Copper rock pear is popular with gardeners in spring and fall due to its colorful foliage. In April, every garden owner enjoys the rich blossoms and in autumn the birds also appreciate the sweet fruits.
Are the fruits of the copper rock pear edible and how are they used?
The fruits of the copper rock pear are edible and ripen in August. They taste sweet and can be eaten raw, dried, made into jam, used in baking or to make juice, liqueur or wine. Be sure to harvest the dark fruits.
From flower to fruit
The flowers of the copper rock pear open in April, when the first bronze or copper-colored leaves appear. The small star-shaped flowers sit in loose clusters on the branches and attract bees, bumblebees and butterflies. At the end of April and beginning of May the tree appears to consist only of white flowers. In addition to the later equally beautiful foliage color, the copper rock pear offers a very impressive sight in spring.
At the end of May - beginning of June, the flowers gradually turn into fruits, which are edible, about a centimeter in diameter and look like small berries crowned by upright calyx tips. The color of the spherical fruits changes as they ripen from light cherry red to deep purple or black with a bluish shimmer. However, it is not recommended to consume the fruits of the common rock pear as they are slightly poisonous.
Harvest and use
The ripe fruits can be harvested in August. These can be recognized primarily by their dark color. The small fruits taste sweet and can be processed in many ways:
- they are well suited for raw consumption, e.g. B. on ice cream or in muesli,
- They can be dried and later used as an ingredient in muesli,
- you can make jam from them,
- they are suitable for baking cakes,
- as one of the ingredients for making juice, liqueur or wine.
Tip
If harvesting the tiny fruits seems too laborious or you just can't do it in time, the birds will be happy about a welcome change in their diet.
