Food Plants

Disclaimer: the information on this website is based on historical practices of American Indians and my own experiments. Some of the plants used have poisonous and deadly properties. I make no claims about the edibility of the below plants and do not recommend trying anything on this website.

Note: this website is under construction, with many more species to be added.

This is the “FOOD” playlist on my YouTube channel, with 229 videos covering foraging wild edibles in Texas, especially central Texas.

FRUITS

Allium canadense / Meadow garlic

Arbutus xalapensis / Texas madrone

Asimina triloba / Pawpaw

Berberis trifoliolata / Agarita

Celtis laevigata / Sugar hackberry

Cleomella serrulata / Rocky Mountain beeplant

Cornus canadensis / Bunchberry dogwood

Cylindropuntia imbricata / Tree cholla

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis / Christmas cactus

Diospyros texana / Texas persimmon

Echinocereus coccineus / Scarlet hedgehog cactus

Ehretia anacua / Sugarberry anacua

Forestiera pubescens / Stretchberry

Homalocephala polycephala / Cottontop cactus

Juniperus virginiana / Eastern red cedar

Lagenaria siceria / Bottle gourd

Malvaviscus arboreus / Turk’s cap

Opuntia engelmannii / Cactus-apple

Rhus trilobata / Skunkbush sumac

Rhus aromatica / Fragrant sumac

Rhus virens / Evergreen sumac

Rubus spp. / Blackberry

Rubus trivialis / Southern dewberry

Sambucus canadensis / Elderberry

Sarcomphalus obtusifolius / Lotebush

Sideroxylon lanuginosum / Gum bumelia

Vitis spp. / Grape

Vitis mustangensis / Mustang grape

SEEDS / NUTS / BEANS

Amaranthus palmeri / Carelessweed

Amaranthaceae / Amaranth family

Avena fatua / Wild oat

Capsella bursa-pastoris / Shepherds purse

Cercis canadensis / Eastern redbud

Chilopsis linearis / Desert willow

Cleomella serrulata / Rocky Mountain beeplant

Ephedra nevadensis / Nevada jointfir

Helianthus annuus / Sunflower

Homalocephala polycephala / Cottontop cactus

Lepidium lasiocarpum / Shaggyfruit pepperweed

Medicago polymorpha / Burclover

Opuntia engelmannii / Cactus apple

Parkinsonia aculeata / Paloverde

Pinus ponderosa / Western yellow pine

Prosopis glandulosa / Honey mesquite

Rumex crispus / Curly dock

Senegalia greggii / Catclaw acacia

Sisymbrium officinale / Crambling mustard

Solidago canadensis / Canada goldenrod

Sphaeralcea angustifolia / Copper globemallow

Trifolium spp. / Clover

Typha domingensis / Southern cattail

Typha latifolia / Broadleaf cattail

FLOWERS

Allium canadense / Meadow garlic

Asclepias speciosa / Showy milkweed

Chilopsis linearis / Desert willow

Cirsium spp. / Thistle

Cleomella serrulata / Rocky Mountain beeplant

Cylindropuntia imbricata / Tree cholla

Helianthus annuus / Sunflower

Justicia californica / Beloperone

Lepidium lasiocarpum / Shaggyfruit pepperweed

Malvaviscus arboreus / Turk’s cap

Trifolium spp. / Clover

Typha domingensis / Southern cattail

Typha latifolia / Broadleaf cattail

Vitis mustangensis / Mustang grape

FOLIAGE

Allium canadense / Meadow garlic

AMARANTHACEAE – Amaranth Family

Amaranthus palmeri / Carelessweed

Asclepias speciosa / Showy milkweed

Capsella bursa-pastoris / Shepherd’s purse

Chenopodium album / Lambsquarters

Cleomella serrulata / Rocky Mountain beeplant

Cylindropuntia imbricata / Tree cholla

Cirsium spp. / Thistle

Euphorbia marginata / Snow-on-the-mountain

Lactuca serriola / Prickly lettuce

Lactuca canadensis / Canada lettuce

Malvaviscus arboreus / Turk’s cap

Medicago polymorpha / Burclover

Opuntia engelmannii / Cactus apple

Oxalis corniculata / Creeping woodsorrel

Oxalis stricta / Common yellow woodsorrel

Oxalis violacea / Violet woodsorrel

Phytolacca americana / Pokeweed

Populus deltoides / Eastern cottonwood

Rumex crispus / Curly dock

Sisymbrium officinale / Crambling mustard

Smilax spp. / Greenbrier

Smilax bona-nox / Saw greenbrier

Smilax rotundifolia / Roundleaf greenbrier

Stellaria media / Chickweed

Tinantia anomala / False dayflower

Tradescantia virginiana / Virginia spiderwort

Trifolium spp. / Clover

Typha domingensis / Southern cattail

Typha latifolia / Broadleaf cattail

Umbilicaria mammulata / Smooth rock tripe

Urtica chamaedryoides / Heartleaf nettle

Urtica dioica / Stinging nettle

Vicia americana / American vetch

Vitis mustangensis / Mustang grape

ROOTS

Apios americana / Indian potato

Allium canadense / Meadow garlic

Aralia racemosa / Indian spikenard

Batis maritima / Turtleweed

Cirsium spp. / Thistle

Cnidoscolus palmeri / Ortiguilla

Euphorbia marginata / Snow-on-the-mountain

Ipomoea leptophylla / Bush morning glory

Liatris punctata / Dotted blazing star

Pluchea sericea / Arrowweed

Pomaria jamesii / James’ holdback

Smilax spp. / Greenbrier

Smilax rotundifolia / Roundleaf greenbrier

Typha spp. / Cattail

Typha domingensis / Southern cattail

Typha latifolia / Broadleaf cattail

SAP / INNER BARK

Acer negundo / Boxelder

Celastrus scandens / American bittersweet

Pinus ponderosa / Western yellow pine

Populus deltoides / Eastern cottonwood

TEA

Achillea millefolium / Yarrow

Ephedra nevadensis / Nevada jointfir

Ilex vomitoria / Yaupon

Lactuca canadensis / Canada lettuce

Lactuca serriola / Prickly lettuce

Malvaviscus arboreus / Turk’s cap

Monarda fistulosa / Wild bergamot

Ratibida columnifera / Mexican hat

Thelesperma megapotamicum / Hopi tea greenthread

SPICES

Allium canadense / Meadow garlic

Artemisia ludoviciana

Grindelia squarrosa / Curlycup gumweed

Monarda citriodora / Lemon beebalm

Monarda fistulosa / Wild bergamot

Selaginella densa / Lesser spikemoss

GUM

Apocynum cannabinum / Indian hemp

Asclepias asperula / Spider milkweed

Euphorbia marginata / Snow-on-the-mountain

Helianthus annuus / Sunflower

Liquidambar styraciflua / Sweetgum

Sphaeralcea angustifolia / Copper globemallow