Edible plants and flowers list

Many plants are edible. Many flowers are edible also. Sometimes the flowers are as healthy and nutritious as the rest of the plant. Many of the so called 'weeds' are very good to eat. As a child I used to go out in the field and pick pokeweed and wild onions for Granny to fix pokesalad for dinner. It was very tasty.

Rose-hips have probably 50 times more vitamin C in them than any citrus drink. Rose-hips can be eaten plain or ground up and made into a tea. They can easily be stored for the winter if dried and ground. Prickly pear cactus has fruit that is very good. Also the leaves can be eaten. The fruit is called 'pear apples'. Eat these in moderation. A very good jelly can be made from these 'apples'. The cactus leaves are de-thorned first and then used in many recipes. They are good with scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Many people know of eating pecans, hickory nuts, black walnuts and others. Did you know that you could survive on acorns also? Wild fruit, such as, wild cherries, plums, apples, and many of the wild berries are full of nutrients. The leaves and the berries of wild grape vines are both edible. Wild strawberry leaves are also edible.

The flowers of most herbs are healthy to eat. Most flowers that are edible are overlooked by most. Certain flowers are a great source of vitamins and minerals. There is dandelion wine, herbal vinegars and herbal oils that are made from flowers. Have you heard of eating a fried squash blossom? Some of the larger blooms of yellow squash and zucchini can be stuffed and fried. Many people put edible flowers in their punch bowl ice rings. They usually do not eat the flowers. Just as we usually do not eat the parsley on our plate. We usually just think of these things as ornamental and not edible.

Many flowers contain phytochemicals that we need to fight off disease. If you decide to give flowers and/or wild foods a try, just be sure they come from a safe, non chemical/pesticide place. I would not recommend eating the flowers or wild plants from the roadside. There are too many cars putting out pollution onto these plants.

Before eating any plant, flower or otherwise, be sure it is good and safe to eat. Depending on where you live, there are big selections to choose from. Whether you live in the desert, the forest, or near the ocean there are edible plants. Do your research before you eat!! Be sure when you pick a wild onion, it is for certain a wild onion. There is copy cat plants out there. A wild onion looks exactly like another plant that grows, but that other plant does not smell like an onion. This plant is very toxic. There are many books out there to help you identify the wild edibles.

Here is a small list of wild edibles--

clover, redbud, mint, watercress, mustard, shepherd's purse, chickweed, mountain sorrel, plantain, cedar berries and wild onion.

Here is a small list of edible flowers--

oregano, violets, daisies, nasturtiums, roses, marigolds, squash, chives, apple, peach, lemon, thyme, daffodil, and lilacs.

There are many, many more.

A good combination for a salad is as follows:

Vegetable, Herb and Flower Salad

lettuce, onion, tomato, cucumber, daffodil leaves, daffodil flowers, garlic, carrots, purple cabbage, thyme, herbal vinegar, olive oil and olives

Directions--

Add as much of each as you like. Chop, dice and slice as you like also. I use a wooden bowl for salads and rub a garlic clove on the inside of the bowl first. Use an herbal vinegar of your choice or a basalmic vinegar. Add any herbs you would like also. If you like the color of another flower, then use it. Mix it all together and serve. It is wonderful and beautiful!!

So next time you are out walking in the woods, look at the plants that are around you. Don't take these plants for granted. Everything was put here for a reason.