A favourite of porcupines, hemlock is a tree that’s beneficial to countless wildlife. It also has many edible, medicinal and craft uses. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) can be found in moist hardwood forests. I know people hereabouts with a mature hemlock forest for a backyard. On the 100 acre I frequent, I’ve had to go …
Who hasn’t heard of coneflowers AKA echinacea (Echinacea spp.)? It’s one of the biggest fads in herbal medicine in recent decades. But are the claims about echinacea legit or overblown hype? Friend or fad? I’ll admit I’ve taken echinacea at the first sign of sniffles before. It’s one of if not the most popular plant …
Boneset is a slightly edible and mainly medicinal plant. It’s also an underrated addition to pollinator gardens. Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) was common in damp areas when Haliburton Flora was compiled. However, I don’t see it very often now. Not as often as it’s look-a-like Joe-Pye weed. There is a slight resemblance to water hemlock, which …
Alternate-leaved AKA pagoda dogwood is one of our many Cornus spp. Dogwoods aren’t just edible and medicinal, nor just for the moose. They are one of the main allies of our native bees. Every year I watch various bees and other pollinators swarm my pagoda dogwoods. Alternate-leaved dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is common in central Ontario, …
American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is often called Eastern tea berry now. It’s edible and medicinal, but you have to mind the amount you use because the oil is toxic if overdosed. Similar to Aspirin, just a tsp of pure wintergreen oil is the equivalent of 21 and a half adult aspirins. American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) …
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), while not edible like most plants we’ve featured, is a medicinal herb and a butterfly favourite that is so easy to plant. It adds bountiful pops of sunny yellow to meadows and path sides. For the most part I’m covering plants that are both edible and medicinal, but it’d be “sow …