Avens (Geum spp.) are in the rose family, closely related to cinquefoils and strawberries. There is a resemblance. In milder climates they are evergreen. Our chocolatey title is after the edible usage of the purple avens. We’ve got many avens species in Ontario, Canada! Our fairly common avens in the wilds of central Ontario are … [Read more…]
Marsh speedwell is the main native speedwell (Veronica spp.) you’ll find here, but we have quite a few species creeping around Ontario. All are edible and medicinal wild plants. Around Haliburton, the most common speedwells are marsh speedwell (Veronica scutellata) and thyme-leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia). I most often spot marsh and thyme-leaved in lawns left … [Read more…]
Despite the popular name Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), this edible and medicinal plant is not native to Canada. Yup, Canada thistle isn’t from Canada. But it’s common along roadsides and I’ve found it taking over old fields as well. Canada thistles delicate purple-ish flowerheads make it less likely to confuse with burdock than bull thistle. … [Read more…]
Selfheal or heal-all (Prunella vulgaris) is another edible and medicinal wild plant from the mint family. It doesn’t really heal-all, but it’s still a well rounded astringent plant with many uses. We have a mix of European and native selfheal in Ontario. Common around Haliburton, you’re most likely to find it in your lawn. You … [Read more…]
Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is one of the first berries to ripen, around the start of summer in cottage country, Ontario. It’s the “queen berry” of our edible and medicinal wild plants. I titled this entry with the main wild strawberry species you’ll find in abundance here, but we also have wood strawberry (F. vesca … [Read more…]
One of the most famous edible shoots in the world, asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) sometimes escapes from gardens becoming a “wild” edible and medicinal plant. Finding asparagus in the wild is uncommon here, but with its legendary title mention in Euell Gibbon’s Stalking the Wild Asparagus and its ability to grow here around Haliburton, it’s making … [Read more…]