- Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta): A small leafy green with a peppery flavor, perfect for spicing up salads.
- Chickweed (Stellaria media): Known for its bright green leaves, chickweed is great in salads and is rich in phosphorus, calcium and iron.
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum erythrospermum): The tender leaves add a spicy flavor to salads and their flowers can be eaten raw or used in dandelion wine.
- Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum): A plant with purple flowers whose leaves can be eaten cooked or raw.
- Dock (Rumex crispus – curly dock and Rumex obtusifolius – broad-leaved dock): Has large, flavorful leaves that can be cooked like spinach.
- Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule): Offers a mild, grassy flavor and can be used in salads or as a cooked green.
- Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica): Contains sweet nectar and can be used to make tea or syrup.
- Lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album and Chenopodium berlandieri): A nutritious green that contains three times as much calcium and twice as many nutrients as spinach.
- Pigweed amaranth (Amaranthus spp.): Can be used similarly to spinach, both raw and cooked.
- Plantain (Plantago spp.): The leaves are best eaten young and can be used in salads or as cooked greens.
- Purslane (Portulaca oleracea): A succulent weed rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, with a flavor reminiscent of spinach and okra.
- Sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella): Has a lemony taste and is best mixed with other vegetables in salads.
- Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): Must be boiled to remove stinging hairs and is rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Thistle (Cirsium horridulum and others): Although the inner pith is tough, it can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris): Named for its heart-shaped seed pods, it is best eaten as a cooked green before the seed pods develop.
Other edible weeds that are not in the top 15:
- Amaranth
- Klette
- Chicoree
- cress
- Curly Dock
- Galinsoga
- Garlic mustard
- Nettles
- Violets and Viola
- Wild Garlic
- Sauerkraut
Safety first:
- Always clearly identify plants before consumption.
- Avoid foraging in areas that may have been treated with chemicals or where animals are present.
- When in doubt, consult local experts or resources such as James A. Duke’s Handbook of Edible Weeds.
This guide serves as an introduction to the world of edible weeds and highlights some common varieties that can be found in your garden. Each plant offers unique flavors and nutritional benefits and can be a wonderful addition to your diet, but always remember to forage responsibly and safely.
Inspired by this? Share the article with your friends!