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Stimulant

Northern Spicebush – Lindera Benzoin: Edible & Medicinal Uses of Wild Allspice

December 5, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Northern Spicebush - Lindera Benzoin

Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is not listed in Haliburton Flora because it’s only near native here. Its northernmost range is southern Ontario. While spicebush can grow slightly north of Toronto, it’s likely if you see bright yellow flowers on a bush along the highway here you’ve spotted an escapee nonnative forsythia shrub. The resemblance lending … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Anthelmintic, Astringent, Attracts pollinators, Carminative, Circulatory, Cotton-tailed rabbits, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Edible parts, Febrifuge, Found in moist deciduous woods, Found in stream banks, Full sun, Integumentary, Lauraceae/laurels, Medicinal parts, Moist soil, Moths, Native to Ontario, Opossum, Partial shade, Respiratory, Ruffed grouse, Stimulant, Well drained soil, White-tailed deer, Wood thrushes, Yellow flowers

Tansies – Tanacetum SPP.: Not-so Edible & Medicinal Uses of Feverfew, the Medieval Aspirin

October 17, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Tansies - Tanacetum SPP.

Tansy as well as feverfew (Tanacetum spp.) are primarily medicinal as far as human uses go. Both are nonnative to Ontario. I went back and forth about lumping them together or not, and chose to lump as they are similar. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) are not an edible species by modern considerations, … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Asteraceae (Compositae)/Aster family, Carminative, Circulatory, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Integumentary, Medicinal parts, Nervous, Perennial, Purgative, Reproductive, Stimulant, Vermifuge, White flowers, Yellow flowers

Tulip Tree – Liriodendron Tulipifera: Medicinal & Alternative Uses for a Tree Covered in “Tulips”

September 5, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Tulip Tree - Liriodendron Tulipifera

Tulip tree AKA tulip poplar AKA arbre aux lis (Liriodendron tulipifera) is only native to parts of southern Ontario, so it’s near native in Haliburton and it’s not listed in Haliburton Flora. A stunner, the flowers really do look like tulips: My pictures on this page are from a tulip tree in my eldest sisters backyard … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, American goldfinches, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiseptic, Attracts pollinators, Bees, Butterflies, Cardiovascular, Cotton-tailed rabbits, Deer mice, Diaphoretic, Full sun, Gray squirrel, Magnoliaceae/Magnolia family, Medicinal parts, Mice, Moist soil, Native to Ontario, Nervous, Northern cardinals, Pileated woodpeckers, Purple finches, Red squirrels, Reproductive, Ruby-throated hummingbirds, Stimulant, Well drained soil, White flowers, White-footed mice, White-tailed deer, Yellow flowers, Yellow-bellied sapsuckers

American Sweetgum – Liquidambar Styraciflua: Edible & Medicinal Uses for the Gum Tree

July 18, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
American Sweetgum - Liquidambar Styraciflua

American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is not listed in Haliburton Flora nor in VASCAN, but has been planted as an ornamental tree in southern Ontario. You may find it in some yards on your southern travels. It looks like some strange dainty leaved maple. But its closest native relation is witch hazel. Edible Uses of American … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Altingiaceae, Antimicrobial, Antiseptic, Astringent, Digestive, Diuretic, Edible parts, Expectorant, Medicinal parts, Respiratory, Stimulant

Coriander – Coriandrum Sativum: Edible & Medicinal Uses of Cilantro (Yes, Coriander and Cilantro Are the Same Plant!)

July 9, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Coriander - Coriandrum Sativum

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is not listed in Haliburton Flora, nor in many foraging books. But it is seedy and can escape cultivation. Plus, you may have it amongst your kitchen spices. Edible Uses of Coriander Hereabouts, dried coriander seed is a popular kitchen spice. It flavours many curries, meat dishes, breads and even liquor. The … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, Annual, Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)/Carrot family, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Edible parts, Integumentary, Medicinal parts, Reproductive, Respiratory, Stimulant, Urinary, White flowers

Northern Bayberry – Morella Pensylvanica: Edible & Medicinal Uses for Wild Bay Leaf

April 4, 2025 by Rachel of the Woods Leave a Comment
Northern Bayberry - Morella Pensylvanica

Northern bayberry (Morella pensylvanica syn. Myrica pensylvanica) isn’t listed in Haliburton Flora and despite the name is more abundant to the south. Its relation sweet gale/ bog myrtle is more common in our area. It’s native to Ontario but may be closer to near native in cottage country. Edible Uses of Northern Bayberry As the … [Read more…]

Posted in: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Tagged: Alterative, Astringent, Black-capped chickadees, Carminative, Carolina wren, Circulatory, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Eastern bluebirds, Eastern meadowlark, Eastern phoebes, Eastern towhee, Edible parts, Emetic, European starlings, Expectorant, Found in moist open sites, Full sun, Gray catbirds, Hermit thrushes, Integumentary, Lymphatic, Medicinal parts, Mockingbirds and mimics, Moist soil, Myricaceae/Bayberry family, Native to Ontario, Nitrogen Fixer, Northern flickers, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Reproductive, Respiratory, Scarlet tanagers, Stimulant, Urinary, Woodpeckers, Yellow rail
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  1. Bonnie Dalzell on Wild Lettuces – Lactuca SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Opium of Wild PlantsMay 31, 2025

    I am in Maryland in a rural area. Around 10 years ago I found a weird tall plant growing as…

  2. Eva Zdrava on False Bindweeds – Calystegia SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Morning Glories of Wild PlantsMay 5, 2025

    I just read yesterday about Calystegia silvatica, That neither part of the plant extract showed any cytotoxicity to the normal…

  3. Margo Thompson on Quaking Aspen – Populus Tremuloides: Edible & Medicinal Uses of a Popple’r Wild PlantMay 4, 2025

    I can't believe I've lived with the trees all of these years and didn't know this!

  4. Teresa on Serviceberry – Amelanchier SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Early Bloomer of Wild PlantsFebruary 24, 2025

    In my part of the world they are called saskatoons and we eat them raw by the handful, even gorging…

  5. Gary Nichols on Reed Grass – Phragmites SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Roasted Marshmallow of Wild PlantsSeptember 7, 2024

    Hi, have you successfully made flour from the seeds of Phragmites?

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