edible plants in alberta

The taste is similar to a blueberry with a hint of wildness. Because it its growth habit is matt-like, it works well as a gound cover. Phlox has five petals, Dame’s Rocket has just four. With some exceptions, most of these plants are perennial which means once given a suitable location within the landscape, they will keep on producing food for harvest for many years. Most children love to avoid the prickles while enjoying a feast of handpicked raspberries on a hot summer day. orientalis) is a type of Russian Olive that bears abundant date-like fruits that are sweet and good fro fresh eating or drying. Should be divided approximately every three years. Sage is most famous for seasoning stuffings and meats but can also be used in breads, cheese, vegetables and to flavour oils. Native to Alberta, they take readily to a variety of soil conditions and are very attractive to insects. Go organic. Parsley is a biennial that is usually grown as an annual. ‘Goodman’, ‘Rescue’, ‘Rosybrook’, and ‘Trailman’ are good eating varieties. Borage attracts bees and butterflies in abundance to the garden. Mature plants will reach over 3 meters while a compact cultivar (Viburnum trilobum compactum) stays closer to 1 meter in height. For a detailed description of fruit varieties hardy for the prairies, check out Sprout U-Pick Apples Farms. The wide variety of mints available offer numerous flavours and uses. This variety of chamomile, also known as Roman chamomile, is much less invasive than the German chamomiles. Highbush cranberry is native to Alberta and produces abundant edible, though somewhat astringent, fruit. Sandra described a number of locally found plants, their culinary potential, and uses for health and wellness. leaves are suitable as a potherb. As a native plant, it is very hardy once established and functions effectively as a natural fence, hedge or screen while producing bountiful crops of berries year after year. Edible products could translate into $2.7 billion worth of sales in the next year, according to Deloitte's June report on the country's cannabis industry. Successive plantings should be undertaken to ensure a longer lasting supply of dill. Most mints establish quickly and tend to spread rapidly. Tarragon has a strong but sweet anise like flavour that is most often used in seasoning meats. When those … The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society hiking guide takes a food columnist out to enjoy a beautiful day in nature. Although not a true cranberry, these are also native to Alberta and produce wonderful tasting fruit (once cooked … Its most common uses are in poultry, stuffing, with eggs and as a flavouring for oils. Some plants produce edible flowers, which may be added to salads or used to decorate foods. Morchella species. Sherwood Park, AB  •  780-410-0611  •  [email protected], #10 of The Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Landscaping by Donna Brown, Bringing The Outdoors In For The Holidays. Both are hardy, drought resistant and very attractive in the urban landscape. will tolerate partial shade. Not only do these selections provide food however, but they can also create a very diverse, dynamic and beautiful urban landscape that will support birds, butterflies and other creatures as well. While these may be difficult to find for home cultivation, the following Alberta wild berries also produce edible fruit: Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), crowberry (Empetrum nigrum),dewberry (Rubus pubescens), and lingon berry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). Most thymes, including Thymus pulegioides are low growing and make resilient and very fragrant ground covers. Lemon balm dries easily for winter use. Josta Berries are a cross between black currants and gooseberry which produces larger, sweeter berries. ‘Beta’, ‘Kay Gray’, ‘Minnesota #78’, ‘Frontenac’, and ‘St. species of Canada, each with a beautiful colour photo and/or artist's drawing. Once used extensively in shelterbelts, this plant is making a comeback due to its highly nutritious (and medicinal) bright orange berries. See more ideas about edibles weed, herbalism, medicinal herbs. The wide variety of mints available offer numerous flavours and uses. Start with the number-one habitat for wild edible plants — your lawn. Young leaves are used in salads or can be blanched and eaten like spinach. For detailed information please see Blueberries 101. I can’t wait. seeds can be winnowed, roasted and ground into a flour. the variety in Alberta is Redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Woodland strawberry or alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) produces small but extremely tasty berries and can make an effective ground cover or border plant. Cilantro readily self-seeds and several plantings can be achieved in one season. Flowers are often used for wine making. Most mints are knocked back every few years by colder winter temperatures. There are three types of blueberries that will grow in the Edmonton area: lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), and a hybrid cross of highbush and lowbush. Based on their breeding work since the 1940’s, the University of Saskatchewan has recently made available a new series of prairie hardy cherries that produce abundant, large sized fruit that are a cross between sweet and sour cherries in taste. ‘Fall Red’, ‘Goodland’, ‘Honeycrisp’, or ‘Wealthy’) to have a supply of fresh apples for the longest time possible. Evans Cherry (Prunus cerasus ‘Evans’) is a very popular, larger sour cherry. The young leaves of chicory can be added to salads or cooked up like a chard. For herbs in Alberta, check out Inspired Market Gardens. Ribes oxycanthoides is the wild Canadian gooseberry that also works well in the urban landscape. Used extensively in Biodynamic practises. Summer-bearing varieties bear fruit on second-year canes called “floricanes”. Native to the prairies, the Riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) is very hardy but produces little fruit. There is no comparing the wonderful flavour of homegrown strawberries to the chemically-fed, commercially produced varieties that travel thousands of kilometers to our store shelves. Plants which produce edible leaves are probably the most numerous of all plant foods. Silver foliage is also very attractive. In fact, most Canadians don’t even know about these delicious and hardy berries, as they are not widely available in many provinces east of us. The following list provides a good start for those interested in having a variety of edibles growing in their own yards, communities or public spaces. Sage is a beautiful plant whose long pale green leaves and white or purple flowers add interest to the garden. Drought and semi-shade tolerant. Fresh leaves can be used in salads and dried leaves make a delightful tea. Two different varieties are required for pollination. Hyssops have a unique somewhat minty fragrance that stands out in the garden. Dried seeds make the spice “coriander”. There are two species that produce somewhat edible fruit: Canadian Buffaloberry (Sheperdia Canadensis) and Silver Buffaloberry (Sheperdia argentia). Flowers and leaves are often used to flavour soups, salads, poultry dishes, and in stuffings. Oregano has more recently been shown to have very strong antiseptic properties. Hyssop is best as a tea when mixed with spearmint or lemon balm. The leaves, seeds, and roots all have a licorice-like tastes and can be used in salads, baking, soups and stews. As a ground cover, it is exemplary, in that it takes heavy traffic well and it survives both drought and extreme cold. While apricots are marginally hardy in our climate, these varieties, ‘Prairie Gold’, ‘Westcot’, ‘Scout’, and ‘Brookcot’ can survive our winters with some protection. Whether you are a seasoned forager, or just enjoy growing different edible plants in your own backyard, there is a myriad of choices of edible shrubs to choose from in Northern Alberta. Fennel grows to 5 feet tall and has yellow flower umbels similar to dill. June bearing, ever-bearing, and day neutral strawberries all do well in Alberta. ‘Early Gold’, ‘Golden Spice’, ‘Ure’, ‘Prairie Sweet’, ‘Summer Crisp’ and ‘Roppo’ are good selections for eating and canning. Wild Edible Plants of Alberta Wild Edible Plants of Alberta This guide covers a number of edible plants in Alberta, Canada including the Edmonton and Most Gooseberries will grow to about 1 meter in height and width. The young cucumber-flavoured leaves of borage make a nice addition to salads. They identify and taste wild edible berries, leaves and plants near the Sibbald Flats area of southern Alberta… There are many varieties of thyme but the most vigorous and hardy for our climate is the wild thyme or “mother of thyme”, Thymus pulegioides. High bush cranberries are lovely plants and can even be used as a hedge, as they grow so tall. They … It is up to the reader to verify nutritional information and health benefits with qualified professionals for all edible plants … All walks 6 pm to 8:30 pm June 4 - Nose Hill, (64th st pkng lot NW) June 9 - Edworthy Park (5050 Spruce drive SW) June 16-South … Such plants include herbs (e.g. Raspberries are abundantly popular in Alberta and there are many varieties that produce very well in our climate. Whether red, yellow, orange or purple, they are all sure to please and they really don’t require much care to thrive (although the deep purple are by far, my choice). Technically Zone 4 but can survive winters with protection. Check us out here for info on cannabis edibles, and other CBD & THC products. They are said to have a flavor that is reminiscent of a blueberry raspberry mixture and are extremely tolerant of harsh winters. acaulis) is a sprawling, creeping native raspberry that makes an excellent ground cover. The flowers of red clover have long been known to have many positive health effects including anti cancer properties. Not only is Betony an attractive addition to the garden with its purple flower spikes, it also has a flavour very similar to black tea without the caffeine. The 2 types that I am trying this year are Tundra and Borealis, which should produce berries in late June and July. It is also used in teas and baths as a natural calming agent. For an excellent detailed overview of these and many other (over 7000!) The peppery aroma of summer sage makes it very popular in the seasoning of beans, chicken, fish and in soups and sauces. Raspberries range in colour from red to orange to yellow, to purple. Hyssops have a unique somewhat minty fragrance that stands out in the garden. This berry has been a staple of native peoples and prairie settlers for generations and their health benefits are many. The slender stems and small leaves of this plant give it a very attractive presence in the yard. The tangy tasting leaves of sorrel and zest to salads or can be used in making sorrel soup. The flowers, which resemble phlox, are deep lavender, and sometimes pink to white. Thyme has numerous culinary uses including flavouring seafood, poultry, eggs, vegetables, rice and tomato sauces. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Before you go and waste any money on less … Great for use in salads, soups, stews, and anywhere else that celery is used. While they may still be difficult to find, the following species may be worth considering for colder climates: (Sorbus x Pyrus) is a cross between a European Mountain Ash and a pear developed in the former Yugoslavia. We have not included lists of the traditional annual vegetables, assuming that most of us are pretty familiar with them (although there are many less known exciting annual vegetables to try out as well!). They are frost tolerant and prefer sun or part shade. Usually hardy to the prairies, oregano is sometimes grown as an annual though it can survive our winters particularly if protected with snow or mulch. English lavender is marginally hardy (zone 4-5) and will usually require some winter protection or a warm spot on a south facing wall. Grow some this year and save yourself a lot of money, and enjoy them fresh off the shrub. Young leaves are the nicest. My favorite is the blueberry and they are actually native to northern Alberta. Great for using fresh in vegetable dishes, soups, stews and stir fries. While it lives it is a tough plant that can handle traffic well. It is also often used to flavour vinegars. Dill grows up to 4 feet tall or more and is best used at the rear of the garden bed. Canada embarked on its second wave of cannabis legalization, which added edibles, extracts and topicals for recreational consumption to the public, on October 17, 2019. It has drooping purple flowers that last for several months. While many species are not edible, others offer a tart flesh that is high enjoyed by many. Shrub-like in growth habit, Sea Buckthorn will require at least 3 square meters for its mature size. If you are lucky enough to already be healthy though, these might give you the antioxidant boost you’ve been looking for. Vines ; Everything from flowers to grapes to the incredible hardy, vigorous and every so tasty hardy kiwis! Most mints establish quickly and tend to spread rapidly. In smaller spaces, apples trees can also be trained along a wall or a fence-line in an “espalier” for a beautiful and productive effect. Goji Berries are another of the newest varieties of berries to choose from. Key selections include: Valentine, Crimson Passion, Juliette, Romeo, and Cupid. Stinging nettle leaves, stems and roots are all edible parts of the plant. Due to its spreading nature, it is best to plant stinging nettle in a confined area. The greens are highly nutritional and best harvested for salads when young. You can choose between low bush and high bush varieties, depending on your growing area, however if I had to choose one, I would choose a hybrid of the two, which grows to about 3′ tall and produces bountiful numbers of bright blue berries. Respect endangered species. This spinach-like plant has deep red veins and is very striking in the garden. Haskap berries are quite new to the scene in Alberta, yet grow exceeding well in our climate. An easy to grow, long living perennial that adds an interesting “spiky” texture to the garden and a splash of purple colour when in bloom. They are often grown as ornamental trees due to their showy spring flowers and their colourful fruit that stays on the tree throughout the winter. Catnip is strongly attractive to cats and should be planted in chicken wire or some other enclosure. Hyssops are said to provide some of the best nectar for honey. Also called “walking onion”, This mild-flavoured, perennial onion develops bulbs at the top of its slender leaves, and not at the base like most onions. The dark blue variety, ‘Valiant’, is very hardy and a good producer. Angelica has a mild licorice flavour and is often used in candies and deserts because of its natural sweetness. Berries are first on the list, because they are arguably the most inviting and accessible way to get started with foraging. The dried roots have long been roasted and used as a coffee substitute. Regular chives and garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) are snipped and added to eggs, stir fries, soups, and salads whenever and onion or garlic flavour is desired. While it is relatively new to the prairies, gardeners have reported successful cultivation of this plant. Thyme has numerous culinary uses including flavouring seafood, poultry, eggs, vegetables, rice and tomato sauces. This perennial savory is marginal in Alberta and needs winter protection to survive. Any place that is regularly cleared is potentially loaded with weeds such as dandelion, chickweed, plantain, wild onion, violets, wood sorrel, henbit, clover, dead-nettle and sow thistle — all of which are 100% edible. While the traditional garden vegetables and field crops can certainly find their place within an “edible landscape”, the possibilities for urbanites to produce a bounty of fruits, berries, culinary herbs, plants for tea, edible flowers, and unique perennial vegetables provide for many more exciting possibilities. Several edible weeds have ‘toxic look-alikes.’ Use a reputable foraging guidebook or plant identification app, and take classes or hire a professional guide to teach you. We are not health professionals, medical doctors, nor are we nutritionists. Service Tree (Sorbus domestica) is a European species of Mountain Ash that features pear or apple shaped reddish and yellow fruit with the taste and texture of “spiced pears”. If you are already a fan of this superfood, you know how expensive they are to buy in the store. For best results, select two different trees to promote good cross-pollination. Be sure the plants … They are frequently used in lotions for cleansing and beautifying the skin. One thing is true of all the varieties of blueberries, and that is the fact that they love acidic soil. Although not a true cranberry, these are also native to Alberta and produce wonderful tasting fruit (once cooked into jelly). Leaves can also be used in soups, stews and salads. Nathan Parks 32 views. Once the bane of the urban homeowner’s existence, the nutritional and medicinal benefits of the lowly dandelion are making a comeback. The plant and flowers are edible… Maybe it's their … High bush cranberries are lovely plants and can even be used as a hedge, as they grow so tall. 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