Chicory
Cicorium intybus
Identified by its blue flowers. Drought resistant and nutritious. Fresh leaves can be used all year round. Add to salad or steam lightly.
Chickweed
Stellaria media
Nutty flavoured. Goes well with scrambled eggs. Use instead of parsley, High in potash and copper. Great as a green-crop in winter. Add to salads and stirfrys.
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
High in minerals and vitamin A. Add to salads or lightly steam. Use petals as a garnish in salads.
Fathen
Chenopodium album
Also know as lambs quarters. Use in salads and stirfry. Steam and searve with butter. Add to spinach and silverbeet dishes. Highly nutricious
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgarae
Tangy anise flavour that suits most fish and poultry dishes. Add to yoghurt or sour cream (about 2 chopped teaspoons) and use as a vegetable dressing.
New Zealand Spinach
Tetragonia tetragonioides
mild tasting. Serve Steamed
Plaintain
Plantago major: tastier broadleaf variety
Plantago lanceolata: narrow leaf variety
Both can be steamed or added raw to salads.
Puha
Sonchus oleraceus
Also known as Rauriki or Native sow thistle.
Leaves of young plants can be used in salads, or steamed. And of course, in a boil up!
Purslane
Portulaca oleracea
Succulent leaf with a sharp taste. Best grown in a fertile soil. Tips can be cut and used in pickles.
Yarrow
Achilles millefolium
Sweet tasting. Cut into salads or make a herbal tea.
Edible Weeds
Nettles – Tea made from fresh leaves is high in iron. Said to help with joint pain, hair loss, brittle nails. Add to Rosemary for a hair rinse. (Rosemary, Nettle, Southernwood infused in APple Cider Vinegar for a few weeks).
if stung by nettle – dock applied to skin will ease pain.
Puha – High in vitamins and minerals. Also known as Sow Thistle. Rich in vitamin C, copper, potassium
Ribwort – Plaintain used as a plaster to draw out a boil or splinter. Remove after a couple of hours. Used in tea – antibacterial properties. Helpful expectorant because of mucilage content.
