Prairie Sunflower, Beautiful Abundant Blooms

Sunflowers are perhaps one of the most well-known edible flowers. The edible seeds from the Common Sunflower are well known and commercially available. However, you may not know that another member of the sunflower family, the Prairie Sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris), is also widely spread across North America and just as edible. This beautiful plant species […]

Marsh Marigold; Proceed with Caution

Marsh_Marigold_(Caltha_palustris)

Common names for plants and plant species can be confusing. A single plant could have several common names. And a single common name might refer to a whole slew of different species. Marsh Marigold (Caltha spp.) is one such genus where confusion may occur. In the Pacific Northwest there are two common species of Marsh […]

Sweet Coltsfoot; A plant of many names…

It’s important to do your homework before you begin your foraging journey. Although we often rely on common names for plants when we discuss them, sometimes that doesn’t always work. Plants can have remarkably similar or nearly identical common names and be from completely different species! Coltsfoot is a common name given to a variety […]

Bear Grass, Resilient Rhizomes

Bear Grass (Xerophyllum Tenax) gets its name from the observations of bears eating the young fleshy stems and Grizzly bears using the leaves for their dens. Though not a true grass, other names for this plant include Indian Basket Grass, Deer Grass, Elk Grass, and Soap Grass. Identifying Bear Grass Bear Grass is an evergreen […]

Wild Asparagus, A Grocery Store Staple Gone Feral

When it comes to Asparagus (Asparagus Officinalis), the culinary world is abundant with recipes to sate any palate. What you might not know however, is that the asparagus growing in the wild is identical to the stuff you can find in your local grocery store produce section. Asparagus has escaped cultivation and can now be […]

Orange Agoseris, Dandelion Imposters of the West Coast

If you have walked through the meadows or woods of the west coast, you may have seen this plant before. You might have mistaken it for a strange looking Dandelion.  Orange Agoseris (Agoseris Aurantiaca), also known as the Mountain Dandelion, is one of a family of ‘False Dandelions’. It is a perennial native to the […]