WINEB

Wineberry

Aristotelia serrata

This small native tree has thin, heart-shaped leaves, light green on the upper surface and often reddish underneath. It produces red stems that can be trimmed into a tight bush when young. The berries are edible but the pips are bitter and should be discarded. In cold areas of New Zealand, the tree is semi-deciduous and will lose most of its leaves by the end of winter.