When these fruits ripen, they turn blue. On this plant in the wild part of our backyard, the squirrels, mainly, and birds eat them. We hardly ever see these fruits when they're fully ripe, since the critters have already gotten them! We have a younger Oregon grape holly in the front yard next to the house, and the critters haven't discovered that one so much. There were a few ripe fruits on it today, so I tasted them. Pretty sour! But the squirrels love them! Must be full of Vitamin C.