Native plants are the foundation of nature's web of life, supporting a plethora of insects, who in turn nourish songbirds and other cherished species. Furthermore, many wild edibles are used as human food. Jams, soups, bread, and other pleasures may be made from Missouri's wild flora. Fruit from persimmon and pawpaw trees, for example, may be utilized to make a variety of delights, as can nuts from black walnut and hickory trees.
Wild Edibles from Nature
Many diverse varieties of wild foods are both healthful and tasty. While you may hunt for these delicacies in the woods, it is preferable to plant your edible indigenous, which serve to sustain pollinating insects, which in turn helps pollinate your vegetable and fruit gardens. This post will just touch on a handful of the amazing wild foods found in Missouri.
Cattails
Cattails, Typha latifolia, may be found in ditches, wetlands, marshes, and ponds. These fuzzy beauties, sometimes known as bullrush, are a source of wild food.
Wild Edible Dandelions
Most people see dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) as an ugly weed that should be eradicated from their yard. Dandelions feature prominent leaves with toothy notches, as well as vivid yellow blooms. From April until late October, these small delicacies blossom.
Elderberries in the wild
Elderberry bushes, Sambucus canadensis, are common wild edibles found across the state. They can be found growing by roadsides or streams, in open woodlands, or hidden in fencerows or thickets. They form colonies from root shoots and can reach heights of 8 feet or more.
Quarters of a lamb
Lamb's Quarters, Chenopodium album, is another delicious wild plant. This plant, commonly known as pigweed, is hardy and may be found across Missouri. It is widely used as a fast-growing grain or as animal feed all over the world. Lambs quarters, a spinach relative, are widely used for its stems and leaves, which may be substituted for other leafy greens in cooked or stewed dishes.
The Wild Pawpaw's
Asimina triloba, often known as Missouri's banana, is the fruit of Asimina triloba plants or trees. These wild edibles can be found across the state near river banks and streams. Because they are distributed by root suckers, you'll often find numerous when you find one.
Persimmons
In Missouri, persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) are a well-known wild food. When ripe, they have a beautiful sweet flavor. Persimmon trees may be found in a variety of habitats, including hardwood woods, prairies, and fields. Because of the sucker roots, finding one tree usually leads to discovering a whole grove of persimmon trees.
Last Thoughts
Gathering wild edibles is a pleasant and peaceful way to experience Missouri's spectacular natural beauty. Because they have a limited storage life, only collect what you can eat in a day or two. Keep the rest for your next outdoor foraging expedition. At Down to Earth Services "Grow with Nature" is our slogan. We are the store that is anti-trend. We concentrate on cultivating plants that are natural to our environment. We absolutely love the work we do, providing property maintenance for native landscapes, landscape/hardscape design, rain gardens installation, ecological management, and native plants to the Kansas City area. If you would like to learn more about native plants, we would love to hear from you! Reach out to us at dtekc.com or give us a call at 816-207-7960.
Additional Blogs You May be Interested in:
- 10 Medicinal Plants to Grow in Your Garden
- A Planning Guide for Storm Water Design
- A Guide to Missouri Native Flowers
- A Guide to Kansas Native Flowers
- Protecting Missouri's Keystone Species
- Low Maintenance Landscaping Plants for Your Garden
- Native Shrubs to Add to Your Landscaping
- Maintenance Tips for Your Missouri Native Garden
- Environmental Landscaping Design for Sustainable Natural Beauty
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