Blue-Fruited Dogwood (Cornus): Not Blueberries, But Birds Love Them

Blue-Fruited Dogwood (Cornus): Not Blueberries, But Birds Love Them

A gardener had bushes with tiny blue berries turning blue (were green). No crown on berry, so not blueberries. Dog eats them without issue.

P1000710.jpg

Expert Identification

Likely a blue-fruited dogwood (Cornus sp.). Opposite, non-toothed leaves with veins following leaf edge and bluish fruits in panicles point to this. Common eastern species: stiff dogwood (C. foemina, leaves green below, southern US), narrowleaf dogwood (C. obliqua, leaves white below, northern US), silky dogwood (C. amomum, rounder leaves), roundleaf dogwood (C. rugosa, rounder leaves, purple-blotched twigs). Other possibilities: buckthorns (Rhamnus, usually toothed leaves, fruit not in long panicles), huckleberries (Gaylussacia/Vaccinium), blueberries (Vaccinium, veins don't follow leaf edge, berries have crown). Seed count distinguishes: dogwoods 1 seed, buckthorns 2-4, huckleberries ~10, blueberries tiny seeds. Huckleberries and blueberries edible; dogwoods and buckthorns not. Buckthorn juice irritates skin; dogwoods cause mild vomiting, probably not harmful to dog. If buckthorn, cover with netting.