# The Harvesting of Hollyleaf Cherries
Hollyleaf cherries, Prunus ilicifolia, produce mildly sweet fruits that resemble true cherries. Hollyleaf varieties are related to true cherries but are more often grown as a low-maintenance ornamental plant. Hollyleaf cherries also grow wild in some parts of California, making them a suitable food source for foragers and wild-food aficionados. The shrub-like trees earn their common name from their serrated leaves that are similar to a holly bush.
Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Bucket or box
Instructions
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Check the fruits for ripeness beginning in early September. Ripe hollyleaf cherries develop a deep red to purple-black color. Taste a berry to judge sweetness to help determine ripeness. The berries typically reach harvest quality from mid-September through October.
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Put on a pair of gloves and wear a long sleeved shirt. The leaves of the hollyleaf tree are spiked, which can causes cuts, scratches and irritation to exposed skin.
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Grasp the fruit stem near the tree branch. Pull down, twisting slightly, until the stem separates.
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Place the collected fruits in a bucket or shallow box. Stack the fruits no more than 8 inches deep; otherwise, the cherries on the bottom become crushed.
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