Appalachian Native Farm

Explore native edible plants, their uses, and growing tips. Click on a plant name for details.

Plant NameEdible Part(s)Harvest Time
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)SapLate February–March
Ramps (Allium tricoccum)Bulbs & leavesMarch–April
Wild Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)LeavesMarch–April
Wild Garlic (Allium canadense)Bulbs & leavesMarch–April
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)LeavesMarch–April
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)Leaves & rootsMarch–April
Common Plantain (Plantago major)LeavesMarch–April
Toothwort / Crinkleroot (Cardamine spp.)LeavesMarch–April
Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata)ShootsMarch–April
Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia)Shoots & leavesMarch–April
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)Tubers & leavesMarch–April
Fiddlehead Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris)Young frondsApril
Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)Shoots & flowersApril–May
Wild Violets (Viola spp.)Leaves & flowersApril–May
Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea)Leaves & flowersApril–May
Cattail (Typha latifolia)Shoots, roots, pollenApril–October
American Hop (Humulus lupulus)Young shootsMay
Wild Onion (Allium cernuum)Bulbs & leavesMay–June
Mulberry (Morus rubra)BerriesLate May–June
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)BerriesLate May–June
Wild Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)Leaves & flowersMay–June
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)Leaves & twigsMay–June
Wild Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana)BerriesJune
Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.)BerriesJune–July
Blackberries & Raspberries (Rubus spp.)BerriesJune–July
Huckleberries (Gaylussacia spp.)BerriesJune–July
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)FruitJuly
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)FruitJuly–August
Chokecherry / Pin Cherry / Sand Cherry (Prunus spp.)FruitJuly–August
Northern Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)BerriesJuly–August
Wild Grapes (Vitis riparia, V. labrusca)Grapes & leavesJuly–August
American Ground Cherry (Physalis heterophylla)FruitsLate July–early August
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)FruitAugust–September
American Plum (Prunus americana)FruitAugust–September
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)BerriesAugust–September
Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)BerriesMid-August–early September
American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)NutsLate August–September
Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw)BerriesLate August–September
American Cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum)BerriesSeptember (best after frost)
American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)FruitSeptember–October
Viburnum nudum (Possumhaw)BerriesSeptember–October
Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra)NutsSeptember–October
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)NutsSeptember–October
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)NutsSeptember–November (peak October)
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)TubersSeptember–November
Wild Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)BerriesSeptember–November
Groundnut (Apios americana)TubersSeptember–November
American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)NutsEarly–mid October
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)RhizomesNovember
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)RootsNovember