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Alterative

Tulip Tree – Liriodendron Tulipifera: Medicinal & Alternative Uses for a Tree Covered in “Tulips”

September 5, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Tulip Tree - Liriodendron Tulipifera

Tulip tree AKA tulip poplar AKA arbre aux lis (Liriodendron tulipifera) is only native to parts of southern Ontario, so it’s near native in Haliburton and it’s not listed in Haliburton Flora. A stunner, the flowers really do look like tulips: My pictures on this page are from a tulip tree in my eldest sisters backyard … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, American goldfinches, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiseptic, Attracts pollinators, Bees, Butterflies, Cardiovascular, Cotton-tailed rabbits, Deer mice, Diaphoretic, Full sun, Gray squirrel, Magnoliaceae/Magnolia family, Medicinal parts, Mice, Moist soil, Native to Ontario, Nervous, Northern cardinals, Pileated woodpeckers, Purple finches, Red squirrels, Reproductive, Ruby-throated hummingbirds, Stimulant, Well drained soil, White flowers, White-footed mice, White-tailed deer, Yellow flowers, Yellow-bellied sapsuckers

Coriander – Coriandrum Sativum: Edible & Medicinal Uses of Cilantro (Yes, Coriander and Cilantro Are the Same Plant!)

July 9, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Coriander - Coriandrum Sativum

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is not listed in Haliburton Flora, nor in many foraging books. But it is seedy and can escape cultivation. Plus, you may have it amongst your kitchen spices. Edible Uses of Coriander Hereabouts, dried coriander seed is a popular kitchen spice. It flavours many curries, meat dishes, breads and even liquor. The … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, Annual, Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)/Carrot family, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Edible parts, Integumentary, Medicinal parts, Reproductive, Respiratory, Stimulant, Urinary, White flowers

Northern Bayberry – Morella Pensylvanica: Edible & Medicinal Uses for Wild Bay Leaf

April 4, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Northern Bayberry - Morella Pensylvanica

Northern bayberry (Morella pensylvanica syn. Myrica pensylvanica) isn’t listed in Haliburton Flora and despite the name is more abundant to the south. Its relation sweet gale/ bog myrtle is more common in our area. It’s native to Ontario but may be closer to near native in cottage country. Edible Uses of Northern Bayberry As the … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, Astringent, Black-capped chickadees, Carminative, Carolina wren, Circulatory, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Eastern bluebirds, Eastern meadowlark, Eastern phoebes, Eastern towhee, Edible parts, Emetic, European starlings, Expectorant, Found in moist open sites, Full sun, Gray catbirds, Hermit thrushes, Integumentary, Lymphatic, Medicinal parts, Mockingbirds and mimics, Moist soil, Myricaceae/Bayberry family, Native to Ontario, Nitrogen Fixer, Northern flickers, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Reproductive, Respiratory, Scarlet tanagers, Stimulant, Urinary, Woodpeckers, Yellow rail

Mayapple – Podophyllum Peltatum: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the American Mandrake

March 21, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Mayapple - Podophyllum Peltatum

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) tends to grow in clusters making for a charming, miniature (~2ft tall) umbrella forest. It’s easy to identify. It’s not listed in Haliburton Flora, being mostly a southern Ontario native. Edible Uses of Mayapple The edible ripe late summer fruits are dull yellow, without any hint of green, with a melon-like sweet … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, Berberidaceae/Barberry family, Box turtles, Digestive, Edible parts, Emetic, Found in deciduous or mixed woods, Found in shaded banks, Found in trailsides, Full sun, Integumentary, Lymphatic, Medicinal parts, Native to Ontario, Opossum, Partial shade, Perennial, Purgative, Raccoons, Shade, Skunk, Well drained soil, White flowers

Poke – Phytolacca Americana: Edible & Medicinal Uses of America’s Favourite Poisonous Plant

January 17, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Poke - Phytolacca Americana

Poke (Phytolacca americana) isn’t found in Haliburton, Ontario, but it can be found to our south. It is very common the further south you go in North America. I’ve covered many plants in my immediate area and will continue to do so, but I’m also expanding our content to farther reaches of Ontario and eventually … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, Anodyne, Anticatarrhal, Antirheumatic, Attracts birds, Cathartic, Dye, Edible parts, Emetic, Found in disturbed sites, Laxative, Loamy soil, Medicinal parts, Moist soil, Mourning doves, Native to Ontario, Opossum, Partial shade, Perennial, Phytolaccaceae/Pokeweed family, Purgative, Raccoons, White flowers

Common Dandelion – Taraxacum Officinale: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the #1 Gateway Herb to Foraging Wild Plants

December 21, 2024 by Rachel of the Woods 4 Comments
Common Dandelion - Taraxacum Officinale

Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a widely recognizable edible and medicinal herb that is most common throughout the temperate regions of North America and Europe. Dandelion being easily identifiable is often the gateway plant to exploring foraging. It’s especially dandy for beginner foragers, being generally safe to eat and thanks to the entire plant being edible … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, American goldfinches, Asteraceae (Compositae)/Aster family, Bitters, Cardiovascular, Circulatory, Compost material, Cool and moist, Digestive, Diuretic, Dye, Eastern cottontails, Edible parts, Found in disturbed sites, Found in dry road edges, Found in open waste spaces of sparse vegetation and poor soil, Integumentary, Laxative, Lithotriptic, Lymphatic, Medicinal parts, Naturalized in Ontario, Perennial, Poor soil, Ruffed grouse, Sand and gravel, Snowshoe hares, Urinary, White-tailed deer, Yellow flowers
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  1. Bonnie Dalzell on Wild Lettuces – Lactuca SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Opium of Wild PlantsMay 31, 2025

    I am in Maryland in a rural area. Around 10 years ago I found a weird tall plant growing as…

  2. Eva Zdrava on False Bindweeds – Calystegia SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Morning Glories of Wild PlantsMay 5, 2025

    I just read yesterday about Calystegia silvatica, That neither part of the plant extract showed any cytotoxicity to the normal…

  3. Margo Thompson on Quaking Aspen – Populus Tremuloides: Edible & Medicinal Uses of a Popple’r Wild PlantMay 4, 2025

    I can't believe I've lived with the trees all of these years and didn't know this!

  4. Teresa on Serviceberry – Amelanchier SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Early Bloomer of Wild PlantsFebruary 24, 2025

    In my part of the world they are called saskatoons and we eat them raw by the handful, even gorging…

  5. Gary Nichols on Reed Grass – Phragmites SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Roasted Marshmallow of Wild PlantsSeptember 7, 2024

    Hi, have you successfully made flour from the seeds of Phragmites?

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