Hi guys! My daughter keeps trying to eat these, and I'm afraid to let her in the back yard because I don't know what they are. They grow on a tree- they look like small, smooth, purple-black berries. If you squish them, the berry-skin comes off, and you're left with a little green nut shell. Fairly smooth, not too hard. The entire berry is smaller than one shelled peanut. I have pix of the berries, the nuts, the leaves, and the tree. The leaves are serrated (? have little pointies?), smooth on front and back, and just slightly lighter green on back. We're in California, and the tree requires no special care- not even watering. I'll post the pix in a couple of posts, because I don't think you're supposed to overload one post with them. I'd appreciate any help.
I have no idea what those are, geegeeburr. Maybe your local extention agent could identify? I bet you could just shoot them an email with the pics attached.
Also, maybe it is a sapote? I know that all of the pics here don't match, but a few looked quite similiar. Google Sapote Images
I am in Cal too. It looks a little like photinia leaves but most of the time those are large shrubs. Or viburnum has the same type berries (shrubs again). I have elderberry trees with edible berries but the leaves are slightly different shaped. Try googling those.
~Tina
Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
Hi guys, thanks for the suggestions! I looked at the Sapote, and it does look similar, but the leaves are different, I think. I'll have to look up images of the other suggestions.
What is an extension agent?
Papito sent me a couple of suggestions, which looked similar, but again, I think not exact. Maybe someone else will pop in with ideas.
I am not sure it the birds eat them. My guess would be probably yes, because of the occasionally purple bird poop, but there are a lot of fruit trees in this area. Will check in again later. Thanks!
Most counties in CA have an extension service that is a branch of your state Agricultural University. The service is managed by the extension agent. If you are familiar with Master Gardeners, they are the volunteer arm of the extension office. Type in your county name and state in the google search to get your local office.
Hi all! I've been googling all these possibilities, and here's more info, just in case anyone might have other guesses.
Okay, it's not photinia or vibernum (sp?). Also, it is definitely a tree, not a shrub. It does look very similar to an elderberry, but it doesn't have big clumps of berries-- they seem to be singletons. It looks very much like a hackberry (Papito's suggestion), but I haven't found an exact match yet. Not Chinese, Japanese, or common American. And to you cherry suggestors, again, it look similar. When I first started looking, I thought it was a Catalina Cherry, but I think the fruit on my tree is smaller. So I'm stumped again.
Further info on the tree: It is a tall, skinny tree- not very "bushy". It doesn't have large, noticeable flowers. It has tiny, unobtrusive ones. And the actual berries/fruits are about the same size as a raisin.
Gardening in March
Gardening in April
Gardening in May
Shop at Amazon and Support AGF
Are you shopping online? Click this link first and A Gardeners Forum will receive a commission for your
referral at Amazon.com (shopping through this link to Amazon will not have any impact on your prices at Amazon).