Are there any inedible plums/ damsons/ bullace/ sloes?

[Jeanied]

These days I regularly take the dog out for walks and I have now seen trees in the lanes and parks develop from blossom to full leaf and fruit. I pick them usually to make jam or to add to other fruit in crumbles and chutneys.
Most of them turn out fine with the addition of sugar!

I was just wondering if there are any of the prunus species that are not edible?

[BertieFox]

The only possible danger would be if you identify something that is not in the Prunus family as a 'plum' or sloe. There is nothing in the Prunus family that would be inedible or poisonous, other than the stones themselves, which not many people would eat!

The only thing I can think of that would represent a danger would be picking small black fruit from one of the Solanum family, such as a nightshade, but these are shrubby plants rather than trees. Plum leaves are quite distinctive.

I write this having just enjoyed a good feast of Prunus cerasifera, a wild cherry plum, grown from seed ten years ago.

[Jeanied]

My lovely neighbour has a small dark red leaved tree with dark red fruit which we were sure were plums of one sort or another - so I advised picking them and cooking them - I would hate to poison her after she has agreed to dog-sit for me
I have identified cherry laurel though, due to the delivery of wood chippings from the tree surgeon and the smell of almonds - which is a source of arsenic. I now know exactly what they are!

ETA - ooops it was cyanide!

[mothhawk]

Perhaps it was a purple leaved plum? Botanic Notables: Purple-Leaf Plum Tree | Garden Design

[Jeanied]

It probably was, Mothhawk - thanks for identifying it. There are so many variations out there and I would love to use the fruit if it is edible

[BertieFox]

Prunus laurocerasus or the cherry laurel actually has EDIBLE fruit, according to the RHS, though the leaves and fruit pips contain cyanolipids that are capable of releasing cyanide and benzaldehyde. The latter has the characteristic almond smell associated with cyanide. But then, so do all the plums and things with stones which contain cyanide.

The leaves are very poisonous too, but the same is true for tomatoes, aubergines and many other types of plant of which we eat the fruit.

[Bill HH]

I was just wondering if there are any of the prunus species that are not edible?

Yes. The majority of dessert plums sold in supermarkets are totally inedible.