Reynoutria japonica – Japanese Knotweed
Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is an invasive perennial that was brought to the U.S. from Asia as an ornamental. Japanese knotweed can be found in moist areas that receive sunlight. It often grows in large thickets in disturbed areas. It can grow up to 15 feet tall and its root system can reach 20 feet […]
Artemisia vulgaris L. – Mugwort
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) is an invasive perennial plant that came from Europe. Mugwort can be found in fields, roadsides, and woodland edges that have partial to full sun. Its rhizomes exude a chemical that discourages growth of other plants. This allows mugwort to take over entire fields. Mugwort leaves have a green upper […]
Alliaria petiolata – Garlic Mustard
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an edible invasive plant in the mustard family. Garlic mustard can be found in human-disturbed areas, shaded field edges, and woodlands. It has the ability to take over woodlands and kill off 90% of all other herbaceous plants. Garlic mustard has no native predators and seeds can last up to […]
Magnolia spp. – Magnolia
Magnolia (Magnolia spp.) is one of the first blossoms to appear in the spring. The flowers bloom for 1-3 weeks before the leaves appear. Magnolia is a genus of over 200 flowering plant species. Although some species are native to eastern North America and South America, most species are native to Asia. Magnolia can be […]
Cardamine impatiens – Narrowleaf Bittercress
Narrowleaf Bittercress (Cardamine impatiens) in an edible invasive plant in the mustard family. Narrowleaf bittercress can be found in woodlands, meadows, and near rivers. It prefers shade. The plant starts as a rosette with leaves with 13-21 leaflets. These leaflets are round with lobes. As the plant ages, it produces a flowering stalk with […]
Salix babylonica – Weeping Willow
Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) is an edible and medicinal tree that came from Northern China. Willows are one of the first trees to bud in early spring. They can be found growing near water in full sun. Willows often form many small trunks due to their salicylic acid content which acts as a natural […]
Heracleum maximum – Cow parsnip
Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) is a native perennial in the carrot (Apiaceae) family. Cow parsnip can be found along rivers, swamps, and forest edges. It prefers partial to full sun. Cow parsnip has 3-part, alternate, compound leaves with irregularly toothed and lobed margins. The leaves can grow to be 2 feet across at maturity. […]
Hylotelephium telephium – Stonecrop
Stonecrop (Hylotelephium telephium) is an edible perennial from Eurasia that can escape cultivation and naturalize in North America. Stonecrop can be found growing wild in sunny, dry areas. It has succulent leaves and fleshy stems. The plant produces pink, star-shaped flowers from late summer to early fall. Young stonecrop leaves are edible raw or cooked. […]
Hemerocallis fulva – Common Daylily
Common Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) is a perennial plant that was brought here from Asia as a garden ornamental. It has since escaped cultivation and is now considered invasive in many states. Common daylilies can be found in fields and roadsides. They have the ability to form dense colonies, displacing native plants. The plant reproduces by […]
Cirsium vulgare – Bull Thistle
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is an edible plant that is native to Eurasia. Bull thistle has become naturalized in North America and is now considered invasive in some areas. There are over 200 species of thistle in North America, 60 of which are native. Thistles are related to globe artichoke. They can be found in […]
Auricularia nigricans – Ear fungus
Ear fungus (Auricularia nigricans) is a wood-rotting mushroom that can be found growing singly or in clusters on dead or dying trees. The ear fungus (A. nigricans) can be differentiated from other wood ear fungi (mushrooms in the Auricularia genus) by its upper surface which is ash-gray to yellowish brown and hairy. Wood ear mushrooms […]
Rosa multiflora – Multiflora Rose
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) is an extremely prolific invasive that can form dense thickets, crowding out native plants. Multiflora rose is found in open woodlands, forest edges, fields, and margins of marshes. All roses have edible leaves and fruits (hips). Roses have compound leaves with an odd number of leaflets. The thorns are long and […]
Taraxacum officinale – Dandelion
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a non-native plant from Europe that is edible and medicinal from root to flower. Dandelions can be found in lawns, parks, meadows, and disturbed areas. They can tolerate a wide range of conditions and grow in every U.S. state. Dandelions form a basal rosette of leaves in early spring. The […]
Asarum canadense – Wild Ginger
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is a native perennial that can be found in moist woodlands. Wild ginger often forms dense colonies by rhizome. It can be found at the base of rocky slopes and along rivers. It prefers partial to full shade. Wild ginger has heart-shaped leaves that are usually in pairs. It produces […]
Allium canadense – Wild Onion
Allium canadense (Wild onion) is an edible native perennial. Wild onion, also known as “meadow garlic”, can be found in meadows, fields, forests, and lawns. It has solid leaves and grows from a bulb. Each flowering plant will have three leaves. The flowers bloom in late spring to summer and are white or pink. The […]
Barbarea vulgaris – Wintercress
Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris) is a non-native plant in the mustard family. Wintercress, also known as Yellow Rocket, can be found in fields, gardens, and disturbed soil in full sun. Wintercress produces a basal rosette of deeply lobed emerald green leaves. The leaves resemble arugula with larger, rounder lobes. The plant produces a hairless flower stem […]
Stellaria media – Chickweed
Chickweed (Stellaria media) is a common edible green that was brought here from Europe. Chickweed can be identified by its teardrop-shaped leaves that grow opposite each other. It has a single line of hairs growing along its stem and white flowers with five petals (appears to be 10 petals due to its deep clefts). Chickweed […]
Nepeta cataria – Catnip
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a non-native plant in the mint family that can be found wild in New England. Catnip, as with all plants in the mint family, has a square stem and opposite leaves. Catnip can be identified by its heart-shaped and velvety leaves. The plant has a skunky smell that 2/3 of cats […]
Glechoma hederacea – Ground Ivy
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is a common, non-native weed in the mint family. It can be found around the world. Ground ivy, also known as creeping Charlie and ale hoof, can be found in lawns, fields, and woodland edges. It prefers moist, fertile soil. Ground ivy spreads by runners and seeds. It often creates dense […]
Picea abies – Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) is a common spruce tree that came from Europe. Spruce trees have needles that have 4 sides. The needles of spruces are individually attached to the stem, unlike pine needles which are grouped in fascicles. All spruces produce edible tips. The flavor of spruce tips varies by species from being citrusy […]