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Both flowers and berries of the fuchsia are edible
Fuchsias are not just for watching
Fuchsias in full bloom are a wonderful feast for the eyes - but did you know that the ripe berries of this Nightshade plant are also edible?
Fuchsias are not poisonous
Due to their eye-catching, colorful flowers many gardeners suspect that the exotic evening primrose plant Fuchsia (fuchsia) is poisonous. The opposite is the case, because the mostly dark, juicy berries can be processed even to jam or jelly - in Great Britain and Ireland, where due to the mild wintry climate fuchsias often thrive very lush, these are known processing options. As well as the fuchsia cake, which is sometimes served for Five O'Clock tea. However, if you want to look for recipes now: "Fuchsia cake" is not only the English word for cakes with fuchsia berries, but also fuchsia-decorated cakes and tarts - these are especially popular at weddings and other celebrations.
Which fuchsia berries are tasty
Depending on the species and variety of the fuchsia plant, the berries can vary greatly in size, shape and color. Mature fruits are tender and juicy and usually about one and a half to two inches long, reddish brown to black or blue-black. Pick them when they are soft and mushy - then they taste best. However, not all varieties are equally tasty. Species and varieties with good taste are:
Basically, dark fruits are more aromatic than light ones. Unless you are the owner of a whole fox hedge, it usually takes a long time to gather enough berries for jam or a cake. However, you can also collect the fruits gradually and freeze them in the meantime.
Tips
Incidentally, not only the berries, but also the flowers are edible, so you can dip them into protein and sugar and bake briefly. But beware: too many fuchsia berries can cause abdominal pain and nausea.