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List of Edible Weeds

Basically a weed is a plant that grows where it's not wanted. A bush full of the most beautiful floribunda roses found growing in a corn field would be considered a weed by the farmer who makes his living from corn and would be removed. But when most people think of weeds, they think of plants that are not only unwanted, but ugly, or uninspiring, though some, like morning glories or water hyacinth, have beautiful flowers. Nature doesn't recognize weeds. They are all plants. And some weeds are not only edible, but very nutritious. Weeds can be found around a house with a neglected lawn and garden, of course, but also in ditches, roadsides, meadows, and other unsightly places.

Dandelions, Brambles, Sorrel
- Dandelions are an excellent source of Vitamin A, C and K, calcium, potassium and iron. The leaves, found at the base of the plant, can be braised, or used in salads. They are usually blanched first because their taste is bitter. Wine can be made from the flowers. Brambles, or blackberries, can be very invasive, and their canes bear fierce thorns. But the delicious fruit ripens in the summer, and can be made into jams, jellies, preserves, pies and other baking items. They can be put into tea or other drinks, ice cream, sorbets or simply eaten out of hand. Common, or sheep sorrel can be used much like dandelions and has a milder, somewhat lemony flavor. It has distinctive, arrow-shaped leaves.
Wild Strawberries, Ramps and Salsify
- Wild strawberries and a tortoise
  
  Wild strawberries are not as large, fat or sweet as their cultivated relatives, but if you harvest enough of them, they can be used like any fruit. They are good mixed in pancake batter. The leaves and bulbs of ramps, or wild leeks, can be used in soups and salads. There's even a Ramp Festival in the Great Smoky Mountains. Legend says that ramp was what Rapunzel's mother craved while pregnant.
Salsify
- Salsify has big pink flowers that blossom from May till July, and the fruit is a puffball like a very large dandelion seed head. Salsify's roots can be boiled and eaten and taste somewhat like oysters, which gives the plant its other name: oyster plant.
Coltsfoot and Mint
- Picking mint leaves. For a julep?
  
  Coltsfoot looks like a low lying dandelion, and the leaves are supposed to resemble a colt's foot. The dried leaves can be made into tea. It has a reputation as being a cough suppressant. Mint can be a very noxious weed, but it's excellent as a garnish for jellies and for tea and other nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages.

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