10+ Different Types of Poisonous Berries To Avoid At All Costs

Whether you are just beginning your wild foraging journey or are an old pro, it’s important to know what types of poisonous berries there are in the world. Often easily confused with edible berries, there are a few hard and fast rules regarding poisonous berries to keep in mind whenever you go berry picking. Some of those rules include:

Never consume green, yellow, or white berries, and be careful with red berries too
If your berry branches have white sap when broken, it’s probably poisonous
Smell the berry. If it seems bitter, don’t eat it

However, these rules aren’t going to keep you entirely safe should you choose to forage for wild berries, Proper identification is key. Here are some of the most common and dangerous poisonous berries for you to avoid, should you go foraging in the wild.

Baneberries (Red and White)

One of the most toxic and poisonous berries out there has to be the aptly named baneberry. Found in bright red and white colors with trademark dots in their centers, baneberry plants are common in the Midwest. Eating only a few of these bitter berries is enough to cause sedation and cardiac arrest.

Holly Berries

While not nearly as poisonous as baneberries, the bright red berries found on holly plants also cause some toxicity within the human body. Common symptoms include nausea and vomiting, though this typically only occurs after multiple berries are eaten. However, stay away from this holiday season favorite regardless!

Mistletoe Berries

Another holiday season plant that you may encounter in the wild is mistletoe. When this plant’s berries are ripe, they can cause intestinal upset and some cardiac issues, depending on the species. Keep in mind that there are over 1,000 species of mistletoe found around the world, with some varieties more toxic than others!

Lily of the Valley Berries

Delicate and artful, lily of the valley flowers are popular in a variety of ornamental settings. However, this plant goes to seed in the form of orange-red berries, which are highly toxic to humans and pets. If you want to try growing lily of the valley flowers from seed, harvesting these berries is a must. Just make sure to wear gloves and avoid consuming them!

Cotoneaster Berries

While cotoneaster shrubs are extremely popular around the world in ornamental gardens and landscaping, their berries are poisonous. This means that young children are likely to pick them, given their bright colors and prominence in backyards and neighborhoods. The cotoneaster berry looks like a miniature tomato, growing in dense clusters.

Virginia Creeper Berries

While Virginia creeper vines are iconic across North America for their ability to cling to buildings, the berries that this plant produces in fall are toxic. Containing high levels of oxalic acid, Virginia creeper berries can cause kidney failure and death in humans. Keep an eye out for these berries if you have young children or nosy pets!

Daphne Berries

There are nearly 100 different types of Daphne shrubs, all classified under the Daphne genus. All of these evergreens are poisonous, but their berries are the most poisonous parts of all. They are a popular ornamental plant found around the world with berries in multiple colors, including red, orange, yellow, and black.

Poison Sumac Berries

With shocking white berries, poison sumac is easily identifiable. Related to poison oak and poison ivy, poison sumac causes allergic reactions to the skin, mucus membranes, and much more if its berries are ingested. This is definitely a plant that you should learn to identify if you decide to forage for anything in the wild!

Belladonna Berries

There’s a reason that belladonna is also known as deadly nightshade. Members of the nightshade family, belladonna flowers transform into shiny, jet-black berries once they have wilted. The entire belladonna plant is poisonous, so much so that belladonna has a long history of potential historical poisonings and assassinations.

Pokeweed Berries

Another common ornamental plant with poisonous berries is pokeweed. The magenta stems often draw the eyes of children, though consuming only a few berries from this plant, in any state of ripeness, is enough to cause death. Pokeweed plants are common throughout North America, with their berries ripening into a deep purple color in fall.

Yew Berries

Often associated with death, every single part of the yew tree is almost toxic. It even produces bright red berries, of which the red flesh is technically edible, the only edible part of the entire tree. However, the pit or seed of the yew berry is so toxic that ingesting a single one can kill a human adult, so is it really worth the risk?

Summary of Types of Poisonous Berries To Avoid At All Costs

Number	Poisonous Berry	Most Commonly Found
1	Baneberries (Red and White)	Midwest
2	Holly Berries	Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa
3	Mistletoe Berries	Western United States, most East Coast states, and west through Texas, Mexico, and Canada
4	Lily of the Valley Berries	Europe, Asia, and North America
5	Cotoneaster Berries	Asia, Europe, Northern U.S., and Canada
6	Virginia Creeper Berries	North America
7	Daphne Berries	Asia, Europe, and North Africa
8	Poison Sumac Berries	East Coast, west to Texas, and north to Minnesota
9	Belladonna Berries	England, Central and Southern Europe
10	Pokeweed Berries	North America
11	Yew Berries	Eastern North America

Summary Table of Poisonous Berries To Avoid At All Costs

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About the Author

August Croft

August Croft is a writer at A-Z Animals where their primary focus is on astrology, symbolism, and gardening. August has been writing a variety of content for over 4 years and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theater from Southern Oregon University, which they earned in 2014. They are currently working toward a professional certification in astrology and chart reading. A resident of Oregon, August enjoys playwriting, craft beer, and cooking seasonal recipes for their friends and high school sweetheart.

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Sources

The most common ornamental plants with poisonous berries. How dangerous are our public amenities?, Available here: https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=FR2000002786
4. Edible and Poisonous Berries and Other Fleshy Fruits, Available here: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7560/748279-009/html