Wild Blueberry |
Vaccinium angustifolium |
Fruit |
Summer |
Acidic soils, forests |
High in antioxidants |
Blackberry |
Rubus fruticosus |
Fruit |
Summer |
Thickets, woods |
Can be invasive |
Raspberry |
Rubus idaeus |
Fruit |
Summer |
Brambles, disturbed areas |
High in fiber |
Wild Strawberry |
Fragaria vesca |
Fruit |
Spring-Summer |
Meadows, woods |
Fragile, sweet fruit |
Chanterelle Mushroom |
Cantharellus cibarius |
Fruit body |
Summer-Fall |
Forests, ground |
Golden color, fragrant |
Morel Mushroom |
Morchella esculenta |
Fruit body |
Spring |
Woodland |
Highly sought after, distinctive appearance |
Chicken of the Woods |
Laetiporus sulphureus |
Fruit body |
Summer-Fall |
Decaying wood, forests |
Bright yellow-orange, tasty |
Acorns |
Quercus spp. |
Nuts |
Fall |
Oak trees |
Requires leaching for safety |
Wild Grapes |
Vitis spp. |
Fruit |
Summer-Fall |
Woodlands, edges |
Varies in sweetness, edible when ripe |
Persimmon |
Diospyros virginiana |
Fruit |
Fall |
Forests, riverbanks |
Sweet when fully ripe, astringent otherwise |
Plantain |
Plantago major |
Leaves, seeds |
Spring-Fall |
Lawns, gardens |
Nutritious leafy green |
Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale |
Leaves, flowers, roots |
Spring-Fall |
Gardens, fields |
Entire plant is edible |
Milkweed |
Asclepias spp. |
Pods, young shoots |
Summer |
Open fields, edges |
Toxic in some stages; young shoots and pods edible |
Nettle |
Urtica dioica |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Woodlands, disturbed areas |
Stinging hairs; cook to eat |
Black Walnuts |
Juglans nigra |
Nuts |
Fall |
Woodland edges, hillsides |
Strong flavor; difficult to shell |
Butternut |
Juglans cinerea |
Nuts |
Fall |
Forests, hilly areas |
Rich flavor; related to walnuts |
Wild Carrot |
Daucus carota |
Root |
Summer-Fall |
Fields, roadsides |
Careful with lookalikes (poison hemlock) |
Field Garlic |
Allium vineale |
Bulbs, leaves |
Year-round |
Fields, gardens |
Garlic flavor; pungent |
Chickweed |
Stellaria media |
Leaves, flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Gardens, disturbed areas |
Mild flavor; nutrient-rich |
Wild Lettuce |
Lactuca spp. |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Fields, gardens |
Bitter; used for sedative properties |
Wild Mint |
Mentha spp. |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Wet areas, gardens |
Strong aromatic flavor |
Cattails |
Sparganium spp. |
Roots, shoots |
Spring-Summer |
Wetlands |
Various edible parts |
Sea Rocket |
Cakile spp. |
Leaves, seeds |
Spring-Summer |
Coastal areas |
Salty taste; good in salads |
Collards |
Brassica oleracea |
Leaves |
Year-round |
Fields, gardens |
Nutritious leafy green |
Wild Garlic |
Allium ursinum |
Leaves, bulbs |
Spring |
Woodlands |
Distinctive flavor; early spring |
Japanese Knotweed |
Fallopia japonica |
Young shoots |
Spring-Summer |
Riparian zones |
Source of resveratrol |
Bluebell |
Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
Leaves, bulbs |
Spring |
Woodlands |
Mildly toxic; only young parts edible |
Chicory |
Cichorium intybus |
Leaves, roots |
Spring-Fall |
Fields, roadsides |
Bitter; root can be ground for coffee substitute |
Rose Hips |
Rosa spp. |
Fruits |
Fall |
Wherever wild roses grow |
High in Vitamin C |
Persian Ironwood |
Parrotia persica |
Leaves, seeds |
Fall |
Woodlands, parks |
Edible leaves; young shoots nutritious |
Wild Honeysuckle |
Lonicera spp. |
Flowers, berries |
Summer |
Forested areas |
Flowers sweet; berries vary in edibility |
Sheep Sorrel |
Rumex acetosella |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Fields, gardens |
Sour flavor; can be invasive |
Anise Hyssop |
Agastache foeniculum |
Leaves, flowers |
Summer |
Prairies, gardens |
Licorice flavor; attract pollinators |
Sorrel |
Rumex acetosa |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Fields, gardens |
Sour flavor; high in Vitamin C |
Gooseberry |
Ribes spp. |
Fruit |
Summer |
Under bushes, woods |
Varies in sweetness; tart |
Fig |
Ficus carica |
Fruit |
Late Summer |
Sunlit areas, gardens |
Sweet when fully ripe; many cultivars |
Mulberry |
Morus spp. |
Fruit |
Summer |
Woodlands, yards |
Check ripeness; sweet and juicy |
Fiddlehead Fern |
Matteuccia struthiopteris |
Fiddleheads |
Spring |
Moist woods |
Cook before eating; can be toxic raw |
Sweet Potato Vine |
Ipomoea batatas |
Leaves, tubers |
Year-round |
Gardens, fields |
Nutritious, tender leaves |
Maple Sap |
Acer spp. |
Sap |
Early Spring |
Forests |
Used for syrup; requires boiling down |
Jewelweed |
Impatiens capensis |
Leaves, stems |
Summer |
Moist areas |
Seeks to soothe rashes; edible |
Chinese Lantern |
Physalis alkekengi |
Fruit, leaves |
Summer-Fall |
Garden edges, waste areas |
Fruit is edible when ripe; check toxicity |
Wild Cabbage |
Brassica oleracea |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Coastal areas |
Early greens; nutrient-rich |
Burdock |
Arctium lappa |
Roots, leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Disturbed areas |
Young roots and leaves are edible |
Goldenrod |
Solidago spp. |
Flowers, leaves |
Summer-Fall |
Fields, roadsides |
Use in teas and salads; edible parts |
Thistle |
Cirsium spp. |
Roots, leaves, flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Fields, roadsides |
Young shoots and roots edible when cooked |
Yarrow |
Achillea millefolium |
Leaves, flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Fields, meadows |
Mildly bitter; used in teas |
Calendula |
Calendula officinalis |
Flowers, leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Gardens |
Edible flowers; sweet flavor |
Spilanthes |
Acmella oleracea |
Leaves, flowers |
Summer |
Gardens |
Edible with numbing effect |
Chickory Salad |
Cichorium intybus |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Fields |
Bitter; good in salads |
Bees wrap |
Musa acuminata |
Flowers |
Spring |
Tropical areas |
Contains edible flower clusters |
Zaatar |
Thymus spp. |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Mediterranean regions |
Common herb mix; edible leaves |
Wood Sorrel |
Oxalis spp. |
Leaves, flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Woods |
Sour flavor; refreshing |
Wild Orange |
Citrus spp. |
Fruit |
Winter |
Tropical, sub-tropical |
Varies in sweetness; check ripeness |
Cut-leaf Teasel |
Dipsacus laciniatus |
Roots, leaves |
Summer |
Wet meadows |
Check for edibility |
Tulip Poplar |
Liriodendron tulipifera |
Flower, leaves |
Summer |
Forests |
Flowers and young leaves edible |
Invasive Edible |
Bamboo |
Young shoots |
Spring |
Woodlands |
Tender young shoots edible |
Sweet Clover |
Melilotus spp. |
Leaves, flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Fields, roadsides |
Sweet flavor; used in teas |
Pine Nut |
Pinus spp. |
Seeds |
Fall-Winter |
Pine forests |
Nutty flavor; high in calories |
Bee Balm |
Monarda didyma |
Leaves, flowers |
Summer |
Gardens, woods |
Minty flavor; good for tea |
Mandrake |
Mandragora officinarum |
Root |
Spring |
Woodlands |
Toxic if consumed improperly |
Ground Cherry |
Physalis pruinosa |
Fruit |
Summer-Fall |
Gardens, fields |
Sweet when ripe; husk protects from pests |
Hoshan |
Cucumis sativus |
Fruit |
Summer |
Cultivated fields |
Commonly cultivated cucumber varieties |
Barberry |
Berberis vulgaris |
Fruit |
Summer-Fall |
Woodlands |
Sour berries; used in cooking |
Saskatoon Berry |
Amelanchier alnifolia |
Fruit |
Summer |
Prairies |
Nutritious, sweet berries |
Cucumber |
Cucumis sativus |
Fruit |
Summer |
Cultivated fields |
Common garden vegetable |
Fennel |
Foeniculum vulgare |
Bulbs, leaves, seeds |
Summer |
Fields, gardens |
Used in Mediterranean cooking |
Seaweed |
Sargassum spp. |
Leaves |
Year-round |
Coastal areas |
Nutrient-rich; various edible types |
Wild Celery |
Apium graveolens |
Leaves, seeds |
Summer |
Wet areas |
Fragrant; use sparingly |
Wild Cherry |
Prunus spp. |
Fruits |
Summer |
Woodlands |
Check prior to consumption; pits are toxic |
Wild Thyme |
Thymus serpyllum |
Leaves |
Summer |
Rocky areas |
Strong flavor; excellent for cooking |
Berry Family |
Rubus idaeus, Vaccinium spp. |
Fruits |
Summer |
Fields, gardens |
Includes various berries; check for ripeness |
Acai |
Euterpe oleracea |
Fruit |
Year-round |
Rainforests |
Highly nutritious; used in smoothies |
Sea Beans |
Salicornia spp. |
Leaves |
Summer-Fall |
Coastal areas |
Salty; use in salads |
Sumac |
Rhus spp. |
Berries |
Summer |
Woodlands, disturbed areas |
Tart flavor; used as a spice |
Hawthorn Berries |
Crataegus spp. |
Berries |
Fall |
Woodlands |
Edible; check ripeness |
Black Nightshade |
Solanum nigrum |
Berries |
Summer-Fall |
Disturbed areas |
Check ripeness; can be toxic if unripe |
Arrowhead |
Sagittaria spp. |
Root, leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Wetlands |
Tuber is edible; cook first |
Locust Bean |
Gleditsia triacanthos |
Pods, seeds |
Summer-Fall |
Woodlands |
Seeds are edible when cooked |
Noni |
Morinda citrifolia |
Fruit |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Strong taste; health benefits claimed |
Chickpea |
Cicer arietinum |
Seeds |
Fall |
Fields |
Nutritious protein source |
Wood Apple |
Limonia acidissima |
Fruit |
Fall |
Tropical areas |
Sweet when ripe; unique flavor |
Wild Rice |
Zizania aquatica |
Grains |
Summer |
Wetlands |
Nutritious grain; preparation required |
Pawpaw |
Asimina triloba |
Fruit |
Fall |
Forests |
Tropical flavor; check ripeness |
Heartleaf |
Houttuynia cordata |
Leaves |
Summer |
Wetlands, disturbed areas |
Strong flavor; use sparingly |
Fish Mint |
Houttuynia cordata |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Wet areas |
Strong flavor; used in Asian cuisine |
Indian Gooseberry |
Phyllanthus emblica |
Fruit |
Winter |
Tropical areas |
High in Vitamin C |
Tamarind |
Tamarindus indica |
Fruit |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Tart; used in cooking |
Sea Kale |
Crambe maritima |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Coastal areas |
Edible when cooked |
Wintercress |
Barbarea vulgaris |
Flowers, leaves |
Spring |
Fields, roadsides |
Look for tender leaves |
Burdock Root |
Arctium lappa |
Roots |
Fall |
Fields, woods |
Nutritious; cook before eating |
Nutmeg |
Myristica fragrans |
Seeds |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Used as a spice; check ripeness |
Salmonberry |
Rubus spectabilis |
Fruit |
Spring-Summer |
Woodlands, wetlands |
Sweet; ripens early |
Sweet Grass |
Hierochloe odorata |
Leaves |
Summer |
Wetlands |
Used in baskets and sachets |
Sour Grass |
Oxalis stricta |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Field edges |
Sour; tasty in salads |
Wood Sorrel |
Oxalis pes-caprae |
Leaves, flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Wet and dry areas |
Citrusy flavor; good in salads |
Woodland Strawberry |
Fragaria vesca |
Fruits |
Spring-Summer |
Woodlands |
Sweet and flavorful; edible |
Bilberry |
Vaccinium myrtillus |
Fruits |
Summer |
Woodlands, moors |
Similar to blueberries; edible |
Golden Raspberries |
Rubus idaeus |
Fruits |
Summer |
Gardens, woods |
Sweet; check ripeness |
Miracle Berry |
Synsepalum dulcificum |
Fruit |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Alters taste perception |
Chaya |
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius |
Leaves |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Nutritious; cook before eating |
Topinambour |
Helianthus tuberosus |
Tubers |
Fall-Winter |
Fields, gardens |
Sweet tuber; grows vigorously |
Pomelo |
Citrus maxima |
Fruit |
Summer-Fall |
Tropical areas |
Large citrus; often sweet |
Sweet Fern |
Comptonia peregrina |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Poor soils, dry areas |
Nutty flavor; fragrant leaves |
Beechnut |
Fagus grandifolia |
Nuts |
Fall |
Woodlands |
High in fat; edible when prepared |
Quinoa |
Chenopodium quinoa |
Seeds |
Summer |
Andean regions |
Nutritious grain, gluten-free |
Yew |
Taxus spp. |
Berries |
Winter |
Woodlands |
Toxic except for flesh of berries |
Wild Lemongrass |
Cymbopogon spp. |
Leaves |
Summer |
Wet areas |
Used for flavoring; refreshing |
Calabash |
Crescentia cujete |
Fruit |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Used for container; edible fruit |
Sweet Potato |
Ipomoea batatas |
Root |
Fall |
Gardens |
Nutritious; common garden staple |
Perilla |
Perilla frutescens |
Leaves |
Summer |
Tropical areas |
Used in Asian cooking; flavorful |
Hops |
Humulus lupulus |
Flowers |
Summer |
Woodlands |
Used in beer brewing; tricky to identify |
Walnut |
Juglans regia |
Nuts |
Fall |
Woodlands |
Rich flavor; great for baking |
Prickly Pear |
Opuntia spp. |
Fruits |
Summer-Fall |
Desert areas |
Sweet when ripe; check seeds |
Cilantro |
Coriandrum sativum |
Leaves |
Year-round |
Gardens |
Used in many cuisines; sharp flavor |
Field Peas |
Pisum sativum |
Seeds |
Spring |
Fields |
Nutritious protein source |
Wild Artichoke |
Cynara cardunculus |
Flower buds |
Summer |
Mediterranean areas |
Flavorful; check toxicity |
Wild Chamomile |
Anthemis nobilis |
Flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Fields, gardens |
High in medicinal properties |
Licorice Root |
Glycyrrhiza glabra |
Roots |
Year-round |
Dry areas |
Strong sweet flavor; many uses |
Lotus Root |
Nelumbo nucifera |
Roots |
Summer |
Wet areas |
Nutritious and crunchy; commonly used |
Amaranth |
Amaranthus spp. |
Leaves, seeds |
Summer-Fall |
Fields, gardens |
Highly nutritious; good for salads |
Mesquite |
Prosopis spp. |
Pods, seeds |
Summer |
Desert areas |
Nutty and sweet; flour can be ground |
Magnolia |
Magnolia spp. |
Flowers |
Spring |
Woodlands |
Flavored edible petals; aromatic |
Sunchoke |
Helianthus tuberosus |
Roots |
Fall |
Gardens |
Nutty flavor; edible root vegetable |
Sea Salt |
Sodium Chloride |
Salt |
Year-round |
Coastal areas |
Natural seasoning; use in cooking |
Wood Sorrel |
Oxalis spp. |
Leaves, flowers |
Spring-Summer |
Fields |
Mildly tart flavor; used as garnish |
Thyme |
Thymus vulgaris |
Leaves |
Year-round |
Gardens |
Common culinary herb; strong flavor |
Pumpkin |
Cucurbita pepo |
Diversity |
Fall |
Gardens |
Useful for baking; nutritious |
Clove |
Syzygium aromaticum |
Buds |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Used as a spice; aromatic |
Lemon Balm |
Melissa officinalis |
Leaves |
Summer |
Gardens |
Mild lemon flavor; great for teas |
Terra Roots |
Moringa oleifera |
Leaves, pods |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
High in nutrients; various uses |
Woolly Burdock |
Cirsium spp. |
Roots, leaves |
Fall |
Fields, roadsides |
Nutritious; edible when cooked |
Thistle Seed |
Cirsium spp. |
Seeds |
Summer |
Fields, roadsides |
Rich in fats; can be ground |
Wild Apple |
Malus domestica |
Fruit |
Fall |
Orchards, woods |
Variety of flavors; many cultivars |
Persian Melon |
Cucumis melo |
Fruit |
Summer |
Gardens |
Juicy and sweet; nutritious |
Oregano |
Origanum vulgare |
Leaves |
Year-round |
Gardens |
Common herb; strong flavor |
Chervil |
Anthriscus cerefolium |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Gardens |
Aromatic; used in cooking |
Sorrel |
Rumex acetosa |
Leaves |
Spring-Summer |
Woodlands |
Sour, refreshing; excellent in salads |
Strawberry |
Fragaria × ananassa |
Fruits |
Summer |
Gardens |
Sweet and popular fruit; cultivated variety |
Radish |
Raphanus sativus |
Roots, leaves |
Spring-Fall |
Gardens |
Mildly spicy; common vegetable |
Signature Seed Potatoes |
Solanum tuberosum |
Tubers |
Fall |
Gardens |
Nutritious root vegetable; variety of types |
Dahlias |
Dahlia spp. |
Tubers |
Spring |
Gardens |
All edible varieties not poisonous; check species |
Comfrey |
Symphytum officinale |
Leaves, roots |
Spring-Fall |
Gardens, fields |
Medicinal; carefully prepared |
Lotus Leaf |
Nelumbo nucifera |
Leaves |
Summer |
Wetlands |
Edible and used in cooking |
Himalayan Goji |
Lycium barbarum |
Berries |
Fall |
Tropical areas |
Highly nutritious; check for ripeness |
Calabash Conch |
Crescentia cujete |
Fruits |
Year-round |
Tropical areas |
Harvest young fruit for cooking |