Is the Jerusalem Cherry That Alicia Silverstone Tried Edible?

This week in “lessons that the internet taught us,” Alicia Silverstone gave us all a healthy reminder via a viral TikTok video that eating unidentified plants growing in the wilderness (or in someone’s front yard) probably isn’t the brightest idea. The 47-year-old actress, best known for her role as Cher in the 1995 hit Clueless, took to her social media channels on Tuesday, August 20th, to ask her millions of followers to help classify a mysterious fruit, saying “I’ve discovered something that I can’t figure out what it is and I need your help.” She then proceeds to show the camera a round, orange fruit — about the size of a cherry tomato — that’s been bitten in half and has seeds on the inside.

Although she does audibly note “I don’t think you’re supposed to eat this,” Silverstone is seen taking a bite of the mystery fruit, which she picked from a bush growing near the sidewalk as she walked the streets of London. 

Commenters were quick to chime in, saying that the plant is “poisonous” or “toxic” and asking the actress if she was okay. Luckily Silverstone posted to Instagram yesterday, confirming that she is indeed “alive and well.” But this caption still doesn’t identify what the fruit was, prompting some  questions: What exactly did Alicia Silverstone eat? And is it as dangerous as many of her followers implied?

What is a Jerusalem cherry?

The mysterious fruit that sent the internet into a tailspin is a Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) — also known as a Madeira winter cherry — that’s a member of the nightshade family. If you also thought that the Jerusalem cherry looks similar to a tomato, there’s a reason for that. This fruit and tomatoes share the same genus, and Jerusalem cherries supposedly do taste like a cherry tomato, although you should not try them to verify this. 

The nightshade grows on an evergreen shrub with dark green and glossy leaves. The plant’s white, star-shaped flowers have orange centers that eventually turn into fruit; while the Jerusalem cherry Silverstone plucked was a vivid tangerine hue, their color can range from a light yellow-green to scarlet red. 

Where do Jerusalem cherries grow?

Alicia Silverstone may have picked a Jerusalem cherry while walking through London, but the plant is actually native to South America. After being introduced to other continents, it may be considered a weed in several countries with warmer climates, including South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The Jerusalem cherry is also commonly grown as a houseplant, because of its beautiful flowers and fruit — but pet owners should use caution, because it can be particularly toxic for dogs to consume, and possibly dangerous for cats too.

Are Jerusalem cherries edible?

The short answer is no, Jerusalem cherries are toxic and should not be eaten. However, as foraging expert Alexis Nikole pointed out in her own TikTok, describing the plant as “very poisonous” or deadly isn’t entirely accurate. Consuming this fruit will primarily cause gastrointestinal issues like vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea, and it is rarely deadly for humans. That being said, eating a large amount of it could produce more severe symptoms, which according to Medline Plus — a health information resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine — may extend to fever, shock, slow breathing, delirium, and more. 

All parts of the Jerusalem cherry plant are poisonous, so if for some reason you feel compelled to try eating a leaf — don’t. But don’t let this information give you the impression that all nightshades are harmful to humans. While a few members of this plant family are famously toxic, like belladonna or “toxic nightshade,” it also encompasses many beloved edible fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes.

Even if eating one Jerusalem cherry likely won’t cause you any severe bodily harm, it’s still not a good idea — who wants to risk gastrointestinal issues, let alone something more serious? And if any of us needed a refresher on why not to eat things from unknown plants that don’t belong to us, thank you to Alicia Silverstone for the helpful reminder.