Currants are an attractive and often aromatic shrub with nice fall colour. Asparagus is rich in vitamins B and C and calcium and iron. Catnip is strongly attractive to cats and should be planted in chicken wire or some other enclosure. Nanking Cherry (Prunus tomentosa), and Mongolian Cherry are also very good producers. Shrub-like in growth habit, Sea Buckthorn will require at least 3 square meters for its mature size. The health benefits from incorporating these berries into your diet seem to be almost endless. Alberta edible plant identification: Plains Prickly Pear - Duration: 5:36. Oreganos are most commonly used in tomato sauces, with meats, and in vegetable seasonings. Either on their own or mixed with other herbs, mints make excellent teas. Raspberries range in colour from red to orange to yellow, to purple. Great for use in salads, soups, stews, and anywhere else that celery is used. Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies [Kershaw, Linda] on Amazon.com. Once the bane of the urban homeowner’s existence, the nutritional and medicinal benefits of the lowly dandelion are making a comeback. The wide variety of mints available offer numerous flavours and uses. Most children love to avoid the prickles while enjoying a feast of handpicked raspberries on a hot summer day. edible and medicinal plant species, link to the Plants for a Future database. These antioxidant rich berries resemble blueberries in colour and size, and do extremely well as either jam or in a pie. Flowers are often used for wine making. The plant is part of the mustard family, which also includes radishes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and, mustard. Most of these plants have been listed in other sections above owing to their importance as edible species. Because they flower very early, apricots frequently suffer damage to blossoms from late frosts and are not reliable producers in Alberta. Some plants produce edible flowers, which may be added to salads or used to decorate foods. Most Gooseberries will grow to about 1 meter in height and width. I can’t wait. Not only is Betony an attractive addition to the garden with its purple flower spikes, it also has a flavour very similar to black tea without the caffeine. Also called “walking onion”, This mild-flavoured, perennial onion develops bulbs at the top of its slender leaves, and not at the base like most onions. A familiar favorite, there are many varieties of basil offering a wide pallet of colours and flavour. The 2 types that I am trying this year are Tundra and Borealis, which should produce berries in late June and July. The tall, thick profile of this plant also makes it useful as a hedge or screen. Both shoots and leaves are very strong in Iron. The taste is similar to a blueberry with a hint of wildness. Its large veined leaves also make an interesting display in a bed or border. Until dried or cooked, stinging nettle leaves … At least one male plant is required for every six female plants. Chicory is a short-lived perennial. If you are lucky enough to already be healthy though, these might give you the antioxidant boost you’ve been looking for. They can be eaten fresh, pickled or stored for winter use. Confining them, to a pot dug into the ground may be a useful strategy. The initiative was simple and yet effective: edible plants were added to garden pots in and around the community for anyone to access. Fall-bearing varieties bear fruit on the new canes each year. An easy to grow, long living perennial that adds an interesting “spiky” texture to the garden and a splash of purple colour when in bloom. Morels. Some varieties are reportedly hardy to zone 3 but even those may need protection in our climate. Closely related is the species Ribes hirtellum. Leaves are generally used in soups, salads, and with beans, rice, fish and poultry. The young leaves of chicory can be added to salads or cooked up like a chard. It's the time of year when many Calgarians go to war with the weeds popping up in otherwise pristine lawns. Because it its growth habit is matt-like, it works well as a gound cover. Very popular in Asian and Latin American cooking, cilantro adds a fresh and sharp taste to foods. Used extensively in Biodynamic practises. Most thymes, including Thymus pulegioides are low growing and make resilient and very fragrant ground covers. Thyme has numerous culinary uses including flavouring seafood, poultry, eggs, vegetables, rice and tomato sauces. There are many, many, varieties of apples, crabapples and applecrabs that will grow well in Alberta. Raspberries can work very well in the urban landscape as a hedge or screen with select varieties reaching over 2 meters in height. Its most common uses are in poultry, stuffing, with eggs and as a flavouring for oils. In order to avoid the dandelion spreading, mow before flowers go to seed. cumin and cinnamon), which come from other plant parts. The slender stems and small leaves of this plant give it a very attractive presence in the yard. Plants are shrub-like growing to 3-4 feet in height and spread. I was hoping to forage edible flowers only to discover the lovely purple plant … Several edible weeds have ‘toxic look-alikes.’ Use a reputable foraging guidebook or plant identification app, and take classes or hire a professional guide to teach you. See more ideas about edibles weed, herbalism, medicinal herbs. The tree is hardy to zone 3, grows to 20 feet in height producing apricot sized fruits that taste. rosemary and mint), which come from the green leafy parts of plants, and spices (e.g. There are many other unusual and rare fruit trees making their way to North America. Woodland (alpine) strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) are particularly well-suited to use as ground cover and will handle foot traffic better than the domesticated varieities. Plants which produce edible leaves are probably the most numerous of all plant foods. Flowers and leaves are often used to flavour soups, salads, poultry dishes, and in stuffing. Fennel grows to 5 feet tall and has yellow flower umbels similar to dill. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. Several pear varieties are well adapted to the Edmonton climate. As George Carlin always liked to remind us “blueberries, blue on the bush, purple in the pie”. Pears require 2 varieties for pollination. Salad Burnet’s plump leaves have a slightly nutty and cucumber taste that works very well in salads, soups, herb vinegars and as an alternative coleslaw. leaves are suitable as a potherb. Vines ; Everything from flowers to grapes to the incredible hardy, vigorous and every so tasty hardy kiwis! As a native plant, it is very hardy once established and functions effectively as a natural fence, hedge or screen while producing bountiful crops of berries year after year. The wide variety of mints available offer numerous flavours and uses. Grow some this year and save yourself a lot of money, and enjoy them fresh off the shrub. The tangy tasting leaves of sorrel and zest to salads or can be used in making sorrel soup. The can be eaten like potatoes, added raw to salads or cooked up in stir fries. The dried roots have long been roasted and used as a coffee substitute. Morchella species. There is no comparing the wonderful flavour of homegrown strawberries to the chemically-fed, commercially produced varieties that travel thousands of kilometers to our store shelves. Best to plant where sheltered from winter winds and provide mulch cover in the fall. Sage is a beautiful plant whose long pale green leaves and white or purple flowers add interest to the garden. One thing is true of all the varieties of blueberries, and that is the fact that they love acidic soil. While it is relatively new to the prairies, gardeners have reported successful cultivation of this plant. Mints are used in salads, soups, with lamb, and in vegetable dishes. Gratitude in the workplace: How gratitude can improve your well-being and relationships Such plants include herbs (e.g. Due to its spreading nature, it is best to plant stinging nettle in a confined area. For an excellent detailed overview of these and many other (over 7000!) It also adds a unique flavour to vinegars. Low bush varieties produce small fruit and tolerate Alberta winters well. Sea Buckthorn can be aggressive. Stinging nettle leaves, stems and roots are all edible parts of the plant. will tolerate partial shade. Most mints establish quickly and tend to spread rapidly. Not only do these selections provide food however, but they can also create a very diverse, dynamic and beautiful urban landscape that will support birds, butterflies and other creatures as well. It is also dried and ground into a powder or juiced as a supposedly nutrient dense superfood. https://www.skilledsurvival.com/popular-edible-plants-flowers-usa Black currants (Ribes nigrum), red currants (Ribes rubrum), and white currants (a hybrid) are all very reliable producers in the Edmonton area. Nov. 21, 2020. ‘Beta’, ‘Kay Gray’, ‘Minnesota #78’, ‘Frontenac’, and ‘St. In fact, most Canadians don’t even know about these delicious and hardy berries, as they are not widely available in many provinces east of us. The delicious young shoots of asparagus provide an early spring harvest year after year once established. Any place that is regularly cleared is potentially loaded with weeds such as dandelion, chickweed, plantain, wild onion, violets, wood sorrel, henbit, clover, dead-nettle and sow thistle — all of which are 100% edible. I won’t be trying these however, as people on blood thinners or diabetics (which I am) can have adverse reactions to them. Hyssops are said to provide some of the best nectar for honey. Fresh or dried leaves make a mellow mint-like tea that is said to improve digestion. What to Look For: Sponge-like holes and ridges in hollow black, white or … Goji Berries are another of the newest varieties of berries to choose from. The following list provides a good start for those interested in having a variety of edibles growing in their own yards, communities or public spaces. All of the plants listed below are suitable for the Canadian prairies (horticultural Zone 3). For best results, select two different trees to promote good cross-pollination. One plant is sufficient for most yards. Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies ... 5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book with a lot of information relevant to Alberta… Prune out the dead canes yearly and your raspberries will thrill the kids and adults alike for many years. It includes all of the major plant, tree, shrub, etc. Will grow over 6 feet tall! High bush cranberries are lovely plants and can even be used as a hedge, as they grow so tall. Most commonly a pleasant tasting tea is made from the dried flowers. Start with the number-one habitat for wild edible plants — your lawn. young leaves are edible raw. There are two major types of parsley: curled parsley and Italian (flat-leaved) parsley. While they may still be difficult to find, the following species may be worth considering for colder climates: (Sorbus x Pyrus) is a cross between a European Mountain Ash and a pear developed in the former Yugoslavia. There are a few universal rules to foraging edible plants; it’s not a law but everyone tends to abide. Prefer a sandy soil. A very popular, high-yielding domesticated variety is ‘Pixwell’. Respect endangered species. Edible Flowers of the Prairies - Tasty florals, tips on petal selection and recipes. species of Canada, each with a beautiful colour photo and/or artist's drawing. It has long been used as a ground cover and can be heavily walked on and mown if desired. Cherry plums, a cross between plums and sand cherries, also do well on the prairies. However, if you don’t have the right kind of guides you’ll only frustrate yourself.When beginning to learn about edible/medicinal plants, most people will go to the bookstore and pick up the fattest field guide they see with a bunch of colorful photos. They are said to have a flavor that is reminiscent of a blueberry raspberry mixture and are extremely tolerant of harsh winters. With some exceptions, most of these plants are perennial which means once given a suitable location within the landscape, they will keep on producing food for harvest for many years. ‘Dolgo’, ‘Columbia’, and ‘Artic Red’ are three popular edible varieties. They are frost tolerant and prefer sun or part shade. My favorite is the blueberry and they are actually native to northern Alberta. Fresh or dried leaves make a refreshing tea, reminiscent of Earl Grey. Stay Warm with Our Holiday Playlist, 5 Family-Friendly Winter Activities to Do in Your Yard, The Safest, Easiest Way to Hang Christmas Lights, From Our Perspective: Why We Love What We Do, Why 2021 is the Year to Upgrade Your Landscape. Check us out here for info on cannabis edibles, and other CBD & THC products. I have my own favorites, and there are some newer choices out there for the discerning gardener, but the selection of varied species available to us never ceases to amaze me, even if I find there are far too many choices to fit into my own garden plot. The young leaves of chicory can be added to salads or cooked up like a chard. Perennial herbs are the safest choice for edible landscaping. The striking pink, red, or purple blossoms can be added to salads. Caraway is most commonly grown for the seeds which provide a sharp, spicy taste and fragrance to breads, cheese, and dressings. High bush cranberries are lovely plants and can even be used as a hedge, as they grow so tall. It is a vining plant that will need support. Mature plants will reach over 3 meters while a compact cultivar (Viburnum trilobum compactum) stays closer to 1 meter in height. Nettles also make excellent “green manures” and organic fertilizer teas. Angelica has a mild licorice flavour and is often used in candies and deserts because of its natural sweetness. Canada embarked on its second wave of cannabis legalization, which added edibles, extracts and topicals for recreational consumption to the public, on October 17, 2019. Although not a true cranberry, these are also native to Alberta and produce wonderful tasting fruit (once cooked … It is also used in teas and baths as a natural calming agent. Service Tree (Sorbus domestica) is a European species of Mountain Ash that features pear or apple shaped reddish and yellow fruit with the taste and texture of “spiced pears”. You can choose between low bush and high bush varieties, depending on your growing area, however if I had to choose one, I would choose a hybrid of the two, which grows to about 3′ tall and produces bountiful numbers of bright blue berries. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Wild, Plant, Forage, Foraging, Edible, Alberta, Native, Outdoors, Survival, Hiking, Nature, Botany. Borage attracts bees and butterflies in abundance to the garden. Sandra also discusses poisonous plants… Hyssops have a unique somewhat minty fragrance that stands out in the garden. ‘Norland’, ‘Westland’, or ‘Sunnybrook’), one mid-season producer (i.e. Very attractive to bees. The leaves, seeds, and roots all have a licorice-like tastes and can be used in salads, baking, soups and stews. Based on their breeding work since the 1940’s, the University of Saskatchewan has recently made available a new series of prairie hardy cherries that produce abundant, large sized fruit that are a cross between sweet and sour cherries in taste. 5:36. It has a mild licorice and parsley-like flavour. There are many varieties of thyme but the most vigorous and hardy for our climate is the wild thyme or “mother of thyme”, Thymus pulegioides. Hyssop is best as a tea when mixed with spearmint or lemon balm. Confining them, to a pot dug into the ground may be a useful strategy. Lovage grows as a vigorous bushy perennial with leaves that have the strong taste of celery. The team planted edibles plants including, beans and peppers into … Alternatively, several varieties can be grafted on to one tree for the same effect. Either on their own or mixed with other herbs, mints make excellent teas. All grapes will need a warm location and some winter protection. The greens are highly nutritional and best harvested for salads when young. A striking, tall plant with small umbels of flowers like Queen Anne’s lace. Its strong flavour can overpower most dishes so it should be used sparingly with fish and poultry. The mild licorice and anise flavour of fennel seeds make them a popular addition to breads, cheese, lentils, and many meat dishes. Foraging Wild Plants Rules 101. Once used extensively in shelterbelts, this plant is making a comeback due to its highly nutritious (and medicinal) bright orange berries. Chervil is used in soups, stews, salads, and in meat and bean dishes. Sage is most famous for seasoning stuffings and meats but can also be used in breads, cheese, vegetables and to flavour oils. Much maligned for its characteristic of leaving a sometimes severe rash when handled with bare hands, this native plant has tremendous medicinal and nutritional value and is fully edible when cooked. ‘Goodman’, ‘Rescue’, ‘Rosybrook’, and ‘Trailman’ are good eating varieties. For herbs in Alberta, check out Inspired Market Gardens. There is one variety of blackberry (‘Doyle thornless blackberry’) that is reputedly able to handle our Zone 3 winters with some protection. Also known as Himalayan Goji Berry or Wolf Berry, this hardy plants produces clusters of small red fruit that is cooked into soups in some Asian cuisine. 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