elder berry

txtruelady · #1 07/30/12, 05:12 PM

I'm down here near Houston Tx and I think I found some elder berry but not real sure. Can anyone help me to know for sure.

Cliff · #2 07/30/12, 06:01 PM

You'll need to post pictures I think.

SueMc · #3 07/30/12, 07:57 PM

This came up last year and I think this is the link someone posted to differentiate between poke and elder. Other than berry color I could never see how they could be confused. This site has very good photos:

» Elderberry vs. Pokeberry

Enjoy your find! Elderberry and elderflower are great to have around for a lot of uses. We have some wild and I've been planting named varieties for a couple of years now.

puddlejumper007 · #4 07/31/12, 09:44 AM

wow that is great info , thank you

txtruelady · #5 07/31/12, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the info it help alot.. I have poke berrries...lol

SueMc · #6 07/31/12, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txtruelady

I have poke berrries...lol

That's disappointing!

rockhound · #7 08/01/12, 05:31 AM

Ripe poke berries are called "Ink berry" and have been used for ink since colonial times. Dries to a nice brown color.

motdaugrnds · #8 08/02/12, 08:08 AM

Not really disappointing!

Poke Salet (young greens with no red showing on the stems/veins) greens are the best tasting greens I've ever eaten; and I LOVE greens so that's saying a lot. Just cook them like you would spinach leaves.

I believe the Poke berries are poisonous and I would never feed them to my family; however, I've seen my goats munch down on them for years without any "obvious" problems. (First time I saw them do that, I knew I would have dead goats; but didn't happen.)

gunnar wordon · #9 08/02/12, 12:38 PM

pokes form like a chain, elders don't.

Steve in PA · #10 08/02/12, 05:57 PM

I just went through the same quest. Here's the thread, with my pics.