[Nickchick]

Hi there

I have got some large trees in my garden that have very dark red leaves on them.  They are dropping what look like cherries.  What are the chances that they are edible?  I am reluctant to try them as I don't fancy the after effects if they are not  :blink:

Thanks

Nichola

[Dave Mack]

If you do try them .. make sure you have plenty of loo roll in  sorry a picture would help 

[penance]

Do NOT eat anything unless you are sure that they are edible!

Dark leaves does not sound like the average cherry tree at this time of year.

[savbo]

a few ornamental cherries have purply foliage, so I would be looking to see if the leaves are spearhead-shaped and toothed, and if the bark has horizontal lens-shaped marks on it...if so it's prob a cherry - but poss not an edible one. Bird cherry fruits are too hard and sour. You could bite one and see what it's like but I'd check the tree out with a good tree guide like Roger Philips or the Collins Guide

And amnyway, birds always seem to eat edible cherries just before they're ripe enough to pick...

[mumofstig]

cut one open to have a look...... surely you can recognise a cherry and stone, once it is cut.
If you are sure it is a cherry taste a little bit of one.........if you don't like the taste....then spit it out.
Simple really

[compostqueen]

I've got the same in my garden. Not been here long and so it's the first time I've seen them crop. We tried them and they're lovely (huge trees so loads very high up) The birds are fighting over them all day    Ours are yellow and red.  I gave the hens one apiece (minus the stone obviously)  They enjoyed them very much. Didn't give them any more though

[sunshineband]

These actually sound  more like wild plums than cherries. These often have dark red leaves, but the leaves are much smaller than cherry tree leaves and less toothed.

Mumofstig's suggestion is sound and won't poison you, so ..... give 'em a go 

[rivkele]

These actually sound  more like wild plums than cherries. These often have dark red leaves, but the leaves are much smaller than cherry tree leaves and less toothed.

I agree. I have a tree in my garden with dark red leaves and it has teeny tiny plums on it. Either a wild plum or an ornamental one, i'm thinking.

[Salmo]

It could be an ornamental crab apple. Dark red leaves, dark red blossom and dark red fruit the size of cherries.

Cut one open. If it has a stone it is a cherry. If it has an apple like core it is a crab