Pawpaw Fruits, A Tropical Fruit in Temperate Climates

Pickled Pawpaws

Pawpaw trees Pawpaw trees(Asimina triloba) are unique because most of their closest relatives are tropical species, but these trees are not. Pawpaw trees are native to temperate climates of eastern and central United States and southern Canada.  This USDA map shows their range in the U.S. and Canada. Pawpaw trees are in the same plant family as tropical […]

Simple Chicken of the Woods Recipe

Chicken of the Woods recipe

Chicken of the Woods Chicken of the woods is a great mushroom for beginners. It’s easy to identify and has no known toxic look a likes. It has a meaty but delicate flavor.  To find out more information about chicken of the woods including where to find it and how to identify it visit to our chicken […]

3 of The Best Free Android Apps for Wild edibles and Foraging

There are a few free android apps in Google Play Store that focus on teaching you to find, identify, or prepare wild edibles.  Below are 3 of the best apps for learning about wild edibles and foraging.   I will explain the differences and What you should expect from each one. Wild Edibles Lite By WinterRoot LLC and Wildman Steve […]

Hawthorn, an Ornamental Tree With Edible Fruit

Washington hawthorn tree (Crataegus phaenopyrum) is a common ornamental landscape tree in the Eastern  and Central United States.  The genus Crataegus is a large genus including many species referred to as hawthorn tree, hawthorn apple thornapple, maytree, whitethorn and hawberry.  Although this article focuses on the washington hawthorn tree the information here applies to many other species in the […]

Spruce – Surprisingly Edible Abundant Evergreen Tree

Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in June 2014. Updated April 2022. Spruce trees (Genus: Picea) are a very abundant tree across the globe, especially in northern areas. In the United States, a common non-native species is the Norway Spruce (Picea Abies), and two of our native American species are White Spruce (Picea glauca) […]

5 Easy to Forage Edible Spring Plants of the Northeast

Japanese Knotweed

At Eat The Planet we love to teach people how foraging for wild edibles can be easy, safe, and rewarding. This article was written to get people out there and eating edible wild plants safely. There are 3 things that you need to be able to do first and this article is meant to make […]

Multiflora Rose, An Invasive But Nutritious Wild Edible

Rosa multiflora

Roses are one of the most popular plants known to mankind.  Their history as a cultivated plant goes back at least 5000 years.  The Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), also known as Japanese Rose is a native Asian rose that has become invasive in many parts of the United States and Canada.  The edibility and medicinal […]

Eastern White Pine, An Effective Remedy For The Common Cold

Pinus Strobus Eastern White Pine

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is a common native forest and landscape tree in the eastern half of the United States.  The Pines (Genus: Pinus) are a prolific genus of trees and shrubs including slightly more than 100 species.  This particular species is a long lived tree, some exceptional specimens have been estimated to be […]

What Is The Opposite Of “Conifer”

Pinus Strobus Eastern White Pine

This is a website about wild edibles so when identifying conifers we should know how they are distinguished from other plants What is the opposite of the term “conifer”? A Question we have heard since we learned about trees as children.  The answer is easy right? First of all, think of an answer and write […]

10 Wild Edibles, You Should Know

Elaeagnus umbellata, Autumn Olive fruit

This is a list of wild edibles that are abundant, easy to identify, and significant in one way or another.  These are some of the basics that are good to know if you’re stuck in the woods in a survival scenario or simply camping and hiking.  There are some basic identification features mentioned here but […]

Oak Tree Acorns, A High Calorie Wild Edible

Quercus rubra acorns

Oak Trees (Genus: Quercus) are deciduous or evergreen broad-leaved trees or shrubs that grow all over the world.  There are over 550 species of Oak Trees worldwide.  Oak Tree acorns were a staple food for Native American Indian tribes and other indigenous people around the globe.  Oak Trees are very common and produce edible acorns […]

Canadian Hemlock, A Hot Winter Tea

Tsuga Canadensis needles and cones

Canadian Hemlock(Tsuga canadensis), also known as Eastern Hemlock is a large forest tree native to North Eastern United States and parts of Canada. There are other species in the same genus that grow in the western part of the continent, this article generally applies to those species as well.  Canadian Hemlock is an evergreen tree […]

Sassafras, An Illegal Substance That Grows Wild In Our Back Yards

Sassafras albidum leaf shapes

Sassafras Tree Sassafras is the primary ingredient in traditional root beer as well as being used in the production of MDMA(ecstasy) and MDA. Sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum) is a very common native plant in the Eastern United States. It is often seen in clumps of weedy saplings, but as sassafrases mature they can grow to be large trees. There […]

What is the story behind the banning of Safrole?

Sassafras albidum

Safrole which is a unique substance in Sassafras can not be found in significant quantity in any food products sold in the united states today. On the surface it looks like a clear and simple reason. Official Reason behind the banning of Safrole In the 1950s in a government study, Safrole had been force fed […]

Eastern Red Cedar Berries, A Touch of Natural Flavor

Eastern red cedar berries

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in December 2013. Updated April 2022. Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a very common native plant in Eastern North America. The common name can be slightly misleading as it’s technically not a true cedar but a juniper. These tall, slim trees with their waxy, light blue-colored berries […]

Turkey Tail, A Powerful Medicinal Mushroom

Trametes versicolor, Turkey Tail Mushroom

Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor) is a very common mushroom that can be found all over the world.  It is a decayer of wood and the mushrooms last a long time, often living into the winter. Turkey Tail Mushroom is an ancient indigenous medicine for different cultures around the world. It can be found growing […]

Wild Garlic, A Great Addition to Foraged Meals

Allium vineale, Wild Garlic

There are a number of plants that go by the name wild garlic, this article focuses on a very common species, Allium vineale which is also called crow garlic.  This species has been introduced from Europe and Africa. Onions, Leeks, Garlic, and Shallots all are in the genus Allium and there are multiple wild plants […]

Black Tupelo, A Native American Fruit Tree

Nyssa sylvatica, Black Tupelo, notice brances growing out at 90 degrees then sloping down

Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) , also called black gum tree is a North Eastern American native tree producing edible fruit in the fall.  There are 2 other species in the genus native to South Eastern US, they are the Ogeechee Lime (Nyssa ogeche) and Water Tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), This article primarily focuses on Nyssa silvatica […]

Japanese Barberry, Invasive Winter Fruit

Berberis thunbergii, Japanese Barberry fruits and leaves

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is an invasive shrub in eastern United States.  It can grow in dense forest shade and is not typically eaten by dear.  It is commonly used as a landscape plant and a few varieties have been developed for that purpose. Efforts are under way to prevent the species and all its […]