I attended a neighborhood gardening class last week, where our teacher opened her presentation by serving us a delicious fresh salad made with dandelion greens and flowers she picked from her yard.


In opening her lesson, she said, “This salad is the WHY for learning to garden!” You can save money (it cost her next to nothing to make), you can protect your immune system (fresh plants are loaded with antioxidants and nutrients), and you can experience real satisfaction (she said it was pure pleasure creating such a tasty and beautiful dish that came straight from her property).

As I ate, it occurred to me that while we all know gardening is one obvious way we can deal with the rising cost of food today, maybe not everyone knows that even without an actual vegetable garden, it’s still possible to enjoy next-to-no-cost healthy salads.


The key is knowing how to forage. Your yard, flower beds, and surrounding areas hold a wealth of tasty and nutritious, edible plants. Of course, it goes without saying that you also should NEVER use pesticides or other chemicals on any part of any plant that produces leaves or blossoms you plan to eat. NEVER harvest plants growing along a roadside. Identify the plant exactly and eat ONLY the edible parts of those plants.

And use foraged plants sparingly in your recipes due to the digestive complications that can occur with a large consumption rate.

This said, let’s start with edible weeds and wild greens. You might want to save some when doing your weekly weeding:

BURDOCK: roots

CHICKWEED: young shoots and tender tips of shoots

CHICORY: leaves and roots

CREEPING CHARLIE: leaves; often used in teas


DANDELIONS: leaves, roots, and flowers

GARLIC MUSTARD: roots and young leaves

JAPANESE KNOTWEED: young shoots less than 8 inches and stems (do not eat mature leaves) LAMBSQUARTERS: leaves and stems

LITTLE BITTERCRESS or SHOTWEED: whole plant

NETTLES: young leaves (must be cooked thoroughly)

PIGWEED: leaves and seeds

PLANTAIN: leaves (remove stems) and seeds

PURSLANE: leaves, stems, and seeds

SHEEP’S SORREL: leaves


VIOLETS: young leaves and flowers

WILD GARLIC: leaves and roots

And then there are edible flowers to add to the mix. Most herb flowers have a taste that’s similar to the leaf, but spicier. For instance:

TUBEROUS BEGONIAS: leaves, flowers, and stems; blossoms have a citrus-sour taste; stems can be used in place of rhubarb; flowers and stems contain oxalic acid and should be avoided by anyone suffering from gout, kidney stones, or rheumatism.

CALENDULA: petals only; flavors range from spicy to bitter, tangy to peppery

CARNATIONS, also called DIANTHUS: petals; surprisingly sweet flavor

CHRYSANTHEMUMS: petals, young leaves; tangy, slightly bitter flavor or faint peppery to mild cauliflower

CLOVER: blossoms sweet, anise-like or licorice flavor

CORNFLOWER, also called BACHELOR’S BUTTON: blossoms; slightly sweet to spicy, clove-like flavor

DAME’S ROCKET also called SWEET ROCKET or DAME’S VIOLET: blossoms, leaves, seeds (when sprouted); fairly bitter taste


DANDELIONS: young blossoms; sweet, honey-like flavor

DAY LILIES: petals; slightly sweet with a mild vegetable flavor, like sweet lettuce or melon; note: day lilies may act as a diuretic or laxative; eat in moderation

ENGLISH DAISY: blossoms; a mildly bitter taste; commonly used as a garnish

FUCHSIA: blossoms and berries: a slightly acidic flavor

GARDEN SORREL: blossoms; a tart, lemony flavor

GLADIOLUS: blossoms (with anthers removed); nondescript flavor (vaguely like lettuce)

HIBISCUS: blossoms; cranberry-like flavor with citrus overtones

HOLLYHOCK: blossoms; very bland tasting flavor

HONEYSUCKLE: blossoms, NEVER the berries (they’re highly poisonous); sweet honey flavor

IMPATIENS: blossoms; a sweet flavor

JOHHNY JUMP-UPS: blossoms; mild wintergreen flavor

LILAC: blossoms; slightly bitter, distinct lemony taste with floral, pungent overtones

LINDEN: blossoms; honey-like flavor; NOTE: frequent consumption of linden flower tea can cause heart damage

MARIGOLD: blossoms; citrus flavor; can be used as a substitute for saffron

NASTURTIUMS: blossoms, leaves, seed pods (when pickled are a substitute for capers); peppery flavor

PANSY: blossoms; slightly sweet green or grassy flavor

PERRENIAL PHLOX (the high-growing variety, and not the annual): blossoms; slightly spicy taste


PRIMROSE: blossoms; sweet, but bland taste

ROSES: blossoms; flavors depend on type, color, and soil conditions; flavor reminiscent of strawberries and green apples

SCENTED GERANIUMS (except Citronelle variety): blossoms; flavor generally corresponds to the variety

SUNFLOWER: blossoms (best eaten in the bud stage); taste similar to artichokes

SWEET WOODRUFF: blossoms; flavor is sweet and grassy with a hint of nutty, vanilla flavor

TULIPS: petals; taste like sweet lettuce, fresh baby peas, or a cucumber-like texture and flavor.

VIOLETS: blossoms, heart-shaped leaves; blossoms have a sweet, perfumed flavor; leaves taste like spinach when steamed

YUCCA: petals; mildly sweet taste (a hint of artichoke)

Amazing, isn’t it, that so many common weeds and flowers are edible? Our salads can reach a whole new level no—and FREE for the taking! Finally, I’ll close with a DIY weed-be-gone made from a common pantry ingredient that can eliminate those pesky weeds between bricks, pavers, and from driveway cracks and crevices.




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    Alice Osborne
    DVO Newsletter Contributor since 2006
    Email the author! alice@dvo.com