Identifying Common Hedgerow Berries in Autumn

A hedgerow harvest worth knowing

There is a particular magic to a British hedgerow in autumn. The leaves are turning, the air is sharp, and the bushes are heavy with fruit. Sloes, haws and rosehips are three of the most common and most useful berries you will find. But they can be confused, especially when you are new to foraging. This guide will help you tell them apart by leaf shape, colour and season, while leaving plenty for the birds and small mammals that depend on them.

Sloes: the dusky fruit of blackthorn

Sloes grow on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), a spiny shrub that often forms dense, impenetrable thickets. The leaves are small, oval, and finely serrated, a dull, dark green. They appear after the white flowers of spring. The fruit itself is small, round, and deep blue-black, often covered in a pale, dusty bloom – a bit like a miniature grape. Inside is a single stone. Sloes ripen from late August, but they are mouth-puckeringly astringent until the first hard frosts soften them. Season: September to November, best after a frost. Taste test: if it makes your mouth dry and furry, it's a sloe. Use them for gin, jams, or fruit leather.

Haws: the scarlet beads of hawthorn

Haws are the fruit of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), the ubiquitous hedging plant. The leaves are the giveaway: they are deeply lobed, almost like a tiny oak leaf, with three to five main lobes and a serrated edge. In autumn, the shrub is covered in clusters of bright red, oval berries, each about the size of a pea, with a single hard stone inside. They hang in loose clusters. Season: September to November, sometimes lingering into December. Haws are milder than sloes, with a mealy texture and a hint of apple. They make excellent ketchup, fruit leather, or a tangy jelly. Key difference: hawthorn leaves are lobed, blackthorn leaves are not.

Rosehips: the glossy hips of wild roses

Rosehips come from wild roses, most commonly dog rose (Rosa canina) and field rose. The leaves are pinnate: five to seven oval leaflets arranged opposite each other along a central stem, each with a serrated edge. The stems are prickly. The hips are bright red to orange, smooth and glossy, oval or round, often with the dried remains of the flower (sepals) at the tip. They are larger than haws, and when you cut one open, you'll find a mass of tiny seeds surrounded by irritating hairs. Season: late August through winter, and they often stay on the bush when other food is gone. Rosehips are rich in vitamin C. Use them for syrup, tea, or jelly – but strain well to remove the hairs.

Telling them apart at a glance

• Sloes: blue-black, dusty bloom, round; blackthorn leaf is small, oval, serrated, not lobed. Season: late summer to late autumn.
• Haws: bright red, oval, in clusters; hawthorn leaf is deeply lobed. Season: early autumn to early winter.
• Rosehips: bright red-orange, glossy, often with sepals; rose leaf is pinnate with 5-7 leaflets. Season: late summer through winter.

If you're still unsure, look at the whole bush: blackthorn has sharp thorns and often a dark, twiggy appearance; hawthorn is dense and twiggy with lobed leaves; wild roses are more sprawling with prickles rather than thorns.

Picking with a light touch

Foraging is a joy, but it comes with responsibility. Never strip a bush bare. Leave at least half the berries for wildlife. Thrushes, redwings, fieldfares and waxwings rely on haws and hips as winter fuel. Sloes are less popular, but small mammals and some birds will still take them. Pick from the upper branches where you can reach, and leave the lower ones for creatures that cannot climb. Avoid bushes near busy roads or sprayed verges. And always check you have permission if you're not on a public right of way. A good rule: take only what you need, and leave the rest for the hedge.