Auckland Botanic gardens

Fuchsia excorticata

Taste: Berries (kōnini) are sweet and juicy; flowers mild and slightly tart

Use: Berries eaten fresh or made into jams; flowers used as garnish

When to harvest: Summer – early autumn (December–March)

Where to find: Forest margins, stream edges, and damp, shaded areas

Harvest carefully and leave plenty of fruit for birds, which rely on these seasonal food sources.