Naturalized in Ontario

These plants were introduced to Ontario from other areas and may or may not pose a threat to native plants. The most aggressive alien invasive plants are tagged with Invasive in Ontario instead. For plants in this middle ground, it’s often best to grow as a seasonal crop and harvest, or find a native alternative to include in your garden.

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

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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…]

Ground Ivy – Glechoma Hederacea: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Houseplant of Wild Plants

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Ground Ivy – Glechoma Hederacea

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…]

Common Mallow – Malva SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Meringue of Wild Plants

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Common Mallow – Malva SPP.

Related to marsh mallows, the Malva spp. of mallow around Haliburton isn’t native. But it is an edible and medicinal wild plant with similar uses to the more popular marshmallow herb. Common mallow (Malva neglecta) is rare around Haliburton. You’re much more likely to find white or pink flowered musk mallow (Malva moschata), listed as … [Read more…]

Common Hop – Humulus Lupulus: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Not Just Beer of Wild Plants

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Common Hop – Humulus Lupulus

Common hops (Humulus lupulus) isn’t that common here, but you may find this edible and surprisingly medicinal plant near where old timers booze stills were hidden. Around Haliburton you may find hops randomly on a dry gravelly roadside. Where I tend to find it is on old farmsteads that were once home brewing. It’s still … [Read more…]

Motherwort – Leonurus Cardiaca: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Heart Herb of Wild Plants

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Motherwort - Leonurus Cardiaca

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is an edible and medicinal wild plant that I wish was native to Ontario. This herb is so popular it has been planted all around the world. Motherwort is uncommon here, yet it spontaneously showed up in my brush pile beside my driveway one year. It does have lookalikes, particularly in the … [Read more…]

Catnip – Nepeta Cataria: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Nightcap of Wild Plants

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Catnip – Nepeta Cataria

Catnip isn’t native to Ontario, but at least it’s not as aggressive as many other mints. It’s a surprisingly useful edible and medicinal plant, if you’re not pregnant. And whether or not you’re a cat. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is uncommon around Haliburton, but I find it around old farmsteads. It may also show up in … [Read more…]