Poisonous Plants in New Zealand - common non-poisonous berried plants
Note: some of the plants on this list are banned plants.
Barberries (Berberis species). These have variously coloured berries according to the species. All barberries are thorny and the spines can penetrate the skin, snap off and lead to infection but the berries are not poisonous.
Brush cherry (Syzygium australe). The oblong crimson or purplish fruits of this small tree are commonly seen in northern urban areas and are quite harmless.
Coprosmas (Coprosma species). There are many native species, usually with orange or red berries.
Elaeagnus (ElaeagnusÍreflexa). The scaly orange berries of this large rambling shrub, or hedge plant, are edible and were used for preserves in the past.
English oak [see oak]
Firethorns (Pyracantha species). They have red, orange, or yellow berries and fierce spines, the latter being the only feature to worry about.
Flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum). The little black or blue-black berries are harmless. It is mainly grown in colder areas from the Volcanic Plateau southwards, and is often wild in some parts of the South Island.
Fuchsias (Fuchsia species). The soft berries of both native and introduced garden fuchsias are harmless and mostly edible.
Hawthorns (Crataegus species). Several species are grown, mostly with red or yellow-orange fruits, which can be used for jellies.
Holm oak [see oak]
Honeysuckles (Lonicera species, especially Japanese honeysuckle (L. japonica) and honeysuckle (L. Íamericana)). These popular climbers have fragrant flowers, which in L. japonica are followed by shining black berries. Other honeysuckles have orange or red berries. None are poisonous although if numbers are eaten stomach upsets may result.
Japanese quince [see japonica]
Japonica or Japanese quince (Chaenomeles speciosa). Like ordinary quince the fruits can be eaten, despite their forbidding dull-green appearance. Many people are needlessly afraid of them.
Laurustinus [see viburnums]
Lilly pilly [see monkey apple]
Monkey apple or lilly pilly (Acmena smithii). The little round mauve or white berries of this common garden and street tree are a familiar sight in the north and are harmless. It is a member of the non-poisonous mānuka or myrtle family.
Myrtle (Myrtus communis). Has black, aromatic berries.
Oak or English oak (Quercus robur), and holm oak (Q. Ilex). These are the usual species grown in northern New Zealand and they fruit prolifically. A stomach-ache may result from eating too many acorns, but the fruits - in particular the mature acorns - are almost harmless, being regarded as "famine food" in Europe in former times. Likewise beech mast, the name applied to the seeds of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is mentioned in European books on poisonous plants along with oak acorns, but ingestion of its seeds is much more unlilkely. Again there would be either no ill effects or these would be very minor.
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia). Rowan trees are mainly seen in colder parts from the Volcanic Plateau where they are common in the Rotorua and Taupo areas southwards through the South Island. The orange-red berries are produced in abundance.
Strawberry dogwood (Dendrobenthamia capitata). A small tree with large strawberry-like fruits. Often common except in the southern half of the South Island.
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo). The red and yellow fruits of this well known plant are sometimes eaten.
Viburnums (Viburnum species). V. davidii has deep blue berries and V. japonicum has bright crimson ones. Other species are grown, particularly further south, especially laurustinus (V. tinus) with blue-black berries and guelder rose (V. opulus) with red-orange ones. Although viburnum fruits often smell unpleasant, they do not seem to be poisonous. However, they can cause stomach upsets if many are eaten.
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