How to Identify Snake Berries: 5 Types of Snake Berries

Snake berries refer to several species of wild berry plants in North America. There are significant differences between types of snake berry plants and the fruits they produce, which range from edible to toxic.

Snake berries may get their name from the mythological notion of snakes being poisonous and deceptive. Some varieties of snake berries have similar characteristics as strawberries, and so earn the name “false berry,” “false strawberry,” or “mock strawberry.”

Novice foragers often confuse snake berries—particularly Potentilla indica—with wild strawberries. However, there are differences in appearance. Snake berries feature yellow flowers and reddish, tooth-like seeds that protrude from the fruit’s flesh. True strawberries have white flowers and tightly embedded seeds.

Most snake berry plants are toxic, but common snake berries (Potentilla indica) have some purported health benefits. Indigenous cultures use snake berries medicinally for the plant’s anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

Snake berries vary in appearance and toxicity. Some types of snake berries include:

1. 1. Mock strawberry (Potentilla indica): This plant, which has an alternative scientific name of Duchesnea indica, is known by the common names snake berry and snake strawberry. The berries are similar in size and appearance to wild strawberries, with serrated leaves and yellow flowers. While not toxic, the berries are relatively bland and unappealing.
2. 2. Climbing nightshade (Solanum dulcamara): Common names for this plant include climbing nightshade, poison berry, bittersweet, fellenwort, violet bloom, and scarlet berry, among others. This plant’s small, smooth-skinned, red berries contain solanine, a poisonous compound.
3. 3. Red baneberry (Actaea rubra): Red baneberry, also known as cohosh and chinaberry, features green leaves and red berries. In comparison to wild strawberries, this plant’s berries are smaller and smoother. The toxic berries can cause nausea and stomach cramping, and their intensely unpleasant taste is usually enough to dissuade anyone from eating more than a single berry.
4. 4. Straw lily (Clintonia borealis): This plant produces small berries that are typically blue, making it difficult to confuse with a wild strawberry plant. This plant, also known as corn lily and yellow bead lily, produces fruit that is mildly toxic and unpleasant to eat.
5. 5. False lily of the valley (Maianthemum dilatatum): Also known as two-leaved Solomon’s seal, this plant is popular with gardeners as a ground cover. The small red berries are edible but not exceptionally flavorful. The rhizomes from which they grow spread quickly and can become invasive.

Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.

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