After such a dry spring this year, the recent rain has been very welcome and a boost to many wild plants. The leaves of Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) have certainly benefited. They have a lovely sharp lemon flavour and can be added to salads. Common sorrel is currently in flower and the tiny reddish flowers can be seen in clusters sprouting from the centre of the plant on a long spindly stem. Keep an eye on this plant as it is one of the few that will produce green leaves in the middle of winter. The pointed 'coat tails' at the base of the leaves is one way of positively identifying it. The flowers, leaves, root and seed are all edible raw.
Wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) produce fruit from June to September. A tiny heart-shaped fruit which produces an abundance of flavour. Don't underestimate wild strawberries because of their size, the flavour is absolutely gorgeous. It takes some time to pick enough but it is well worth the effort. The fruit, leaves and flowers of this plant are all edible raw. We occasionally use the leaves to make a green tea.
Whilst on the subject of fruit, keep an eye out for wild raspberries (Rubus idaeus), although they may not be quite ready to ripen. Ours are certainly not ready yet. We have many stands of wild raspberries and they spread prolifically. It is a tall shrub, which looks like the garden variety, but with much smaller fruit. Like wild strawberries, they have a small fruit but a wonderful flavour. What we like most about them is the fact that they look after themselves. No feeding, weeding, tying up or cutting back required! Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus) are also beginning to ripen in July and continue through to around October so watch out for these as well.
Fat hen (Chenopodium album) is a fast-growing plant often found in rich garden soil. It often came up in our vegetable patch in Kent, seemingly emerging overnight, but we haven't seen any in our garden in Scotland yet. The young leaves and shoots, tops of mature plants, the flowers and sprouted seed are all edible raw. The leaves can be cooked and used as spinach. The young inflorescences (cluster of flowers on the stem) can be used like broccoli. Fat hen has matt blue-green leaves which repel water. The seed, which is similar to quinoa, can also be dried and ground into a flour. It can also be sprouted. It is best to rinse it thoroughly to remove the saponins before sprouting. Use the resulting soapy water for washing skin and clothes. The whole plant has a faint cabbage-like smell and taste to it.
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are thriving here at the moment. Use the bitter leaves and the vivid yellow flowers (petals are best) in salads. A particularly good coffee substitute can be made from dry roasted dandelion root. The good thing about dandelions is that they easily regenerate from a small piece of the root so if you leave some behind (it's very difficult not to because the taproot is so long) they will keep growing! Dandelion is widely used in herbal medicine, the Latin name Taraxacum is from the Greek meaning disease remedy.
The dog rose (Rosa canina) will be in flower now and the highly scented petals are edible raw and can be added to salads, used to decorate cakes and flans, or used to scent jam. The red fruit (rosehips) and the tiny seed are also edible raw but you will have to wait until autumn for those to appear. The leaves, which will now be in abundance, can be fermented, dried and made into a black tea.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is also flowering now. A tall plant with cucumber flavoured leaves and sweet almond-scented flowers, it is known more for its usefulness in herbal medicine. However, it is also edible. The young leaves can be used raw in salads or cooked dishes. The young leaves, flowers and roots can be made into a tea. A distinctive medicinal flavour, they are an acquired taste. The flowers can be used as a flavouring for teas, cordials, wines, beer and sorbets. Alternatively, they can be made into a syrup.
Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) emerges in our lawn alongside the white clover and both flower at around the same time. The leaves and flowers of self heal are edible raw and make a good addition to salads. They also make a refreshing tea and can be dried for use in the winter months to guard against colds and flu. It is a very useful plant.
Other wild edible plants available during July include the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) tips and leaves, hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) leaves, dog violet (Rosa canina) leaves, cleavers (Galium aparine) tips and leaves, borage (Borago officinalis) leaves and flowers, gorse (Ulex europeaus) flowers, daisy (Bellis perennis) leaves and flowers, bistort (Polygonum bistorta) leaves, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) leaves and flowers, primrose (Primula vulgaris) leaves, chickweed (Stellaria media) leaves and flowers, garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis or petiolata) leaves and flowers, and mallow (Malva spp) leaves and flowers.
Happy picking!
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| Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) |
Wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) produce fruit from June to September. A tiny heart-shaped fruit which produces an abundance of flavour. Don't underestimate wild strawberries because of their size, the flavour is absolutely gorgeous. It takes some time to pick enough but it is well worth the effort. The fruit, leaves and flowers of this plant are all edible raw. We occasionally use the leaves to make a green tea.
 |
| Wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) |
Whilst on the subject of fruit, keep an eye out for wild raspberries (Rubus idaeus), although they may not be quite ready to ripen. Ours are certainly not ready yet. We have many stands of wild raspberries and they spread prolifically. It is a tall shrub, which looks like the garden variety, but with much smaller fruit. Like wild strawberries, they have a small fruit but a wonderful flavour. What we like most about them is the fact that they look after themselves. No feeding, weeding, tying up or cutting back required! Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus) are also beginning to ripen in July and continue through to around October so watch out for these as well.
 |
| Wild raspberries (Rubus idaeus) |
Fat hen (Chenopodium album) is a fast-growing plant often found in rich garden soil. It often came up in our vegetable patch in Kent, seemingly emerging overnight, but we haven't seen any in our garden in Scotland yet. The young leaves and shoots, tops of mature plants, the flowers and sprouted seed are all edible raw. The leaves can be cooked and used as spinach. The young inflorescences (cluster of flowers on the stem) can be used like broccoli. Fat hen has matt blue-green leaves which repel water. The seed, which is similar to quinoa, can also be dried and ground into a flour. It can also be sprouted. It is best to rinse it thoroughly to remove the saponins before sprouting. Use the resulting soapy water for washing skin and clothes. The whole plant has a faint cabbage-like smell and taste to it.
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are thriving here at the moment. Use the bitter leaves and the vivid yellow flowers (petals are best) in salads. A particularly good coffee substitute can be made from dry roasted dandelion root. The good thing about dandelions is that they easily regenerate from a small piece of the root so if you leave some behind (it's very difficult not to because the taproot is so long) they will keep growing! Dandelion is widely used in herbal medicine, the Latin name Taraxacum is from the Greek meaning disease remedy.
 |
| Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) |
The dog rose (Rosa canina) will be in flower now and the highly scented petals are edible raw and can be added to salads, used to decorate cakes and flans, or used to scent jam. The red fruit (rosehips) and the tiny seed are also edible raw but you will have to wait until autumn for those to appear. The leaves, which will now be in abundance, can be fermented, dried and made into a black tea.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is also flowering now. A tall plant with cucumber flavoured leaves and sweet almond-scented flowers, it is known more for its usefulness in herbal medicine. However, it is also edible. The young leaves can be used raw in salads or cooked dishes. The young leaves, flowers and roots can be made into a tea. A distinctive medicinal flavour, they are an acquired taste. The flowers can be used as a flavouring for teas, cordials, wines, beer and sorbets. Alternatively, they can be made into a syrup.
Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) emerges in our lawn alongside the white clover and both flower at around the same time. The leaves and flowers of self heal are edible raw and make a good addition to salads. They also make a refreshing tea and can be dried for use in the winter months to guard against colds and flu. It is a very useful plant.
 |
| Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) |
Other wild edible plants available during July include the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) tips and leaves, hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) leaves, dog violet (Rosa canina) leaves, cleavers (Galium aparine) tips and leaves, borage (Borago officinalis) leaves and flowers, gorse (Ulex europeaus) flowers, daisy (Bellis perennis) leaves and flowers, bistort (Polygonum bistorta) leaves, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) leaves and flowers, primrose (Primula vulgaris) leaves, chickweed (Stellaria media) leaves and flowers, garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis or petiolata) leaves and flowers, and mallow (Malva spp) leaves and flowers.
Happy picking!