List of forageable plants

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This article lists plants commonly found in the wild, which are edible to humans and thus forageable. Some are only edible in part, while the entirety of others are edible. Some plants (or select parts) require cooking to make them safe for consumption.

Contents

Field guides instruct foragers to carefully identify species before assuming that any wild plant is edible. Accurate determination ensures edibility and safeguards against potentially fatal poisoning. Some plants that are generally edible can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. U.S. Army guidelines advise to test for contact dermatitis, then chew and hold a pinch in the mouth for 15 minutes before swallowing. If any negative effect results, it is advised to induce vomiting and drink a high quantity of water. [1] Additionally, old or improperly stored specimens can cause food poisoning.

Other lists of edible seeds, mushrooms, flowers, nuts, vegetable oils and leaves may partially overlap with this one. Separately, a list of poisonous plants catalogs toxic species.

List

These lists are ordered by the binomial (Latin) name of the species.

Trees and shrubs

Plant imagePart imageCommon nameBinomial nameDistributionEdible parts and usesRef.
Amelanchier lamarckii struik.jpg Felsenbirne frucht.JPG Juneberry Amelanchier lamarckii Naturalized in Western EuropeBerries (in June), edible raw [2]
Berberis vulgaris .jpg Berberis vulgaris 'Atropurpurea' 003.JPG Barberry Berberis vulgaris Europe, North America, northwest Africa, western AsiaBerries (from July), edible raw, dried as a spice or cooked as a jelly [3]
Bad-homburg-schlosshof-kastanie-002.jpg Maroni2.jpg Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa Throughout Europe and parts of Asia; common in woods and parksNuts (October to November). Chestnuts are edible raw or in any other preparation, such as roasted, boiled, stewed or baked. [4]
Corylus avellana 0001.JPG Haselnuss Gr 99.jpg Hazel Corylus avellana In many European woodlands, at the edges of woods or in mature hedges Hazelnuts (from late August to October), edible raw or processed [5]
Crataegus monogyna - Common hawthorn.jpg Crataegus monogyna 005.JPG Hawthorn, may-tree Crataegus monogyna Native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia; naturalized elsewhereLeaves (when young, in April), edible raw as a salad vegetable

Berries (in autumn), edible raw, or made into jellies, jams and syrups, or used as a flavoring

[6]
Fagus sylvatica 019.jpg European Beech.jpg Beech Fagus sylvatica Europe, except parts of Spain, northern England, northern parts of Northern EuropeNuts (in September or October), edible raw or roasted and salted, or can be pressed for oil [7]
Atriplex-portulacoides-habitus.JPG Atriplex portulacoides sl10.jpg Sea purslane Halimione portulacoides Seashores and salt marshes of western and southern Europe, and from the Mediterranean to western AsiaLeaves, raw as a salad, or stir-fried [8]
20111029Rheinbogen Hockenheim02.jpg Humulus lupulus 012.jpg Hop Humulus lupulus Native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere: Europe, North America, AsiaYoung shoots and leaves (until May), edible cooked as a vegetable [9]
Noyer centenaire en automne.JPG Walnuts2.jpg Walnut Juglans regia Native to Central Asia, but naturalized in temperate zones worldwideNuts (ripening in September) [10]
Jeneverbes.jpg Juniperus communis cones.jpg Juniper Juniperus communis Throughout the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe and Asia Berries , both immature (green) and mature (dark); inedibly bitter when raw, but used as a spice, for beverages, as a jam or roasted and ground as a coffee substitute [11]
Mahonia aquifolium002.JPG Mahonia aquifolium 004.JPG Oregon-grape Mahonia aquifolium North America, occasionally naturalized in EuropeBerries, edible raw (though acidic) or made into a jelly [12]
Stubbendorf Wildapfelbaum.jpg Malus sylvestris 005.JPG Crabapples Malus sylvestris and other Malus speciesMalus is native to the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, in Europe, Asia and North America.Fruit (from July), edible raw or, if too bitter, cooked as a jelly (containing much pectin) [13]
Mespilus germanica 006.jpg Mispeln.jpg Medlar Mespilus germanica Southeast Europe to West Asia, occasionally naturalized in BritainFruit (in November), edible after being bletted for a few weeks [14]
Gagelstrauch weibl. in Blute.jpg Myrica gale kz01.jpg Bog-myrtle, sweet willow, Dutch myrtle, sweetgale Myrica gale Parts of the northern hemisphere, including Japan, North Korea, Russia, Europe and North AmericaLeaves, dried as tea, or raw as roast chicken stuffing

Nutlets and dried leaves, as a seasoning, including for beer (gruit)

[15] [16]
Pinus sylvestris Glenmuick.jpg Pinus sylvestris cones pl.jpg Scots pine Pinus sylvestris Native to Europe and AsiaNeedles (when young, April to August), can be boiled for tea or soaked in olive oil to yield an aromatic oil

Nuts, tiny and difficult to extract from the cones, but edible raw

[17]
Prosopis juliflora.jpg Algaroba.jpg Mesquite Prosopis juliflora Native to Southern America, widely found in arid and hot climates worldwide as an invasive weedSeed pods, edible raw or boiled, dried and milled to make flour, or fermented to make a mildly alcoholic beverage [18]
Kirsche Margetshochheim, 2.jpg Prunus avium fruit.jpg Wild cherry Prunus avium Native to Europe, western Turkey, northwestern Africa, and western Asia; Found in hedgerows and woods, especially beechCherries, edible raw [19]
Damson orchard, Ashford Bowdler. - geograph.org.uk - 53068.jpg RipeDamsons.JPG Bullace, damson, other wild plums Prunus domestica subsp. insititiaPrunus species are spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe.Fruit (ripe from early October), edible raw [20]
Prunus spinosa 001.jpg Closeup of blackthorn aka sloe aka prunus spinosa sweden 20050924.jpg Sloe, blackthorn Prunus spinosa Native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa; also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North AmericaBerries, edible raw, but very acidic unless picked after the first few days of autumn frost [21]
Quercus robur AB.jpg Donguri.jpg English / French oak Quercus robur Native to most of Europe, and from Anatolia to the Caucasus, and also to parts of North Africa Acorns (ripening in September to October), too bitter when raw, but used chopped and roasted as a substitute for almonds, or then ground as a substitute for coffee. After leaching out the bitter tannins in water, acorn meal can be used as grain flour. [22]
Ribes aureum (16943883272).jpg Ab plant 1315 (Ribes aureum).jpg Golden currant Ribes aureum Native to northwest North AmericaBerries, edible raw but tart [23]
Ribes cereum bush-4-19-04.jpg Ribes cereum 0132.JPG Wax currant Ribes cereum Native to western North AmericaBerries, edible raw but possibly semi-toxic [24] [25]
Black currant in the mountains of Zakamensky district of Buryatia, Russia.jpg Ribes nigrum a1.JPG Blackcurrant Ribes nigrum Native to north-central EurasiaBerries, used in jams [26]
Ribes rubrum 1.jpg Ribes rubrum2005-07-17.JPG Redcurrant Ribes rubrum Native to western EuropeBerries, used in jams and kissel [27]
Ribes sanguineum 5724.JPG Fruit de Ribes sanguineum.jpg Flowering currant Ribes sanguineum Western United States and CanadaBerries, edible raw and used in jams [28]
Sambucus nigra 004.jpg Sambucus nigra2.jpg Elder Sambucus nigra Europe, North Africa, Central Asia and AnatoliaFlowers (June to July), edible raw, as a salad green, or pickled, or to make tea, or alcoholic beverages

Berries (August to October), edible when ripe (turning upside down) and cooked; raw berries are mildly poisonous

[29]
Weilburg - Tiergarten - Mehlbeere.jpg Sorbus aria-3420.jpg Whitebeam Sorbus aria Central and southern EuropeBerries, edible raw once overripe (bletted) [30]
Rowan tree 20081002b.jpg Rowanberries in late August 2004 in Helsinki.jpg Rowan, Mountain-ash Sorbus aucuparia Native to most of Europe except for the far south, and northern Asia Berries (August to November), bitter, but can be cooked to form a jelly, or used as a flavouring [31]
Sorbus torminalis Full tree.jpg Sorbus torminalis Weinsberg 20070929 5.jpg Wild service-tree Sorbus torminalis Native to Europe, south to northwest Africa, and southeast to southwest AsiaBerries (from September), edible raw, but hard and bitter unless bletted [32]
Praestens trae.jpg Tilia x europea-1.JPG Lime Tilia × europaea Occasionally in the wild in Europe, or commonly grown in parks, on roadsides or in ornamental woodsFlowers (in full bloom, June or early July). A tea (popular in France as tilleul) can be made from the dried flowers.

Leaves, without the stalks, edible raw as a salad vegetable

[33]
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) - St. John's, Newfoundland 2019-08-22 (03).jpg
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) - St. John's, Newfoundland 2019-08-22 (02).jpg
Wild lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Eastern and central Canada, northeastern United StatesBerries, edible raw, commonly used in jams and jellies [34]

Herbaceous plants

Plant imagePart imageCommon nameBinomial nameDistributionEdible parts and usesRef.
Achillea millefolium 5Dsr 9042.jpg Yarrow Achillea millefolium Native to temperate regions of the Northern HemisphereAll parts in small quantity, leaves when young [35] [36]
Amaranthus retroflexus full1.jpg Amaranthus retroflexus sl1.jpg Amaranth, pigweed, tumbleweed Amaranthus retroflexus Native to the tropical Americas, but widespread worldwideLeaves, boiled as a vegetable, or raw with the shoots if young

Seeds, raw or toasted, or ground to flour

[37]
UitstaandeMeldeSorinnesDSCN4516.JPG Atriplex patula sl14.jpg Spear saltbush, common orache Atriplex patula Semi-arid deserts and coastal areas in Asia, North America, Europe, and AfricaYoung leaves and shoots, raw or cooked as a substitute for spinach [8]
Carpobrotus acinaciformis (plants).jpg Carpobrotus species 004.jpg Ice plant, sour fig Carpobrotus edulis South Africa and many zones with a similar climate, including Australia, California and the MediterraneanFigs (May to July); edible raw [38]
Melganzenvoet bloeiwijze Chenopodium album.jpg Chenopodium album ENBLA04.jpg Fat-hen, wild spinach Chenopodium album Worldwide in soils rich in nitrogen, especially on wastelandLeaves and young shoots; edible raw or prepared as a green vegetable [39]
Illustration Chenopodium bonus-henricus0 clean.JPG Good-King-Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus Most of Europe, West Asia and eastern North AmericaYoung shoots (until early summer) and leaves (until August). The shoots can be cooked like asparagus, and the leaves like spinach. [40]
Imperata cylindrica tigaya colony.jpg Imperata cylindrica 2308122.png Cogongrass Imperata cylindrica Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, but found worldwide as an invasive species from 45°N to 45°SYoung inflorescences and shoots, cooked; roots, edible raw when chewed; ash, as a salt substitute [41]
Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas) in meadow.jpg Grote klaproos vrucht Papaver rhoeas.jpg Poppy Papaver rhoeas Worldwide, principally in the northern temperate zonesSeeds (from September, when the seed heads are dry, gray-brown and holed); edible raw as a spice or flavoring [42]
Salicornia europaea MS 0802.JPG Salicornia europaea.jpg Samphire, glasswort, pickleweed, sea beans, sea asparagus Salicornia speciesSeashores and other salty habitats in the northern hemisphere and southern AfricaYoung shoots (June or July); edible raw or cooked, also pickled [43]
SileneVulgaris-overz.jpg Bladder Campion.jpg Bladder campion, maidenstears Silene vulgaris As a wildflower in the temperate zones of Europe, Western Asia, North Africa and North America, on dry, sunny, calcareous grassland Young shoots and leaves, raw, older leaves also cooked; a local specialty in parts of the Mediterranean region [44]
StellariaMedia001.JPG Kaldari Stellaria media 01.jpg Chickweed Stellaria media Worldwide, as an annual in colder climates, and a perennial evergreen elsewhereStems and leaves, raw or cooked [45]
Taraxacum officinale--.jpg Atlas roslin pl Mniszek pospolity 9457 8285.jpg Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Native to Eurasia, naturalized elsewhereLeaves, edible raw or cooked when older [46]
Illustration Urtica dioica0 clean.jpg Brennnessel 1.JPG Stinging nettle Urtica dioica Very common in Europe and Asia, less common in North AmericaYoung shoots and leaves (until May), edible after soaking or boiling as a vegetable, or as a soup or purée [47]

See also

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<i>Rubus parviflorus</i> Berry and plant

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<i>Mentha arvensis</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Claytonia sibirica</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Montiaceae

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<i>Erythronium grandiflorum</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Perideridia gairdneri</i> Species of flowering plant

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References

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Sources

Further reading