Quaking Aspen – Populus Tremuloides: Edible & Medicinal Uses of a Popple’r Wild Plant

Quaking Aspen - Populus Tremuloides

“Balm of Gilead” can be made from various poplar buds including quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a common edible, medicinal and useful tree in our area. Last month we talked about balsam poplar. But quaking aspen was my first ID’d poplar. I noticed a set of trees on the one-acre wood that softly trembled in the …

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Balsam Poplar – Populus Balsamifera: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Pop’lar Balm of Wild Plants

Balsam Poplar - Populus Balsamifera

Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) is often used to make the ever-popular Balm of Gilead. Poplar is a common wild edible, medicinal and useful tree in our area. (And some people think it’s trash! Cottonwoods to the south fill the spring air with fluff, which tends to get on peoples nerves for some reason.) Next month …

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White Spruce – Picea Glauca: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Top Tip of Wild Plants

White Spruce - Picea Glauca

White spruce (Picea glauca) is one of the first edible and medicinal plants I enjoy come spring. Its new fresh green tips are a popular forage – a top tip! These next two edible and medicinal wild plants are very similar: white spruce and white pine. They’re named for the white crust that often coats …

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