Springtime has arrived at last! Trees are budding, plants are sprouting, and flowers are blooming everywhere in Missouri. Here are three edible plants that you can see all around you, if you know where to look. (Of course, always identify and confirm any plant before eating it.)
Redbud trees blossom in early spring, and their distinctive pink flowers stand out in the forest. While redbuds are often planted as decoration, that doesn’t have to be the sole purpose of growing one. Redbud blossoms are beautiful, but also safe to eat! The tree’s buds, petals, and seed pods are all edible, and have a slightly sweet taste.
Many yards here in Rolla are obviously maintained, but are nonetheless speckled with stubborn clusters of tall, flat, sort of waxy leaves. They’re not a nuisance – they’re wild onions! All parts of the onion plant are edible, and yanking up a cluster of the stems reveals the signature white bulb. If you think you’ve found some wild onions, you can make sure by snapping a stem and checking for the familiar scent of onion from the grocery store.
All three of these plants I’ve found in my backyard, but the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is the rarest. The prickly pear cactus fruit and cactus pads are both edible, but take some preparation, unlike redbud blossoms or wild onions. The cactus pads can be used in salads, but the cactus fruit is more versatile. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, but first the spines and skin have to be removed. Cactus fruit can also be turned into a sweet jelly or used to make candy.