Viola pedata – Birdfoot Violet
Birdfoot violet (Viola pedata) is a native perennial with edible leaves and flowers. It is named due to its leaves resembling a bird’s foot. Birdfoot violet can be found in open woodlands with rocky and acidic soil. It can be identified by its large purple flowers and unique foliage. Leaves and flowers can be […]
Polygonatum biflorum – Solomon’s Seal
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is a native perennial in the Asparagus family. It produces edible shoots in the spring. Solomon’s seal can be found in woodland areas that receive partial to full shade. The plant consists of one main stalk with alternate leaves. Flowers which become dark purple berries hang down along the stem. […]
Viola pubescens – Downy Yellow Violet
The Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens) is a native, edible perennial. The plant can be found in woodlands and meadows that receive partial sun to partial shade. The downy yellow violet can be identified by its hairy, heart-shaped leaves and its small yellow flowers with purple veins. This violet has a hairy stem, which […]
Viola blanda – Sweet White Violet
Sweet white violet (Viola blanda) is an edible, native perennial. It can be found in moist woodlands. The sweet white violet can be identified by its heart-shaped leaves and small, white flowers with purple veins on the lowest petal. The sweet white violet differs from the also edible common blue violet (Viola sororia) by […]
Equisetum arvense – Common horsetail
Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a native plant that is a relative of the fern. Common horsetail is a descendent of a group of plants that grew to be the size of trees 350 million years ago. It grows two separate stems. In early spring, the brown reproductive stem emerges to disperse spores. Then, the […]
Solidago sempervirens – Seaside goldenrod
Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) is a native perennial that can be found along the coast. It prefers full sun and sandy soils. Seaside goldenrod has waxy, somewhat succulent leaves. It produces yellow flowers in a pyramid shape from August-October. Seaside goldenrod produces larger flowers than other goldenrod species. Flowers are edible. They have a floral […]
Cryptotaenia canadensis – Canadian Honewort
Mitsuba/Canadian Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) is a native, edible perennial in the carrot family. Canadian honewort can be found in woodland areas with partial to full shade. It has toothed leaves that are divided into three leaflets. The stem creates a sheath at its base. The plant has a carrot-like scent when crushed. Umbels of white […]
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae – New England Aster
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a native perennial with late blooming flowers. New England aster can be found in open, sunny areas such as meadows and fields. New England aster is easiest to identify in the fall when it produces pale lavender to purple flowers with yellow centers. Stems and leaves have a […]
Helianthus tuberosus – Sunchoke
Sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a native perennial sunflower with edible tubers. Sunchoke, also known as Jerusalem artichoke, can be found in river floodplains and meadows with partial to full sun. Sunchokes grow up to 12 feet tall. Leaves and stems have a tough texture. Flowers have 10-20 petals and bloom August-September. Tubers are reddish to […]
Quercus alba – White Oak
White oak (Quercus alba) is a large native tree with leaves with rounded lobes. White oak acorns develop in one season and fall off the tree in autumn. Red oaks develop in two seasons and tend to be more bitter. Acorns are edible, but high in tannins so must be hot or cold leached before […]
Pontederia cordata – Pickerelweed
Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) is a native perennial that can be found in shallow water such as the edges of ponds. Pickerelweed can be identified by its heart-shaped leaves with rounded lobes. Clusters of lavender flowers shoot up above the leaves from flower stalks. Young leaves are edible raw or cooked. Seeds can be eaten raw, […]
Ceanothus americanus – New Jersey Tea
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) is a native shrub whose leaves were used as a caffeine-free tea substitute during the Revolutionary War. New Jersey tea can be found in dry soil with full sun. New Jersey tea can be identified by its alternate, finely toothed leaves that have three prominent veins. Older stems are reddish-brown. […]
Sagittaria latifolia – Wapato
Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia) is a native perennial with edible tubers. Wapato, also known as “katniss” and “arrowhead”, can be found in or at the edge of water. It grows in river edges, marshes, ponds, and lakes. Wapato has arrow-shaped leaves with pointed lobes. It produces flowers in the summer which have three white petals and […]
Euthamia graminifolia – Grass-leaved Goldenrod
Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) is a native perennial with edible and medicinal uses. The plant can be identified by its narrow, grass-like leaves and small yellow flowers. Leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dried to make a tea. Drinking the tea has been used to treat infections and chest pains.
Morus rubra – Red Mulberry
Red mulberry (Morus rubra) is a rare, native tree with edible berries. Red mulberries can be planted in partial to full sun or found in hardwood forests or valleys. Red mulberry trees produce alternate heart-shaped leaves that are sometimes lobed in younger plants. The tree has a fast growth rate. Native red mulberries can […]
Pycnanthemum virginianum – Virginia Mountain Mint
Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) is a native edible perrenial in the mint family. It can be found or planted in sunny areas such as meadows and fields. The plant can be identified by its narrow leaves and purple spotted flowers. Only a few flowers per cluster bloom at a time. Leaves and flowers have […]
Amaranthus retroflexus – Common Amaranth
Common amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) is a native annual with edible leaves, stems, and seeds. It can be found in farms and gardens where it is usually considered a weed. The plant prefers full sun and disturbed soil. Common amaranth has reddish stems, leaves with wavy edges, green flowers, and black seeds. Leaves are best harvested […]
Solidago rugosa – Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is a native perennial with edible and medicinal uses. There are over 75 species of goldenrod (Solidago spp.) in the United States. All above ground parts of goldenrods are edible, but taste varies depending on species. Goldenrods can be found in areas with well-drained soil and full sun. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod […]
Plantago rugelii – Blackseed Plantain
Blackseed plantain (Plantago rugelii) is a native perennial with edible and medicinal uses. Blackseed plantain can be found in areas with compacted soil such as hiking trails. Blackseed plantain can be identified by its hairless leaves with distinct veins. The petiole is often reddish. The plant produces elongated seed capsules. Young leaves can be chopped […]
Humulus lupulus – Common Hops
Common Hops (Humulus lupulus) are most known for their use in beer making, but they also produce edible shoots this time of year. Common hops are native to North America, but there are also varieties that are non-native. Hops can be found along forest edges, fences, and rivers. They prefer partial to full sun. Hops […]