Common Hackberry – Celtis Occidentalis: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Wartiest Tree

Common Hackberry - Celtis Occidentalis

Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) isn’t listed in Haliburton Flora, but this rapidly growing Ontario native can be found in the south. The bark, especially characteristic on younger trees, is unique: This plant is in the same family as hops and cannabis. While I’m writing this I noticed a thread in my native plants group asking …

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Virginia Creeper – Parthenocissus Quinquefolia: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the American Ivy

Virginia Creeper – Parthenocissus Quinquefolia

Woodbine AKA American ivy AKA Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a grape relation you can find around Ontario. Locally, it’s found mostly on roadsides and along abandoned railroad tracks. I’ve also found this vine in mixed woods. It’s gorgeously ornamental in Autumn, so you’re likely to find it in town too. In Canada, it’s only …

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True Solomon’s Seals – Polygonatum SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Sweet Potato of North America

True Solomon’s Seals – Polygonatum SPP.

Hairy (sometimes called Dwarf) Solomon’s-Seal (Polygonatum pubescens) is the sole true Solomon’s seal noted on iNat for Haliburton, Ontario. It’s native. However, half a dozen species have been found in Ontario, including the somewhat edible and medicinal smooth Solomon’s seal (P. biflorum). But hairy here, as far as I know is not edible or medicinal. …

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Walnut – Juglans Spp.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of a Highly Prized Wild Nut Tree

Walnuts - Juglans Spp.

In Ontario, black walnut (Juglans nigra) and butternut AKA white walnut (Juglans cinerea) are our native walnut species. Around Haliburton we’re barely in range, with only a few black walnuts and butternuts noted on iNaturalist. Both species are more abundant to the south. There are a few nonnative Juglan species around Ontario too. As a …

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Wood Nettle – Laportea Canadensis: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Nettliest of Wild Plants

Wood Nettle – Laportea Canadensis

Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) is the most common native nettle in Ontario, and like the introduced stinging nettle it’s edible and medicinal. In fact, wood nettle is considered to be the favoured of the two. Canada AKA wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) is common in open moist woods, low damp areas and wet swamps. I found …

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Currants – Ribes SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Tiny Tart Berry of Wild Plants

Currants – Ribes SPP.

Currants (Ribes spp.) are spattered everywhere around Haliburton county, Ontario. Gooseberry was covered earlier this year and is also a Ribes. Here we’re covering the rest of our local currants. And there are many currant species, and they are all lookalikes. But these edible and medicinal shrubs aren’t the same “currant” you find dried like …

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