Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is a non-native edible and medicinal plant in the rose family that flowers in July. Meadowsweet can be identified by its reddish stem and creamy-white flowers with five petals. The flowers have a sweet, almondy scent. The flowers can be used to flavor mead or panna cotta. They can also be added […]
Comptonia peregrina – Sweet Fern
Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina) is a native shrub related to the bayberry plant. Sweet fern is not a true fern, as it produces seeds and flowers, unlike ferns which reproduce using spores. Sweet fern leaves have a nice aroma, but are tough, so are best used to flavor liquids. The leaves should then be […]
Matricaria discoidea – Pineapple weed
Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea) is an edible and medicinal native plant that is similar to chamomile. It can be identified by its unique cone-shaped flower heads that lack ray flowers. Pineapple weed can be found along trails in sunny areas from May-September. It has a pineapple-like taste and aroma. Pineapple weed can be eaten raw […]
Hamamelis virginiana – Common Witch Hazel
Common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an abundant native plant in New England with many topical uses. Witch hazel was first mass produced in the mid 1800’s in Essex, Connecticut. The leaves have an asymmetrical base and serrated edges. The plant uniquely blooms in autumn. Astringents made from witch hazel have been used to treat […]
Cantharellus minor – Small Chanterelle
The Small chanterelle (Cantharellus minor) is an edible, although unsubstantial mushroom. Small chanterelles are mycorrhizal with hardwood trees. They are often found in moss, under oak trees. Chanterelles can be identified by their decurrent false gills. Small chanterelles look very similar to golden chanterelles but have a slenderer and hollow stem. Although the small chanterelle […]
Cichorium intybus – Common Chicory
Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a non-native edible and medicinal plant that can be found in sunny areas. The entire plant is edible, although it can be bitter. It is beneficial to eat bitter herbs, as they assist with digestion, weight management, and blood sugar regulation. Chicory has also been used to boost immunity and […]
Agaricus campestris – Meadow Mushrooms
Meadow mushrooms (Agaricus campestris) are the edible wild cousin of the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Meadow mushrooms can be identified by their pink gills that turn dark brown with age and their dark brown spore print. The mushroom should not turn yellow when handled and should not be growing from a vulva. Meadow mushrooms […]
Artomyces pyxidatus – Crown-tipped Coral
Crown-tipped coral (Artomyces pyxidatus) is an edible mushroom that can be found from June-September. It fruits on dead or dying wood, which is unique in the coral fungi group. Crown-tipped coral is always a shade of white and has crown-like branch tips. It has a mild peppery flavor and cooks very quickly. It is best […]
Prunella vulgaris – Self-heal
Self-heal/ “Heal-all” (Prunella vulgaris) is a native edible and medicinal plant in the mint family. Self-heal can be identified by its opposite leaves, square stem, and purple flowers that appear mid-late summer. It is found in woodland edges and meadows. All above ground parts can be used as an edible or medicinal. It has a […]
Laetiporus cincinnatus – White-pored Chicken of the Woods
White-pored Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus cincinnatus) is an edible polypore found growing at the base of oak trees from July-October. There are multiple Laetiporus (Chicken of the Woods) species. The white-pored chicken of the woods is known to be the best tasting species. Laetiporus cincinnatus is lighter colored than other Laetiporus species. It grows […]
Osmorhiza longistylis – Aniseroot
Aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylis) is an edible plant that tastes and smells like licorice. Aniseroot has a smooth purple stem and small hairs on its leaves. Being in the carrot family, it is imperative to differentiate aniseroot from poison hemlock. Poison hemlock lacks hairs on its leaves, has purple splotches on its stem, and has a […]
Rumex acetosella – Sheep’s Sorrel
Sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is an edible, non-native green in the Buckwheat family. Sheep’s sorrel is easily identified by its unique arrow-shaped leaves that grow in a rosette. Sheep’s sorrel is often found near blueberry plants. It prefers sandy soils or grasslands. Sheep’s sorrel has lemony leaves that can be eaten raw or cooked. It’s […]
Rosa palustris – Swamp Rose
The Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) is a native plant that produces delicious fruits (rose hips) in late fall. All roses have edible leaves, flowers, and hips. Swamp roses have leaves with serrated edges and curved thorns along the stem. They prefer to grow near rivers or marshes. Swamp rose hips have a tangy taste. They […]
Galium aparine – Cleavers
Cleavers (Galium aparine) are a native, edible plant in the coffee family. There are about 20 species in the Galium genus that grow in New England. All Galiums are edible and medicinal. Cleavers are named for their ability to cling to adjacent objects. They have 6-8 leaves per whorl. The plant produces greenish white flowers […]
Betula lenta – Black Birch
Black Birch (Betula lenta) is a native tree with edible sap and cambium (inner bark). Young leaves and trigs can also be eaten or used for flavoring. Black birch has shiny bark with horizontal lenticels (raised pores). Broken twigs have a wintergreen scent from the methyl salicylate in the tree. Twigs can be used […]
Hesperis matronalis – Dames Rocket
Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is an invasive, yet edible plant in the mustard family. In early spring, you can find the basal rosette of Dame’s rocket leaves in disturbed areas. The leaves are covered in small, fuzzy hairs and have irregularly toothed margins. Dame’s rocket leaves taste like peppery arugula. They are best foraged for […]
Cardamine hirsuta – Hairy Bittercress
Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is an edible plant in the mustard family whose leaves can be used as microgreens. Hairy bittercress is named for the tiny hairs that appear on its leaves and stems. It can also be identified by its small white flowers with four petals that are produced in spring. Hairy bittercress thrives […]
Cardamine diphylla – Two-leaved Toothwort
Two-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) is a native, edible plant in the brassicaceae (mustard) family. From the root of Two-leaved Toothwort emerges 2 leaves, each with 3 coarsely toothed leaflets. The plant emerges early in spring and blooms from mid-April to mid-May. Two-leaved Toothwort can be found in most of Eastern North America. It often […]
Allium vineale – Field Garlic
Field Garlic (Allium vineale) is a non-native relative of chives that can be foraged in the colder months. Any leaves with a garlicky scent are edible. Field garlic leaves are thin and hollow. All parts of the plant are edible, including the leaves, bulb, and flowers. The bulb can be left in the ground […]
Claytonia virginica – Virginia Spring Beauty
Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) is an edible ephemeral that likes to grow in dappled sunlight. The plant is often found near ramp patches, as both species like to grow in maple-hardwood forests. Virginia Spring Beauty has white to pink flowers with pink stripes. The flowers open when it is warm and sunny. They will […]