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Identify Plants in the Wild ... And Eating Them!

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Eating plants in the wild is tasty!

Do you want to learn how to identify wild plants? It can be a fun and satisfying pastime - especially if you are able to create medicines and maybe even meals by what you find.

As an herbalist, I've been doing this for years. While I do think this is a worthy skill to develop, it can get dangerous - especially if you pick the wrong plant. This lens is all about how to learn the wonderful art of wildcrafting.

Why not make salad with some of these lovely greens?

Edible Wild Plants

  1. Even Clean Eating Magazine Mentions Wild Edible Plants!
  2. Tips for Learning How to Identify Wild Medicinal Plants
  3. How to Idenfity Wild Plants - Article Published on eHow
  4. Edible Wild Plants of North America
  5. Everyone Knows What Dandelion Looks Like
  6. Tasty Ways to Eat Dandelions
  8. Identifying and Eating Purslane
  9. The Complete Guide to Wild Edible Plants
  10. How to Identify Lambs Quarters
  11. Do you like to wildcraft? What do you think of this lens?

Even Clean Eating Magazine Mentions Wild Edible Plants!

Their favorites seem to be purslane, chickweed, stinging nettle, and lambs quarters. And I know from experience that all of these are yummy. :)

Tips for Learning How to Identify Wild Medicinal Plants

Checklist for Identifying Plants

When it comes to learning how to identify wild plants, I take a few different approaches. Here are some tips that can help get you started.
  • Be aware. It all starts by being aware of your surroundings. While outside, notice the plants around you. I tend to page through field guides for leisure. If I am aware of my surroundings, I may remember the plants enough to find them in my books without trying.
  • Find an expert. The first plant I learned how to identify was shown to me. It was dandelion, and at the time I was already picking the flower and giving the bouquets to my mother as gifts. When it came time to understand it as a medicinal plant, I already knew what the plant was because my parents had told me years before.
  • Buy a great field guide. I am partial to the Peterson series. Buy the guide that has to do with your area.

How to Idenfity Wild Plants - Article Published on eHow

Identifying Wild Plants

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Edible Wild Plants of North America

Field Guide of Wild and Edible Plants

If you are serious about learning how to find medicinal plants in the wild, it is important to have a good field guide. I'm partial to the Peterson guides but there are several that are very good. Look for one that covers your area.
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Important!

Everyone Knows What Dandelion Looks Like

If you have a lawn, I bet you know what dandelion is. See - now you've learned how to identify your first medicinal plant. You can pick the leaves in the spring, just as they are shooting out of the earth. They are delicious in salads.

Just don't pick anything from your lawn if you use chemical fertilizers.

Tasty Ways to Eat Dandelions

Eating Edible Plants

Yes, dandelions are edible. As the growing season progresses, they get bitter. But there are many ways you can enjoy them throughout the spring and summer despite this!
  • Salad. Use the early spring greens for this. Toss with a light vinaigrette. Dandelion greens pair well with spinach - they contrast each other nicely.
  • Fritter the flowers. I made this for my dad once. Make a savory batter with spices and serve with your meal. OR make a sweet batter and dust with powdered sugar. Just dip the flowers in the batter and deep fry. I like the savory ones with ketchup.
  • Sauteed greens. If you want to eat these throughout the summer, try sauteing the greens with a little garlic in a fry pan.

“Made fried dandelion flowers the other day. The batter was sweetened with sugar and vanilla. Yum.”

Identifying and Eating Purslane

Tasty Wild Edible Plant

This plant grew in cracks on our front walkway for years before I managed to identify it. The picture I included looks a little boring but that is the basic shape. It has a dark green color and the leaves are shiny. It grows low to the ground. I would let the Experts help you identify it though and consult your favorite field guild. :) But the pic can get you started. I recommend this book:

A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America (Peterson Field Guide)

Once you do know what it is, simply pick it and put it in salads. This is one of my favorite wild salad greens and I love it when the salad is dressed with a little lemon juice. Sure, you can steam them but this isn't my preference as I find the mild, delicate flavor to be very delicious.

The Complete Guide to Wild Edible Plants

Wild Plants Field Guide

The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Cook Them

The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Cook Them

by: Katie Letcher Lyle

Amazon Price: $27.50 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

This is a must have book for the shelf... just in case. Most guides just show you what the plants look like. This takes things one step further and actually shows you how to cook them.

How to Identify Lambs Quarters

One of My Favorite Edible Plants

I thought I'd show you a picture of lamb's quarters. This one tastes like spinach to me and is super good for you! The pic is black and white (sorry about that) but envision that it is green. This is only an illustration to get you started. Look in your field guide for more information. You can also look online but the field guide is better.

Do you like to wildcraft? What do you think of this lens?

  • Katamay Nov 21, 2011 @ 2:52 pm | delete
    My husband loves making risotto with purslane that grows near our apartment! So delicious, and so easy to find, even in an urban area.
  • RubyRavn Apr 16, 2011 @ 7:32 pm | delete
    We were having hamburgers and didn't have lettuce so I went out and picked fresh young Dandelion leaves. Excellent flavor! Can't wait for the tomatoes to grow & ripen - then I'll have a really fresh hamburger w/ home grown tomatoes and fresh cut Dandelion leaves!
  • kohuether Apr 17, 2011 @ 12:11 am | delete
    This is the perfect time of year for dandelion leaves!
  • _Joan_ Jul 22, 2010 @ 8:46 pm | delete
    Also, all of your edible weeds lenses will be feature in my lensography on edible wild plants.
  • kohuether Jul 23, 2010 @ 3:17 am | delete
    Thank you again! :)
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kohuether

My name is Katherine Huether and I am a writer, editor, and herbalist. I have a BA in English from the University of New Hampshire and a Diploma in Herbal... more »

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