Can Humans Eat Evergreens?

Toxic Evergreens

• Some evergreens have toxic foliage, fruits or both. Nonedible evergreens with toxic berries include, but are not limited to, hollies (Ilex spp.), yews (Taxus spp.), junipers (Juniperus spp.), cotoneaster (Cotonoeaster spp.) and pyracanthas (Pyracantha spp). Every part of the evergreen oleander (Nerium oleander) shrub is toxic, including the smoke if it is burned.

Edible Temperate Trees

• Edible evergreen trees range from tall conifers that thrive in temperate zones to small, broadleaved species that grow only in the tropics. Temperate species include the pinyon or nut pine (Pinus edulis), which produces 2-inch cones filled with edible seeds. These coniferous evergreens grow to 20 feet tall and range across the southwestern United States. In this country, pinyon pines are grown for their nuts; annual crops range from 1 to 8 million pounds. Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) trees produce edible, long-lasting red fruits. These evergreens have broadleaved foliage and grow to 50 feet tall. Madrone trees are not cultivated for fruit. Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) do produce edible fruits. These broadleaved evergreens grow from 10 to 25 feet tall and produce yellow, pearlike fruits in spring. Though they grow in temperate climates, they produce more fruit in warmer regions.

Edible Tropical Trees

• Tropical edible evergreens include the allspice (Pimenta dioica), a broad-leaved tree that produces aromatic, peppercornlike berries used to flavor food. Allspice trees grow up to 100 feet tall and are native to South America. The clove tree (Eugenia caryophylus) is native to Southeast Asia and also grows on the islands of Madagascar and Indonesia. This evergreen tree produces edible, fragrant flower buds used in cooking.

Edible Shrubs

• Edible evergreen shrubs include the lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). This low-growing shrub ranges across much of northern Europe, Asia and North America. It grows up to 16 inches tall and produces two annual crops of small, bright red berries used to make jam, jellies, wines and in baking. The evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) grows wild across the Pacific Northwest and reaches heights up to 12 feet with a 10-foot-wide spread. It produces purple-black, edible berries that can be eaten fresh, dried or preserved in oil.

Groundcovers

• Groundcovers grow low to the ground and usually spread much wider than they are tall.

  The wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) has edible foliage. This evergreen grows from 4 to 8 inches tall and has glossy, leathery green leaves. It produces white flowers and fragrant red berries and is native to North America. Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uvaursi) grows from 1 to 6 inches tall. This evergreen groundcover is grown as an ornamental in the United States. It produce edible red berries in fall and has small, tough, dark foliage.