Edible Wild Plants Berries

Significance

Many wild berries and plants have contributed significantly to the culinary and health world. Many health food diets depend upon herbs, berries and nuts that are found in the wild, and even more have been discovered to have fantastic nutritional quality, such as acai or pomegranate, or dandelions and ginseng. Although modern farming techniques have altered many plants and created new hybrids of vegetables and fruits to grow, there are still basic plants and berries that you can survive off of in the wild for years. It is just important to know what the edible ones are, as there are many plants and berries that are poisonous.

Types of Edible Wild Plants

Edible wild trees and shrubs that grow nation-wide include: almond, white and Scotch pine trees, oak trees, sugar and red maple trees, American chestnut, acorns and hazelnut. In the Western part of the United States, additional plants and shrubs that grow include mountain mint, avalanche lily, alder, potato, agave, mesquite, amaranth, yucca, buckwheat and meadow thistle. In terrain such as meadows and fields, there are dandelions, chickweed, violets, pansies, thistle, plantain, pigweed, lamb's quarters, milkweed, meadow asparagus, wild carrot, burdock, artichoke, chicory, willow trees, wild onions, dayweed, goat's beard, wild clover, comfrey, garlic mustard and goldenrod. In the Eastern part of the United States, additional plants include birch trees, persimmon, Indian potato and cucumber, wild ginger and anise, morel mushroom, American ginseng, primrose, spring cress and witch hazel.

Types of Edible Wild Berries

Edible berries from shrubs and trees include; barberry, blackberry, blueberry, paw paw, wild plum, wild cherry, gooseberry, hawthorn, spicebush, salmon berry, wild strawberry, sumac, thimbleberry, wild cranberry, Juneberry, raspberry, salal, juniper berry, bearberry, mulberry, moonseed and wild grapes. Berries that grow in the west wild include rosaceae, and in the East mayapple and partridge berry. Many wild berries can be poisonous but still look like edible wild berries, so be sure to know the names and certain visible characteristics of any wild berries before consuming them.

Time Frame

Most of the berries and wild plants named above only grow in specific seasons within these regions. Many mushrooms and brush plants grow in the spring and fall, while berries are prevalent in the summer and fall. In fall, roots are readily available. Thick leaves and woodsy bramble plants grow best in the winter. The more rainfall there is, the more plentiful plants and brush. After ripening, berries usually are available to eat for almost two weeks while on the bush or tree. Nuts can last for months at a time. Plants and brush are available for months at a time, as re-growth occurs over the entire season, and sometimes over the entire year depending upon the plant.

Considerations

Do your own research to understand what wild plants and berries are okay and available for consumption. Many wild edible plants and berries are chock full of nutrients and vitamins, and can be lived off of for years, especially if you establish your own garden of certain wild species. On the other hand, there are plants and berries that look identical, but one is poisonous and the other nutritious. They may look like each other, such as unripe cherries and holly berries. Eating berries or plants that the body cannot process can do much damage to organs and digestive systems, even resulting in coma or death.