Found in roadsides

Sweetgrasses – Anthoxanthum SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Sacred Grass of Wild Plants

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Sweetgrasses – Anthoxanthum SPP.

In Anishinaabemowin, wiingashic/wiingashk syn. bashkodemashkosiw, sweetgrass is one of the four sacred medicines in their traditions. The other three are asemma (tobacco), bashkodejiibik syn. mashkodewashk (sage), and giizhik (cedar). It’s a sacred herb in the traditional spirituality of various first nations across the Americas. And it’s holy grass in Europe too. Its previous genus, Hierochloë is a … [Read more…]

Horseweed – Conyza Canadensis: Edible & Medicinal Uses of Another Overlooked Pollinator Fav of Wild Plants

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Horseweed – Conyza Canadensis

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…]

Stonecrops – Sedum SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of Live Forever of Wild Plants

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Stonecrops - Sedum SPP.

Sedum are juicy looking succulents can be found occasionally in the wild, but sadly none are native to Ontario. Stonecrops (Sedum spp.) that you may spot around here include Spanish stonecrop (S. hispanicum) and mossy also known as biting stonecrop (S. acre), neither common. They are both pictured below. Tasteless stonecrop (S. sexangulare) has also … [Read more…]

Field Penny-cress – Thlaspi Arvense: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Jet Fuel of Wild Plants

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Field Penny-cress – Thlaspi Arvense

Field penny-cress is a slightly edible and medicinal plant may have a future in renewable fuels. Field penny-cress (Thlaspi arvense) is listed as uncommon in Haliburton Flora. It is sometimes found along roadsides or on old farmland mixed in with tall grasses. It prefers disturbed areas, so even though it’s not native here it’s not … [Read more…]

Fire Cherry – Prunus Pensylvanica: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Bird Cherry of Wild Plants

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Fire Cherry – Prunus Pensylvanica

We’ve covered almost every native cherry in Ontario and this fire cherry, also called bird cherry for one, is no exception to the fact cherries are fantastic for birds and other wildlife. And not just jam! Pin cherry / Fire cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) was common along roadsides, woodland slopes, lake banks, and stream banks in … [Read more…]

Wild Chive – Allium Schoenoprasum: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Overlooked var. Laurentianum of Wild Plants

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Wild Chive – Allium Schoenoprasum

Wild chive usually refers to the very same chives you’d get from a seed packet for your garden or from a grocery store. The big surprise – there’s a variety native to Ontario! Wild chive (Allium schoenoprasum) is typically a rare escapee from cultivation around here, more specifically it tends to be the European version … [Read more…]