Are there poisonous berries that look like blackberries? The short answer is No. Just like raspberries, blackberries don’t have true poisonous look-alikes. If you know what a blackberry looks like, there’s really nothing that can be confused with it.
That said, I often see people online asking for help to identify very common berries. I don’t blame them—I understand that some have grown up in cities and may not be used to spotting wild fruits. For this group or anybody new to foraging, here are a few poisonous berries that can seem somewhat similar to blackberries from a distance, mainly because they are small, dark, and often grow in clusters.
Disclaimer: Honestly, these fruits look quite different from blackberries. I’m only including them for the sake of someone who might see them for the first time and mistake them for blackberries. If you’re already familiar with what blackberries look like, you probably don’t need to read any further—because I haven’t found a true poisonous blackberry look-alike that’s worth pointing out.
1. Pokeweed Berries
At a quick glance, pokeweed berries can be mistaken for blackberries because they grow in clusters and ripen to a deep purple or black color. However, their clusters form in long drooping stems, unlike the rounded clusters of blackberries. All parts of the pokeweed plant are poisonous, especially the berries. Eating them can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, even death.
2. Deadly Nightshade (Belladonna)
Deadly nightshade produces shiny, dark purple to black berries that might vaguely remind someone of a small blackberry from a distance. Unlike blackberries, these fruits grow singly, not in clusters of drupelets. Despite their tempting appearance, they are extremely poisonous. Just a few berries can cause hallucinations, confusion, seizures, or even death, making them one of the most dangerous berry-producing plants in the world.
3. Black Elderberry
Black elderberries grow in large clusters of tiny dark purple to black fruits that might look a little like blackberry clusters at first glance. While elderberries are used for jams, syrups, and medicines, they are toxic when raw. Eating raw elderberries can cause nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. Cooking them destroys the toxins, making them safe to consume. Other parts of the elderberry plant—including leaves, stems, and unripe berries—remain poisonous.
4. Ivy Berries
Ivy berries grow in round clusters that may catch the eye of someone unfamiliar with wild plants and vaguely resemble blackberry bunches. However, these berries are smaller, smooth, and usually appear on climbing ivy vines. Ivy berries are highly toxic to humans, and eating them can lead to severe stomach upset, breathing difficulties, or even coma in extreme cases.
5. Virginia Creeper
Virginia creeper produces bluish-black berries that form in clusters and can be mistaken for blackberries by an inexperienced forager. However, the fruits are smooth, not made of drupelets like true blackberries. All parts of the plant, including the berries, contain oxalic acid, which can cause irritation of the mouth, nausea, kidney damage, or even death in large amounts.
6. Canadian Moonseed
Canadian moonseed berries look strikingly similar to wild grapes or even small blackberries from a distance, since they grow in dark purple clusters. The difference is that moonseed berries contain only a single crescent-shaped seed inside. These berries are highly poisonous to humans. Consuming them can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and in some cases, death.
Closing Thoughts
Let’s wrap up the list here. While there are many other poisonous berries with black hues, they don’t truly resemble blackberries, so it’s usually easy to tell them apart. If you’re interested in berries that more closely resemble blackberries—but are edible—I’ve written a separate post about blackberry lookalikes here. I recommend checking it out if you’ve ever found yourself confused by brambles.