If your yard, like mine, contains a thriving ecosystem of “weeds,” then there are likely to be an abundance of edible plants in it. Here are some common edible plants that are likely to be growing in your yard. Note: I live in Georgia. If you live other areas, these plants are not guaranteed to be growing in your yard.
 |
DandelionAll parts of the dandelion are edible. The yellow flower tastes neutral, and a bit sweet. I try to eat the petals and avoid the base. I’ve also read that you can make a tea out of the flowers, although I’ve never tried it. The leaves taste like some of the more exotic lettuces—leafy, with some bitterness. I have read that some people like to add the leaves and flowers to salads. A dressing will definitely help with the bitterness of the leaves. Personally, I just like to pluck the plants up and munch them. Younger leaves taste less bitter than older ones. Although I have never eaten the roots myself, I have read that you can roast them and make a chicory or coffee-like drink. I’m skeptical, although I suppose if I didn’t have coffee, I’d be more willing to give it a try. |
 |
Wood SorrelThis plant resembles clover in that it has three-petaled leaves, and I have pointed it out to people who had mistaken it for clover. There are many varieties of clover, so it’s hard to say definitively, but around here at least, clover differs in that it has a white stripe on the leaves, and clover’s leaves are more round and less heart-shaped. When the plants flower, it’s easy to tell them apart. Wood sorrel has small white flowers, while clover has larger, bushy flowers. I tend to find it growing in bunches, usually low to the ground, but sometimes at heights up to six inches or so. This is another way that it seems to differ from clover, which seems to grow pretty much straight up. Wood sorrel has a mildly acidic and sweet taste, a little bit like lemons or tomatoes. It is surprisingly flavorful for some little green plant you just snatched off the ground. Sharing it with people who’ve never tasted it before is a treat. |
 |
CloverFortunately for you, if you mistake clover for wood sorrel, you’re still in for a treat. Clover is also edible and actually tastes pretty similar to wood sorrel. Some people like to make a tea out of the flowers, but, like many of the other plants in this list, I like to munch the leaves. |
 |
Sheep SorrelThis plant is easily recognizable by the two “tags” hanging off near the base of the leaf. These protuberances are said to resemble a sheep’s ears, and give the plant its name. Sheep sorrel has a mildly acidic taste, similar to wood sorrel, but I like sheep sorrel better because its leaves are larger and more juicy, and the plant grows bigger, so I feel less guilty about eating more of it. The plant is usually no more than about 12″ tall, so it’s still not huge, but compared to wood sorrel, it’s a giant. |
I encourage you to go into your yard and see if you have any of these types of plants. Chances are, you’ve at least got dandelions and clover! Once you’ve found them give them a taste! Even if you don’t intend to add these plants to your regular diet, I think that, like me, you’ll find the experience of eating something that is growing wild to be rewarding. One warning, however: do not consume any plant that might have had an herbicide or pesticide sprayed onto it. In my case, I know for sure that nobody’s been spraying my yard, but if you’re at all uncertain, just move on. Also, I have read that plants near roadsides are probably not too good to eat, because of all the chemicals they are exposed to from car exhaust.
If your yard is a boring monoculture of a single type of grass, you might now feel like you’re missing out. Don’t worry! With absolutely no effort whatsoever, you can have a yard full of edible, useful plants. In fact, you will probably save time and money compared to keeping up your grass lawn, since you can stop all the work you’re doing to keep out all but one plant.
#1 by Sarah at May 6th, 2009
Thanks for this! I’m definitely going to try to be more aware of what’s out there. Plus, YAY salad when I’m out, if nothing else.
I think I’ve eaten wood sorrel a good bit, but we called it sour grass. That and honey suckle were my favorites as a child. I’d completely forgotten about that until this post!
#2 by Joshua Bardwell at May 6th, 2009
When I was looking for pictures of sheep sorrel, I found a page describing it as “sour grass.” Wood sorrel, sheep sorrel, and all of the other sorrels seem to have a pretty consistent taste. so I think you may be right about having eaten it before!
It’s really fun to me to realize that I’m just surrounded by edible things that are happily growing with absolutely no intervention from me… just doing their thing and ready for me to eat them if I want to. Somewhere, I got the idea that food production had to be hard.
#3 by Linda Thompson at August 9th, 2009
Growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, I also ate wood sorrel, but didn’t know the actual name until now. We also called it “sour grass.” I’ve given it to others to eat and they were surprised at the taste and that you could actual eat “weeds” growing in the yard. Thank You for your web-site.
#4 by Sofia Penabaz at March 17th, 2010
Wood Sorrel is sour because it contains oxalic acid. I am not sure about Sheep Sorrel. Oxalic acid is not good for the liver, in large quatities it is toxic. It will not hurt you in small quantities, however. The author of this blog and a lot of people munched on it as kids. I used to munch on it as a kid, too, the varieties with pink or yellow flowers were abundant in my hometown.