When spring arrives we look for radishes and asparagus but there is a whole world of plants among the forest floor that are edible and carry nutritious, sometimes even medicinal, benefits. When foraging make sure you know what plant you’ve found and are 100% sure of what it is before consuming it. Work with an expert, or use a guide online or in print as a reference, always. We include a list from Ohio University of spring wild edibles. See our past spring articles at the left about foraging in Ohio come springtime.
—Colleen Leonardi
List gathered by Lynn Marie Donegan
Source: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/plantbio/research/edible_schedule.cfm
Foraged From the Forest
Amaranth/Pigweed (Amaranthus)
American Linden, Basswood (Tilia americana)
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
Bedstraw, Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Black Raspberry Leaves (Rubus)
Cattail (Typha)
Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Chufa (Cyperus esculentus)
Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dock (Rumex)
Evening Primrose (Oenothera)
Greenbrier (Smilax)
Groundnut, Indian potato (Apios americana)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)
Indian Cucumber (Medeola virginiana)
Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
Jewelweed/Touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)
Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium)
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Morel Mushrooms (Morchella)
Mustard (Brassica nigra)
Plantain (Plantago)
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Rock Cress (Arabis)
Rose (Rosa)
Salsify/Vegetable Oyster (Tragopogon porrifolius)
Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa pastoris)
Sow Thistle (Sonchus)
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Sweet Birch (Betula lenta)
Violet (Viola)
Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum)
Wild Carrot/Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis)
Wild Onion, Ramp (Allium canadense, Allium tricoccum)
Wintercress (Barbarea verna)
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
Foraging for wild ingredients can be intimidating and learning some basic plant identification is recommended. There...
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