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Grape hyacinth (Muscari botryoides) isn’t listed in Haliburton Flora, and the first time I saw it in the area it was just the flowerhead on the side of the road, no sign of whence it came. A bird must have grabbed it and dropped it far away? It’s not native to Ontario, and in some regions it is considered invasive (and even where it’s native, it’s sometimes considered aggressive).
I think grape hyacinth got a boost in popularity when featured by @Blackforager, Alexis Nikole Nelson, who is probably the closest to a superstar we have in foraging. Or if we do have those, she’s A-list. And she talks about native plants too 😉 😉 However, while this plant is in the asparagus family, it’s not as edible.
Edible Uses of Common Grape Hyacinth
The bulbs are toxic but can be peeled, and boiled over and over with changes of water until the bitterness/toxins are removed. And then cooked or pickled. Plain, it’s yet another unpalatable root to file in the brain as a starvation food. But in some parts of the world the pickled bulbs are a delicacy.
The purple flowers are edible raw and can be steeped to make a purple or bright blue tea. You’ll have to add other flavouring for it to taste like much. The flowers make for more of a garnish or food dye.
Alternative Uses of Common Grape Hyacinth
The flowers with an alum mordant produce a purplish blue dye.
Growing Muscari SPP.
Unfortunately, these grapes aren’t native here in Ontario. If you’re more of a purest, a native lookalike that also blooms in spring is Virginia bluebells. Native lupine looks similar, as well as great blue lobelia.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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REFERENCES
My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: of Eastern and Central North America (The Sam Thayer’s Field Guides) Paperback – June 1, 2023 and this plant IS featured as one of the edible wild plants in this area. I highly recommend this guide for your bookshelves!