The red fruit trees They usually attract our attention a lot, because it is a color that attracts us. Also, it is interesting to know that there are many species that produce it, but not all of them are edible.
Therefore, when choosing which ones we are going to plant in the garden or cultivate on our terrace, we will have to decide if we only want them to beautify the place, or if we would also like to eat their fruits.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Holly It is a tree – or often a shrub in the shape of a small tree – which can reach an approximate height of 15 meters. It develops a straight trunk and a dense crown, consisting of spiny, somewhat leathery bright green leaves. It is native to Europe and North Africa, although today it is grown in any garden with a temperate climate.
Its fruits are fleshy red drupes that finish ripening in autumn. However, these should not be consumed under any circumstances as they are poisonous. It resists frosts down to -20ºC.
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba)
Image – Flickr/CIFOR
jujube It is a deciduous tree native to China that can reach a height of 6 meters. Depending on where it is, it can grow as a tree or as a shrub. The leaves are green, leathery and alternate. Its flowers are white and appear between spring and summer. The fruit ripens in late summer and is rounded, with a reddish skin. This is edible and can be eaten fresh.
It is a tree with red fruits that is resistant to drought, as well as to heat and cold. It can live in any region with a temperate climate, because resistant down to -23ºC.
cherry (avian prunus)
the cherry tree It is a deciduous fruit tree native to Eurasia., cultivated both for its red fruits -cherries- and for its ornamental value. It reaches an approximate height of 20 meters, and develops a more or less straight trunk with ringed bark. Its crown is somewhat pyramidal, very wide at its base, so it casts a lot of shade.
When it blooms, in the spring, it is filled with white flowers that cover the leaves that grow at that time. The fruit is a red drupe with a seed inside, which can be eaten fresh or you can also make jams or juices with it. It is a very hardy plant, which frost resistant down to -18ºC.
asian dogwood (cornus kousa)
The cornus kousa It is a deciduous tree native to East Asia that reaches an approximate height of 12 meters, and develops a rounded crown up to 5-6 meters wide. The leaves are simple, opposite and green. It is a plant that produces white flowers in spring, and edible red fruits in summer-autumn.
Its culture is very interesting, not only for its fruits, but also for its great beauty. In spring as in autumn, it is a joy to see it, first because of its flowers, then because of its autumn color because its leaves turn red before falling. Of course, it is an acidic plant, so it does not tolerate clay soils. For the rest, know that resistant down to -18ºC.
Hawthorn (Monogynous Crataegus)
Image – Flickr/Salomé Bielsa
Hawthorn is a tree that often grows as a shrub known by different names, such as white hawthorn or hawthorn. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa, and can reach a maximum height of 6 meters. Its flowers are white and grow in spring, and later it bears fruit, producing edible red fruits that ripen in winter.
It is a red-fruited tree that is suitable for almost any garden, as it is also very hardy. In fact, It resists frosts down to -18ºC.
Evonym (Euonymous europaeus)
The euonym is a plant that we usually have as a shrub, but in reality It is a deciduous tree about 6 meters high. It is native to Europe and Asia Minor, and its leaves are green, lanceolate and green. These fall in autumn, when the red fruits begin to ripen and soon after. These fruits are not edible.
Resistant to pruning, it is a tree with red fruits which, as I said, is often grown as a shrub, but it is also interesting to let it grow alone in the garden. Frost resistant down to -18ºC.
fake pepper shaker (Schinus molle)
Image – Wikimedia/Charles Gadbois
The schinus molle or aguaribay is an evergreen tree native to the central Andes. It grows to reach a maximum height of 8 metersand develops a rounded, almost weeping crown, which is why it might be thought to bear some resemblance to the weeping willow (Salix babylonica). The leaves are im or paripinnate, green in color, and fall off only in extreme cold.
It flowers in spring and its red fruits ripen all summer. These are very small, about 5mm long and round. Resistant down to -12ºC.
William of Canada (Amelanchier canadensis)
Image – Wikimedia/CIFOR
William of Canada It is a tree or large shrub native to North America that can reach 8 meters in height.. It is deciduous and loses its leaves in autumn. These are green, oval and simple, and have a serrated margin. Its flowers are white and grow in spring, and later the fruits, which are reddish buds, ripen.
It is mainly grown as an ornamental plant, both in pots and in the ground. But it must be said that its fruits are suitable for consumption, so do not hesitate to try them. Frost resistant down to -18ºC.
chinese smudge (tricuspid macula)
Image – Wikimedia/SKas
The Chinese maclura is a deciduous, thorny tree native to Asia. It only grows up to 6 meters high., and develops a relatively wide crown, about 4 meters. The leaves are oval, green and leathery, and in autumn they turn yellowish before falling from the specimen.
The fruits are somewhat reminiscent of those produced by blackberries; in fact, they are so similar that they belong to the same tribe as you, the Moreas. These are eaten fresh without any problem. Also, you should know that frost resistant down to -20ºC.
strawberry tree (unedo strawberry tree)
strawberry tree It is an evergreen tree native to Europe, specifically the Mediterranean region.. Sometimes, depending on where you are and how much competition you have, you can stay like a 4 meter bush or a 10 meter tree. It has a reddish bark, as well as long green leaves. Its fruits are round and red when they finish ripening in autumn. It supports temperatures down to -12ºC very well.
these the fruits are edible, so much so that jams and jams are made with them, although they can also be eaten fresh, freshly picked from the plant. Another interesting fact is that in the past sugar was obtained from its flowers, as it is suitable for human consumption.
common apple (malus domestica)
common apple It is a deciduous fruit tree native to Asia. It reaches a height of about 5 meters., and develops a fairly dense crown, consisting of simple green leaves. The flowers are white-pink and appear in spring, before the foliage. The fruit is a globose bud we call an apple, and it can be green, yellow or red depending on the variety or cultivar.
When cultivated, it is often grafted to obtain a good harvest. Its maintenance is not complex as long as it does not lack light, water and nutrients. Resistant down to -25ºC.
Red mulberry (morus rubra)
The red mulberry or red mulberry It is a deciduous tree native to North America that reaches a maximum height of 20 meters. The trunk is more or less straight and relatively wide, and its crown casts a very pleasant cool shade. The leaves are green, except in autumn when they turn yellow before falling. And as you can imagine, it produces fruits that when they finish ripening are red and edible.
It can live in a wide variety of climates, but it needs the temperature to drop below 0 degrees in winter to rest. Frost resistant down to -18ºC.
Rowan (Domestic sorbus)
Image – Wikimedia/BotBln
common mountain ash It is a deciduous tree native to Eurasia that reaches a height of 12 meters. It has odd-pinnate leaves, green in color with toothed margins, and also produces white flowers throughout spring. As for the fruit, it is a pear-shaped bud that measures about two centimeters when it finishes ripening, which happens in summer.
It is used both as an ornamental plant and for its fruit. The latter can be consumed fresh, although it is also very common to make jams and even alcoholic beverages. In all cases, It is a very resistant and rustic tree, able to withstand frosts down to -15ºC.
If (Taxus baccata)
Image – Wikimedia/Philipp Guttmann
The yew is a very slow growing evergreen conifer native to Western Europe. It reaches a height of 20 meters, and develops a thick trunk that can reach 3-4 meters in diameter.. The leaves are lanceolate, relatively short and dark green in color. Its flowers appear towards the end of winter, and the fruits are very similar to berries, as they are round and small.
But yes, you have to think that the whole plant is toxic for humans (this is not the case for certain birds, such as the greenfinch or the titmouse, which consume the fruits without any problem). Frost resistant down to -18ºC.
Virginia Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Image – Wikimedia/RA Nonenmacher
Virginia Sumac It is a deciduous tree native to North America that reaches a height of between 5 and 10 meters. Its leaves are pinnate, very long since they can measure more than half a meter, and green except in autumn when they are orange-red. It blooms in spring, producing an inflorescence composed of red flowers. And later it also produces red fruits which are not edible.
It resists well to heat -as long as it is not extreme-, and to cold. In this regard, you should know that withstands frost down to -18ºC.
Do you know of other trees with red fruits?