The Forestry Forum

I have a dogwood tree over hanging my deck and it's dropping little red berries so i'm just wondering since my three year old thinks there strawberries. Just how poisonous are they if they are?

Cornus species are not poisonous. I don't think there is much taste, some species can be quite bitter. Bunchberry grows in mixed moist woods and is almost tasteless, kinda pulpy. Some folks used to use flowering dogwood as 'chewing sticks' to brush their teeth. They can cause receding gumlines though as the fibres are course, like a course toothbrush.

Thanks SwampDonkey you saved me from making a trip I thought I would have to make to the ER after she ate one.