Hibiscus syriacus – Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is an edible type of hibiscus that is native to Asia, but commonly planted in the United States. Rose of Sharon can be identified by its tropical-looking flowers and different shaped, asymmetrical leaves. The entire Rose of Sharon plant is edible. Leaves can be enjoyed spring-fall. The leaves taste similar […]
Rhus typhina – Staghorn sumac
Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is a native deciduous tree or shrub in the cashew family. It can be found in sunny areas, along highways, and at the edge of meadows. Staghorn sumac has alternate, compound leaves with serrated edges. The leaves turn scarlet colored in autumn. The plant produces small yellow-green flowers that turn into […]
Oenothera biennis – Common Evening Primrose
Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a native plant that is edible tip to root. It can be found growing in yard edges and old fields. It will even grow in sand and clay. Evening primrose is a biennial, producing a basal rosette its first year and sending up a tall flower stalk its second […]
Nyssa sylvatica – Black tupelo
Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) is a native tree that produces edible fruits in the fall. The tree can live hundreds of years and grow up to 100 feet tall. Black tupelo has alternate, single-lobed leaves that turn bright red in the fall. The branches come off the tree at a 90 degree angle. The tree […]
Apios americana – Groundnuts
Groundnuts (Apios americana) are a native plant in the pea family that can be found in crowded wet areas. It is a climbing, thin-stemmed vine with a 2-year growth cycle. Groundnut leaves have 3-9 toothless leaflets with pointed edges. They produce edible lavender to brown colored flowers. Tubers grow in a rhizome chain a few […]
Podophyllum peltatum – Mayapple
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is a native plant with a tropical-tasting fruit. Mayapples can be found in light shade to partial sunlight of mixed hardwood forests. They grow in rich, well-drained soil. Mayapples are colony-forming perennials with 1-2 umbrella-shaped leaves per plant. The plant flowers in May and the fruit ripens in August. The fruit […]
Lobelia inflata – Indian tobacco
Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata) is a native plant that blooms from mid-summer until the first frost. Indian tobacco has alternate, finely toothed leaves. The small flowers have an upper two-lobed lip and a lower three-lobed lip. Fertilized flowers develop into inflated seed capsules. Indian tobacco was occasionally chewed or smoked by Native Americans as a […]
Erechtites hieraciifolius – American burnweed
American Burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius) is a native plant in the Daisy (Asteraceae) family. It is often one of the earliest pioneer species of areas that were recently burned. It also grows well in disturbed habitats. American burnweed has alternate, serrated leaves that are aromatic when crushed. It produces yellow or pink flower heads in the […]
Solidago spp. – Goldenrod
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is a group of 75+ species in the United States. Goldenrod gets a bad reputation for causing allergies, but it is insect pollinated so the pollen is not in the air. Goldenrod just happens to flower at the same time as the more conspicuous ragweed which many people are allergic to. Goldenrod […]
Rumex obtusifolius – Broad-leaved dock
Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is a non-native perennial that is related to buckwheat. It can be found in lawns, fields, and disturbed grounds. Broad-leaved dock is named after its broad, oval leaves. The plant produces small green flowers that grow in clusters at the top of the plant. These become brown, papery seeds in late […]
Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a native edible plant in the mint family. It can be found blooming in sunny areas in mid to late summer. Wild Bergamot has square stems with opposite, toothed leaves. The leaves produce an oregano-like aroma when crushed due to their thymol content. Wild Bergamot leaves, stems, and flowers are […]
Eutrochium spp. – Joe-Pye weed
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) is a native plant that has been used medicinally for centuries. There are five different Joe-pye weed (Eutrochium) species present in North America. They often hybridize so can be difficult to differentiate. Joe-pye weeds have pink-purple flowers that are present summer-fall. The stem is tall, erect, and has leaves arranged around […]
Daucus carota – Wild Carrot
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) is an edible plant that was introduced here from Europe. Wild carrot, also known as Queen Anne’s Lace, is the same exact species as our cultivated carrot. Wild carrot can be found in sunny fields, disturbed soils, and parks. Wild carrot has finely divided, feathery leaves similar to our cultivated carrot. […]
Aralia nudicaulis – Wild sarsaparilla
Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) is a common, native plant in the ginseng family. It can be found in forests in southern New England. Wild sarsaparilla has erect stems that divide into a whorl of 3 stems, which each form 3-7 leaflets. The leaflets are bronze in the spring, green in the summer, and yellow/red in […]
Prunus serotina – Wild Black Cherries
Wild Black Cherries (Prunus serotina) are a native plant that can be found in full sun. They grow up to 100 feet tall. Young Black cherry trees have light gray bark with horizontal lenticels. As the tree ages, the bark becomes ridged or pleated. The ovate leaves are alternate and have small teeth. Snapping a […]
Flammulina velutipes – Enoki
Enoki (Flammulina velutipes) are a difficult-to-identify edible mushrooms that can be found growing in the colder months of the year. Enoki, also known as Velvet Foot, can be found growing on dead, often standing hardwoods, especially elms, poplars, and willows. They fruit from October to May. Enoki can be foraged all winter long as they […]
Pleurotus ostreatus – Winter Oysters
The Winter oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is the most commonly cultivated mushroom, but is also commonly found in the wild. Winter oysters, or Pearl oysters, can be identified by their tan cap, stubby off-center stem, and decurrent gills. Winter oysters tend to have a darker cap and grow larger than the summer oyster species (Pleurotus […]
Hydnum spp. – Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs (Hydnum spp.) are a group of 49 mushrooms in the Hydnum genus that are all considered edible. Hedgehogs can be found in New England from July-November. Hedgehogs are easily identified by their orange color and teeth under their cap. Hedgehogs can be found growing in groups in moss and leaf litter. They grow symbiotically […]
Fomitopsis betulina – Birch Polypore
The Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina) is a medicinal mushroom that has been used for thousands of years. The birch polypore was found on Otzi the iceman, whose body was found in the Italian alps from 5,000 years ago. It is thought that Otzi was using the mushroom to treat the intestinal parasites that he had. […]
Ischnoderma resinosum – Resinous Polypore
The Resinous polypore (Ischnoderma resinosum) is a saprobic fungus that can be found on fallen hardwoods from September until the first hard frost. The resinous polypore is thick and fleshy when young with a pale brown cap and thick white margins. The mushroom toughens and the cap becomes a darker brown with age. The cap […]