There are likely plenty of edible weeds growing in your garden and backyard. However, only harvest those that you can positively identify.
Below is a list of edible garden weeds and wild greens you might want to give a try.
1. Chickweed
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Along with many other wild plants, common chickweed has nutritional value as well as a spinach-like flavor.
This attractive plant with tiny white flowers, broad leaves, and hairy stems is often seen on lawns and is chock-full of goodness.
All parts contain magnesium, potassium, and calcium, plus vitamins A and C. Try making chickweed pesto or adding it to sandwiches, soups, and salads.
2. White Clover
This common lawn weed is useful for attracting pollinators like bees to the garden. It grows easily and abundantly and makes a sweet tea or an unusual flour.
Grind the flowers of this sweet plant to make flour. Alternatively, bake some edible clover and strawberry (or any berry) cookies.
Red clover is also edible. Another benefit is that both red and white clover make great cover crops. Purchase clover seeds here.
3. Dandelion
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Everyone everywhere is used to the sight of dandelions. Some gardeners can’t stand them as they ‘spoil’ the lawns.
Dandelions are considered weeds; however, they have many edible parts. You can eat the flowers and leaves steamed or have the roots roasted like carrots and root vegetables.
You can also eat the leaves raw when they are young and fresh. Moreover, add it to ice cream, jellies, or wine. Furthermore, bees love this edible backyard plant too.
4. Greater Burdock
This sticky weed can be a real nuisance in the garden but turns into a tasty flavoring for curries or roasted alongside other root vegetables.
Moreover, fermented burdock roots and dandelion make an old-fashioned drink or beer [1], packed with vitamins.
However, you need to carefully identify this edible yard plant to avoid confusion with harmful weeds. Greater burdock has recognizable purple thistle-like flowers in season.
5. Stinging Nettle
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These are also common edible weeds in the garden that are useful as culinary additives. Cooking will neutralize the sting, and the nettles will become a very tasty addition to sweet and savory dishes.
Cooks have long valued stinging nettle for providing extra flavor to omelets or adding it to vegetable-based cakes.
Moreover, stinging nettle can replace or supplement spinach in many recipes. They also add plenty of iron to the meal [2].
6. Lamb’s Quarters
This is another kind of weed that humans can eat.
Lamb’s Quarters has a lot of uses, and you can substitute it for other edible greens. However, blanch or cook it to reduce the oxalic acid content.
It is highly nutritious, containing B vitamins, iron, calcium, and protein. Additionally, you can easily recognize Lamb’s Quarters by the sharp-toothed leaves and white powdery patina on the plants.
Other common names include goosefoot, fat hen, and wild spinach.
7. Purslane
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This is an edible backyard weed that has small, oval-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. Purslane is mild and has a lot of nutrients.
The leaves, flower buds, and stems can be sautéed and added to seafood dishes or eaten by themselves. You can also add it to green juice along with other greens.
Buy Purslane seeds online.
8. Curly Dock
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All the dock species are edible. Curly dock usually grows near nettles. It’s also been known from ages past that the leaves give instant relief to nettle stings.
Cook the leaves in soups and other dishes, or eat them raw.
The young leaves have a slightly tart lemon flavor that you can use as an alternative to citrus fruit. However, it contains high amounts of oxalic acid, so eat it in moderation.
9. Broadleaf Plantain
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Another backyard weed you can eat is broadleaf plantain. Big clumps of it can be quite invasive along paths, in flower beds, and on lawns.
Broadleaf plantain is very common. You can substitute it for spinach or kale in recipes using those vegetables.
Use the leaves and flower heads, but it’s best to pick them young for full flavor.
10. Garlic Mustard
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Garlic mustard is an invasive herb, but one that packs a punch in nutritional goodness. It contains vitamins A and C and omega-3 fatty acids.
The mineral content also includes iron, calcium, manganese, selenium, and potassium.
Moreover, because it is garlicky and spicy in flavor, you can use it in many dishes, including pesto and chimichurri.
11. Sheep Sorrel
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Sheep sorrel contains oxalic acid that should be removed first before adding it to any dish. Blanching first and disposing of the water should remove a good amount of oxalic acid.
The edgy, lemony taste of the young stalks cuts through fatty meats like pork or lamb. Moreover, the leaves are arrow-shaped, so they’re easily identified.
12. Thistles
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There are many species of this weed, and all of them are generally disliked by gardeners. However, all plants in the genus Cirsium and the genus Carduus are edible.
All parts are edible, and you can eat them raw, steamed, or boiled. The beautiful purple heads also make a colorful display.
13. Violets
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Among the wild edible plants in your yard, violet is becoming popular in vegan cooking.
Both the leaves and flowers are fit for consumption; however, do not eat the seeds and roots, as they are poisonous.
Wild violets contain plenty of vitamin C and have a sugary flavor. Use them to make teas, syrups, jams, or garnish salads. Look out for those blue, white, or purple flowers.
14. Ramsons
The leaves are edible, and you can use them in salads and sandwiches.
Ramsons, otherwise known as wild garlic, are also rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. Moreover, it is good for coughing and digestive problems.
15. Wild Amaranths
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All parts of wild amaranth (pigweed) are edible. These edible wild plants can be difficult to eradicate; however, you can put them to good use in the kitchen. Amaranth also goes by the name Callaloo Bush.
The young leaves are fine to eat raw in salads, and the older leaves can be steamed or used in a stir-fry. Moreover, all members of the genus Amaranthus can be eaten [4].
Purchase red amaranth seeds online.
16. Hairy Bittercress
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Unlike most of these edible yard greens, this one is a cold-weather plant that you can add to winter salads and soups.
17. Common Mallow
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Mallow (cheeseweed) is a frequently seen mauve-flowered wild plant that thrives in most places.
The leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds are edible. You can eat the young plants raw in salads. However, it’s best to steam or sauté mature plants.
Mallow is a source of vitamins A, B, and C, plus calcium and magnesium.
Takeaway
Weeding is an unpleasant but necessary chore. Nonetheless, you can use it as an opportunity to forage for those tasty and nutritious wild edibles in your backyard.
Ages twenty through forty, I studied nutrition and herbology. Then I sold the books to pay bills. Without them, much has slipped my memory. Herbal information that others might provide, would be highly appreciated.