many people associate cherries with sweet, harmless fruit, the reality is more complex. Not only are there genuinely poisonous cherry lookalikes like deadly nightshade, but even edible Prunus species contain toxic components in their pits, leaves, and stems. Understanding the key differences, especially through careful plant identification and knowing the location of toxins, is paramount for safety. By recognizing the risks associated with certain wild varieties and avoiding dangerous imposters, you can enjoy cherries safely and avoid a potentially severe health risk.
Which cherries are not edible?
| The true cherry pit: The pit of any cherry species contains cyanogenic glycosides that release hydrogen cyanide when crushed or chewed. | |
| Deadly Nightshade: A poisonous lookalike with a sweet, dark fruit that can cause severe illness or death. | |
| Jerusalem Cherry: An ornamental plant from the nightshade family with toxic red-orange berries. | |
| Wild Chokecherry: The pits, leaves, and bark are poisonous, though the fruit can be processed for safe consumption. | |
| Bitter Cherry: Edible but intensely bitter fruit; contains toxic alkaloids in its pit. | |
| Cherry Laurel: An evergreen shrub with poisonous leaves, bark, and seeds. | |
| Wilted leaves: The leaves of true cherry trees become especially toxic to livestock when wilted. |
FAQs
question: Are all cherry fruits safe to eat? answer: The fleshy fruit of most true cherries (Prunus genus) is safe, but the pits, stems, and leaves are toxic. You must be certain of the plant's identity, as many poisonous lookalikes exist.
question: How do I know if a wild cherry is poisonous? answer: A truly poisonous "cherry" is often not a true cherry at all. Dangerous lookalikes like deadly nightshade are not in the Prunus genus. For true wild cherries like the chokecherry, the fruit flesh is edible (though often very tart), but the pit contains cyanide. Learning leaf and flower characteristics is key for identification.
question: What happens if you accidentally swallow a cherry pit? answer: If swallowed whole, a cherry pit will likely pass through your digestive system without being broken down, posing little risk of cyanide poisoning. The danger occurs if the pit is chewed or crushed, releasing the toxic compound.
question: Are ornamental cherry trees poisonous? answer: Ornamental cherry trees are often planted for their blossoms, not their fruit. While the fruit of some varieties may be harmless but unpalatable, the rest of the plant, including leaves and pits, can contain toxic compounds just like other members of the Prunus genus.
question: Can pets get sick from eating cherries? answer: Yes. Cherry pits, stems, and leaves are toxic to pets due to the cyanogenic glycosides they contain. Ingesting these parts can cause cyanide poisoning in animals, with symptoms including difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, and shock.
question: What should I do if I suspect someone has eaten a poisonous cherry? answer: If you suspect that someone has consumed a poisonous plant or chewed on cherry pits, contact your local poison control center or seek immediate medical attention.
question: What makes a cherry pit poisonous? answer: Cherry pits contain a compound called amygdalin. When the pit is chewed or broken, this compound is converted into hydrogen cyanide in the body, which is a potent poison.
question: Is the fruit of a Chokecherry tree edible? answer: The fruit of a chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is edible and can be cooked into jellies or sauces. However, it is quite astringent and tart when raw, and the pit is poisonous and must be removed.
question: Are Jerusalem cherries related to true cherries? answer: No, Jerusalem cherries are from the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and are not related to true cherries (Prunus). All parts of the Jerusalem cherry plant are poisonous.
