Is this edible?

I know it's hard to tell from a photo, but this looks tasty, I tasted a couple and they are mind with no discernible seeds. Anyone know this plant? It's in western Wisconsin taken today.

Welcome to Permies Lisa

I had originally thought it was related to sarsaparilla, but as mentioned below the leaves don't exactly match up. Now that you've given more details about it's size and shape, I'm baffled. Good Luck.

(this post was edited to remove incorrect info) Thank you to John Elliott for pointing out what my eyes failed to see.

It's not Smilax. Smilax has smooth edged leaves not toothed, it also has tendrils with which to grasp and climb. Smilax berries are also larger and darker, even black.

I have a weed (because it volunteered, I didn't plant it) much like the picture growing off my back deck. I think it is some type of vervain, botanical genus Verbena, maybe Verbena bonariensis. I haven't munched on it yet, nor have I fed it to any of the livestock. Plants for a future (www.pfaf.org) has 4 species of verbena listed, all only marginally edible.

This is a woody shrub, some of them are growing quite tall, 10' or more. Not a vine. It looks to me in form similar to a hydrangea, with large leaves and lightweight stems. Not a vine.

Hi Lisa,

I am fairly certain this is a Viburnum ssp...Sorry that doesn't help much as that is like saying it's a "bush with berries on it." The group is so large...Some are edible (useful) others are not. I can't key this out by photo alone but hope I have sent you looking in the correct direction. Please tell us what more you learn or if I am in error...

Regards,

j

P.S.

I should add that I have used that very plant...I have just gotten too darn old to remember what for. I think it was with my grandmother and had something to do with dye or baskets...The photo stuck with me till I remembered the name...Viburnum...but then I also remembered that is a "big group." Good luck...

I think this is hobble bush, according to a guide I have! The flowers were spot on, I thought it was stray hydrangea because of the flowers this spring. It is a viburnum, I think. Thanks for all the help!

At first I thought it was beauty berry, but it is not.

Caroline Palmer wrote:The thread is very informative. This video by Jeff Banks was also very informative

Thank you very much. Did you see my other wild edible plant videos ?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4FHj1Uy-kopjdhm04_bu5w