Edible wild plants: native herbs

Are bears waking up from hibernation? One thing is sure: the snow is melting and the first snowdrops have already appeared. Winter is receding. In spring, plants begin to bud and flourish again. Some of them not only look pretty but are also good to eat.

Grace Inauen

20 February 2020 | 2 Min. Reading Time

5 edible wild plants and their effects

Wild plants not only add a special taste, but often contain more minerals, vitamins, proteins and omega-3 fatty acids than cultivated plants.

Wild garlic

Season: March to May
Can be confused with: autumn crocus, lily of the valley and arum. Beware! These are poisonous.
Use: leaves and seeds
Found in: deciduous forests and bushes
Healing powers: expectorant, antibacterial, blood-thinning, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, helps with gastrointestinal disorders.
Special feature: strong garlic smell and taste.

Tip: pick the leaves before the flowering period while they are still young and tender. As soon as wild garlic starts to flower, the leaves lose their intense aroma and become fibrous.

Dandelion

Season: March to September
Can be confused with: autumn dandelion – this plant is also edible.
Use: leaf rosette, flowers, roots
Found in: meadows, gardens, waysides
Healing powers: stimulates bile secretion, is diuretic and blood cleansing, helps with stomach and liver problems and rheumatism. External application for skin diseases.

Tip: here too, it’s best not to gather the leaves during the flowering period. To remove dandelion's slight bitterness, you can soak it in cold water for one to two hours.

Ordinary shepherd’s purse

Season: January to December
Use: roots, leaves, shoots, flowers, seeds
Found in: fields and gardens, generally nutrient-rich soil
Healing powers: haemostatic, helps with severe menstrual problems, promotes contractions (during pregnancy it is not recommended to consume the herb).
Special feature: heart-shaped fruit

Nettles

Season: June to October
Use: leaves, seeds
Found in: river banks, gardens, waysides, woodland edges
Healing powers: helps with urinary or kidney problems, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, stimulates the immune system, analgesic.
Special feature: hairs that sting

Tip: the stems should be as soft and tender as possible when harvested.

Brennessel gegen Haarausfall. Unser Hausmittel Tipp

Household remedy: nettles

Thanks to its ability to stimulate blood circulation, nettle tea can be used as a hair rinse to combat hair loss.

For hair loss

Ribwort plantain

Season: May to October
Use: leaves, roots, seeds
Found in: waysides, glades, meadows
Healing powers: helps with colds, is anti-inflammatory and expectorant, has a cough-relieving and antispasmodic effect, promotes wound healing and is itch-relieving, good for impure skin.

Tip: pick the young and tender leaves – they can be used as a substitute for spinach.

Ribwort plantain: helps with colds, is anti-inflammatory and expectorant, has a cough-relieving and antispasmodic effect, promotes wound healing and is itch-relieving, good for impure skin.

Tips for collecting wild herbs

Be sure not to pick herbs too close to the side of popular dog walking routes.
Avoid waysides along busy roads or in industrial areas.
Always wash the herbs thoroughly before use to avoid any contamination with the fox tapeworm.
Make sure you are well informed in advance so that you pick the right plants.
Do not forage until there's nothing left, but respect the natural environment.

Watch out for ticks

After the walk, check your body all over for ticks. The tick bite itself is painless and often goes undetected. However, it can cause dangerous diseases.