TREES
Acorns have long been used by Native Americans for flour. White Oak species like Bur Oak and Swamp White Oak have acorns that contain fewer tannins so are less bitter than Red Oaks. If you can find them, Chinkapin Oaks are even better. A very natural flour substitute for those with gluten intolerance.
Basswood/Linden, Tilia americana
Sometimes called "bee trees", the late spring flowers are a magnet to pollinators. The flowers produce lots of nectar that make a high-quality honey. The seeds can be cracked open in fall and snacked on like a small nut.
Corneliancherry Dogwood, Cornus mas
Copious amounts of olive-shaped red fruits will cover the tree in late summer. They are tart and refreshing, very similar to a cranberry and make a lovely red jelly.
Serviceberry, Amelanchier
One of the first plants to signal spring's arrival, the white flowers give way to dark blue pea-sized berries that taste similar to a blueberry. If you can get to them before the birds do, they make a tasty pie. Just don't eat too many slices because the fruit also acts as a diuretic.
SHRUBS
Elderberry, Sambucus
Able to grow in deep shade, Elderberries can quickly fill in an understory to replace invasive buckthorn. Both the flowers and fruits are edible. The flowers are what give the St. Germaine Liqueur its delicate flavor. The fruits have long been prized in jellies, wines, and syrups.
American Hazelnut, Corylus americana
The nuts are similar in taste and shape to its European cousin, Corylus avellana, only smaller. Male and female flowers are born on the same shrub so you don't need two to in order to produce nuts, but having more than one puts you on the path to a bumper crop.
Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina &
Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra
Sumacs light up the slopes of Wisconsin highways in fall. If you have the space, Sumacs will colonize and stabilize a steep slope in your own yard. The unusual conical clusters of small red drupes have a citrusy flavor. Place about two cups of the rust-colored berries in a clean pantyhose foot, steep in a quart of water, and sweeten to taste for a lemonade-type drink. Dried seeds can also be ground into a powder that yields a tart flavor which chefs sprinkle on fish, chicken, and salads, basically anywhere that calls for fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus
Revolutionary period Americans used the dried leaves of Ceanothus americanus as a black tea substitute. The small scale shrub will thrive in dry sites, whether in sun or shade, a good alternative to spireas.
Glossy Black Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa var. elata
White spring flowers and intense fall color makes Black Chokeberry a good shrub in the landscape. The fruit is too tart to eat raw (hence the common name of Chokeberry) but harvest after frost to be cooked and sweetened in pies and preserves. The dark purple fruit is higher in antioxidants than blueberries and is easier to grow in alkaline soil.
Missouri Gooseberry, Ribes missouriense
Too seedy to eat raw, the fruit is excellent in jellies. The thorny nature of this Wisconsin native shrub makes it a good barrier to intruders.
PERENNIALS
Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa
In the mint family the dried leaves of Monarda fistulosa, make a tea that tastes similar to Earl Gray. The lavender flowers also attract important pollinators to your yard, so place near the vegetable garden to take full advantage of this trait.
Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich Ferns are easy to grow in a shady location. The young, tender, tightly coiled shoots called fiddleheads can be steamed and used in salads or saut�ed in a little garlic and butter. But be sure that your fiddleheads are coming from Matteuccia struthiopteris, because other kinds of ferns can be toxic.
Wild Leek, Allium tricoccum &
Nodding Pink Onion, Allium cernuum
Use these two types of native alliums as you would chives; all parts of the plant are edible, from the bulbs to the grass-like succulent leaves to the round flower clusters. Just be aware that they do like to colonize where they are planted, so give 'em some room.
Canada Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense
A great native groundcover for shade that also inhibits the growth of invasive garlic mustard. Plus the rhizome root structures have a slightly less strong flavor that domestic ginger for cooking.
WEEDS
We've all got them in our yards, so why not reach for the salad fork instead of the herbicide?
Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
Dandelions are a good source of beta carotene. Just like lettuce, it's best to harvest the leaves when they are young, before they get too bitter. Tear and toss a handful in your next salad. The yellow flowers can also be eaten and make a pretty garnish.
Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata
Garlic Mustard was brought over from Europe by settlers for its culinary applications. However, they probably didn't realize what a huge pest this biennial would become. When you are pulling the rosette leaf clusters from the ground save some for the kitchen. The garlicky flavor is a nice addition to salads, can be tossed in a stir fry, or I've even seen pesto recipes that use Garlic Mustard instead of basil. Again, use the young leaves so to avoid bitterness.
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