Maybe it’s the name “weed”. Or maybe it’s the location; weedy parking lots and driveways. But I always assumed horseweed was a nonnative plant. Surprise! It’s actually native to Ontario and a powerhouse for small pollinators. Horseweed (Conyza canadensis syn. Erigeron canadensis) is fairly common around Haliburton county in sand flats, disturbed ground, and roadsides. … [Read more…]
Shepherd’s purse is the second-most prolific wild “weed” in the entire world (Polygonum aviculare/pigweed is #1). In cottage country Ontario it’s not that prolific, but you can still find this edible and medicinal mustard. Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) may be found around here on dry sandy sites and moist wooded roadsides. I’ve only found it … [Read more…]
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is a nonnative (to Ontario) edible and medicinal plant that you can easily grow in a pot indoors if you love it, rather than have it take over yours and your neighbors lawns. If it hasn’t taken over already! Called gill-over-the-ground in Haliburton Flora, ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea syn. Nepeta glechoma, … [Read more…]
Like red osier berries, wood sorrel (Oxalis spp.) is a sour edible to spice up your culinary adventures. It’s almost as easy of an edible and medicinal wild plant to find as dandelion. We have at least two fairly common sorrels. Firstly, mountain wood-sorrel (Oxalis montana), whose flower looks like spring beauties, only with shamrock … [Read more…]
Pineapple-weed (Matricaria discoidea) is an easy to identify introduced edible “weed” that locals have probably noticed in their driveways if not paved. It’s also called wild chamomile, which is more alluring on the medicinal side of naming. I suppose “pineapple” triggers a thirst for learning about its edible qualities. I would rather have titled this … [Read more…]