Aloe Vera—Aloe barbadensis

Family Name: Aloaceae

Edible: Leaves.

Flavor: Young leaves are mild and refreshing. Mature aloe is very bitter.

Description: Aloe has green, succulent leaves that are filled with clear gel. Leaves grow in a compound pattern and have hardy spikes at every tip.

Uses: Eat young leaves (and the gel) raw or add to smoothies. Use aloe gel to treat burns and other skin ailments.

Nutritional Highlight: Aloe vera is said to have antispasmodic properties, making it beneficial for people with asthma, colds, and congestion. Aloe gel also helps tighten skin and reverse wrinkles.

Helpful Tips: Aloe is very nutritious and beneficial to consume, but it can be extremely bitter and unpalatable. I like to add a small piece of aloe leaf to my smoothies to boost their nutrition. Remember, the smaller the leaf, the less bitter it will be.

ID Trick: Desert plant with long, pointy leaves full of gel.

Blackberry—Rubus allegheniensis

Family Name: Rosaceae

Caution: Please note that chemical changes occur in blackberry leaves during the wilting process that can cause stomach upset. Eating fresh, tender leaves or leaves that have been fully dried will prevent mishap.

Edible: Leaves, stems, berries, and flowers.

Flavor: Berries are sweet if harvested ripe. Greens are mild and slightly astringent.

Description: Blackberry bushes range in size from a single low-growing cane to bountiful mounds nine feet tall. Berries are pebbly and turn dark purple/black when ripe.

Uses: Blackberries are edible and very delicious, with edible flowers and greens.

Nutritional Highlight: Blackberries are rich in vitamins A and C. Perhaps the most promising benefit of consuming blackberries is their substantial quantity of phenolic acids, which are antioxidants known to prevent cancer.

Helpful Tips: Blackberries are members of the rose family.

ID Trick: Black or dark purple berries made up of many tiny drupelets containing juice and seeds.

Chickweed—Stellaria media

Family Name: Caryophyllaceae

Edible: Leaves, stems, and flowers.

Flavor: Leaves and flowers are slightly sweet and juicy. Stems taste earthy.

Description: Chickweed grows in a dense mat on the ground. Leaves are oval and grow in an opposite pattern along long, slender stalks. Flowers have five petals that are deeply cleft, so it looks like there are actually ten.

Uses: Chickweed is a mild and delicious plant that can be eaten raw. Try adding chickweed to your next salad, sandwich, or wrap.

Nutritional Highlight: Rich in vitamins. It has been used to treat bladder, kidney, and urinary tract difficulties. It soothes irritated tissue, which makes it beneficial for cosmetic or topical applications.

Helpful Tips: Chickweed can be easily harvested with a pair of scissors. Simply grab a handful in one hand and use your other to cut it near the base of the plant.

ID Trick: Tiny white flowers with five deeply cleft petals that look like ten petals. Alternating Mohawk hairline on the stem.

Dock—Rumex spp.

Family Name: Polygonaceae

Edible: Leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers.

Flavor: Slightly bitter and a little sour.

Description: Elongated green leaves that curl at the edges. Showy clusters of seeds can be observed growing near the top of the plant. Flowers are green and inconspicuous.

Uses: Leaves can be eaten raw. You can also steam, sauté, boil, fry, and marinate them. Seeds can be used in crackers and breads.

Nutritional Highlight: Dock is one of the best sources of iron, which is great for treating constipation, blood disorders, skin disease, rheumatism, and indigestion. It is also great for cleansing the system of heavy metals. Seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids.

Helpful Tips: Dock is very healing for the skin.

ID Trick: Dock leaves ruffle at the edges. This makes them easy to spot. Seeds turn brown and rattle in the wind. In late summer, if you listen closely, you can sometimes hear dock before you see it.