Is the Japanese cherry tree edible?

The fruits - a less popular alternative to sweet cherries

They look like wild cherries. Their color describes a purple to black and they ripen in July. Their diameter is between 0.8 and 1 cm. Their shape is spherical to ovoid. They are the fruits of the Japanese cherry tree. Contrary to popular belief, they are not poisonous.

Hungry birds like to eat these fruits. In most cases, however, the majority ends up on the ground and dries up. No wonder: these cherries don't taste like well-known sweet cherries. They're less sweet and juicy as they haven't fallen victim to overbreeding.

If you want to enjoy delicious cherries, you should prefer a sour or sweet cherry tree. The Japanese flowering cherry seldom forms fruits, even with a lot of care, and when fruits appear, their number is usually sparse.

The flowers - a pretty and edible decorative element

In addition to the fruits, the blossoms of the Japanese ornamental cherry, which appear between the end of March and the beginning of April, are edible. They have a sweetish-tart taste and can be used among other things:

• for salads
• for desserts such as custard and ice cream
• for decorating dishes
• for snacking straight from the tree

The leaves - an unusual ingredient for salads

But your ornamental cherry also has other edible parts of the plant. If you are open to new ideas, give the sheets a try. You can do this e.g. B. do when you plant the plant in spring cut. The leaves are edible and have a cherry-like aroma.

They are best picked shortly after budding, when they are still medium green and very shiny. Then they are mild and their consistency when chewed is pleasant and not tender in contrast to older leaves. You can use them for salads and smoothies, for example.

Tips & Tricks

For the very brave: The resin that emerges from the wood of the Japanese ornamental cherry is edible and a great 'natural chewing gum'.