- Many poisonous honeysuckle species
- Find Edible Hedgerow Churches
- May berries can be eaten fresh or cooked
- Collect only known berries from wild hedge shrubs
The berries of the honeysuckle, which belongs to the honeysuckle family, are mostly inedible. This applies in particular to the red honeysuckle, which is particularly popular because of its colorful berries. The blue honeysuckle, on the other hand, is not poisonous but edible.
There are both edible and poisonous honeysuckles
Many poisonous honeysuckle species
Care should be taken with red honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum). The berries contain the bitter substance xylostein, which is particularly dangerous for children.
These berries, which look a bit like small cherries, should never be collected and used in the kitchen.
Find Edible Hedgerow Churches
In contrast to the red varieties, blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea) is not poisonous. However, collecting most of them is not worthwhile.
They have little or no flavor and leave an unpleasant slimy mouthfeel.
Some of the blue varieties are sweet with a very bitter aftertaste. These honeysuckles are at best suitable for the production of fruit brandies.
May berries can be eaten fresh or cooked
There are now several blue honeysuckle varieties that are quite tasty. They are also called Mayberries and are sold in specialist garden shops under the botanical name Lonicera kamtschatica.
Blue honeysuckle ripens from June and can be recognized by its unusual shape and slightly velvety surface. These are double berries that can grow up to two centimeters in size.
The berries taste aromatically sweet and are delicious when eaten fresh from the bush. They can also be used to prepare delicacies in the kitchen:
- jam
- compote
- juice
- puree
- liqueur
Collect only known berries from wild hedge shrubs
If you go looking for honeysuckles to eat, you should find out beforehand whether the species in question is poisonous or not.
As soon as you have even the slightest doubt, you better refrain from collecting the fruits.
If in doubt, the local conservation organizations will help identify the berries found.
tips
Red honeysuckle is poisonous to humans, but birds tolerate the berries well. In addition, the branches offer the feathered garden dwellers a good shelter. If there are no children or pets in the garden, it makes ecological sense to also plant honeysuckle.