Common Non-Edible Plants
Not Edible
While some 93% of plants are not edible this page was created to show some of the more common non- edible plants I am asked about often or have been sent to me to identify. They are listed in botanical alphabetical order. Visit the Green Deane Forum to help get plants identified.
| NOT EDIBLE: Argemone mexicana, the Mexican Poppy, can be yellow or white. Used extensively in herbal applications but not edible. Locally a very limited season, usually winter. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE. The Harlequin Glorybower, Clerodendrum Trichotomum, has a very showy calyx. A native of Asia, Clerodendrum means fate tree, referencing questionable medical uses, and trichotomum which means three trunks, which it apparently has often. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE: Crotalaria spectabilis, the rattlebox because of the sound the seeds make in a dry pod. Quite toxic for man and beast. The entire genus is toxic, from little rabbitbells to the rattleboxes. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE. Cynanchum laeve is also called the Honeyvine. I receive a lot of emails from folks who want to know if this is edible milkweed vine. It is not. The sap can irritate and damage eyes and mucus membranes and if consumed can stop your heart. To read about the edible milk vine, click here. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE. Fatoua villosa, the mulberry weed, an import on nursery plants, was first noticed in Louisiana in 1964. It is controlled by mulching. It can cause mild itching. Also called the Hairy Crabweed. |  |
| Not Edible: Earth Smoke, or Ground Smoke, Fumaria officinalis. The native of Europe found in most of North America has many medicinal uses beyond the scope of this site. The flowers yield a yellow dye good for coloring wool. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE. Often confused with either a Commelina or a Tradescantia is the Gibasis geniculata, also called the Tahitian Bridal Veil though it is a native of Central America. To read about the Tradescantias click here. |
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| NOT EDIBLE: There are many toxic plants and one that causes nearly instant blisters even blindness is Giant Hog Weed, Heracleum mantegazzianum.Highly invasive it can produce 20,000 seeds per plant. Furocoumarins in the sap can cause a skin reaction called phyto-photodermatitis. This causes the skin to be very sensitive to ultraviolet light. It caues swelling and blistering and can lead to permanent scarring. Contact with the eyes can cause temporary or permanent blindness |  |
| NOT EDIBLE: Ligustrum lucidum, the Waxy or Glossy Privet. While there are not human trials to support this In vitro studies have shown that the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum have antitumor, immunostimulatory, antioxidative, antiviral, antimutagenic, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic properties. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE. Lupina diffusus, endangered, also called Oak Ridge Lupine, Spreading Lupine, or Skyblue Lupine, grows in dry areas. |
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| NOT EDIBLE: Wavyleaf Basket Grass, or Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius. This is a a common ground cover locally usually found in shady areas. Originally from Asia it is found throughout the south. Folks are always wondering what it is. Now you know. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE: Phoradendron serotinum, Mistletoe. While Mistletoe has been used in some herbal medications it is generally considered toxic. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE: Ricinus communis, the Castor Bean, is not a bean but it is one of the deadliest plant escaped from cultivation. While there are many species with palmate leaves it has eight radiating leaflets with small teeth. the Castor Bean grows soft-spine fruits with mottled seeds from which the source of the poison ricin. One milligram of ricin can kill and adult. If death has not occurred in 3-5 days, the victim usually recovers. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE: Salvia cocinnea, the Scarlet Sage. It has several whorls of red flowers that form an interrupted flower spike on a square stem. It’s a showy southern native that has a sage-like aroma and is found in the hot sands of the South. Even a small amount of the blossomed consumed can make you quite ill. The blossom is red for a reason. Leave it alone. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE. Butterweed, Senecio glabellus, can from a distance resemble wild mustard or wild radish. On close inspection it does not look like them. The blossoms are not a yellow cross and the leaves are not sandpappery. It is also laced with pyrrolizidine which is an alkoloid that can damage your liver. To read more click here. |  |
| NOT EDIBLE: Solanum viarum, Solanum ciliatum, Solanum carolinense, all called Tropical Soda Apple or Horse Nettle, the first two turn red when ripe, the latter yellow. They usually start out with mottle green fruit. Some are toxic when green, others more toxic when ripe. Edibility is doubtful, botantical references vague, identification difficult. Best avoided. Of the three ripe S. ciliatum, now called Solanum capsicoides, might not kill you. |
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{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
I have not seen any of these except the horse nettle, but we do have lots of the french mulberry growing around here that looks similar to the Fatoua villosa
French mulberry… you mean Callicarpa americana?
Yes… I didn’t know it’s name and just found s but some pictures matching the shrub and found out some call it american beauty berry… It is pretty rampant in the sandy land where I am from, both in the sands of marengo county and the sandy-loamy dirt of dallas county… I have eaten the berries… only 10 or so at a time right off the bush… not much taste to me but a nice treat in small quantities… wouldn’t want to have to live on ‘em… some even have it growing in their yard as an ornamental type bush… not sure if that was on purpose or it just came up and they decided to keep it..
Callicarpa Americana is a popular ornamental shrub here in the UK. I had no idea that its berries were remotely edible.
I have made jelly with the Callicarpa Americana berries and it was yummy and no one died.
dont worry I did a lot of research before I tried it. Thanks Green Dean!
oh… and of course, plenty of mistletoe… i received several kisses over the years under mistletoe shot down with a 12 ga shotgun around the holidays
and I absoutely despise privet… it takes over the understories around here… not letting other natural plants grow… i wish it were eradicated as i have been trying to talk my mother into destroying two of hers planted as an ornamental for years… a few seeds already made it to the treeline .. uggg
Hello,
I am truly enjoying reading through your website. Remarkable work!
One question however: I have found listed here many plants as edible that I have never yet seen listed on other reference websites or books (Myosotis sylvatica for one) and some warnings (Hemerocallis/daylilies-thanks for that by-the-way) that I had never encountered. Being that I am keenly interested in landscaping with edible plants as much as possible, I am left a little confused…
Many thanks for all your works!
Thanks for writing. I don’t use websites for information, except for journals that are posted on line or sites hosted by quality organizations.
Great website, as learning about edible wild foods is something I am keen on…you have a depth of botanical knowledge which is rare these does amongst us mere mortals .Just wanted to ask if you are selling a book about your wild food discoveries and such things, I know that a website is great because it can be frequently updated with info, but books are also gooder!
Cheers and Thanks 4 the site, Dave
Brazilian Pepper: I have seen Brazilian Pepper (Shinus terebinthefolia) listed as an ingredient in a dry pepper seasoning mix. When I taste-tested 3-4 berries and spit them out, I later noticed a dime-sized chemical burn on the tip of my “taster” which lasted for several days. Proceed with caution!
Yellow Poplar: (Liriodendron tulipifera) was planted out of range in my NSB front yard several years ago (maybe 20). After last winter’s hard cold I noticed that it bloomed for the first time in the Spring and again in the late fall! Strange! (This tree is going to be entered my BudBurst records this year.)
While I don’t have much experience with Brazilian Pepper, I do know someone who likes it so I don’t think it is really poisonous. I’ve tasted it and the iron-pepper taste stayed in my mouth for a long time. Supposedly you let them get so ripe they dry out and then you put them in a pepper grinder.
I had someone in my class yesterday who said they liked the flavor of the “Brazilian Pepper” and put it on this and that. Then she used a lot one and got quite sick, migrain, throwing up et cetera. I have an article on them.
I have been using dried, ground Brazilian Pepper corns for well over a year as my only pepper. My two kids eat it regularly. We have never gotten burned nor sick from it as far as I know.
Salvia elegans (Pineapple sage) has red flowers somewhat similar to Salvia cocinnea but with broad green leaves, grows like a weed under the right conditions and is bitter but quite edible. Fall blooming.
It also has a pineapple scent.
Solanum carolinense:
I licked the inner juice from a ripe, yellow fruit. It tasted awful, but.. no ill effects at that exposure level. The darn thing is prolific though with well over 1000 seeds crammed into each fruit.
Location of plants: Jacksonville, FL – Westside Regional Park, Sal Taylor Preserve, and Equestrian Center woods (all on far west side of town).
Hi Greene,
Just want to thank you for your wonderful site! I feel so connected to nature by the information you provide. I haven’t received a newsletter from you yet. How often do you send them?
It was every week, then I went twice a month for a month, and now I am trying to go back to weekly. Its a chore but…
I picked several bunches of wild mustard greens from my son’t garden
I assumed they were safe because he has always cultivated the area and it had a few yellow mustard last year. These did not have the flowers opened yet…. I boiled a potful and when I tasted it was real bitter
I changed water but before consumming any more I wanted to check. I see that there is a look alike…senecio glabolus…which is not edible…maybe dangerous…if this is the case can it affect the other produce in his garden Presently there are many bunches growing around strawberry plants
Mustards, no matter where they are in the world have some flower parts that make them definitely mustards. First the blossom is either X-shaped or H-shaped, four petals, six stamen, four long two short.
The senecios have a yellow dandelion-like blossom, and yes they are toxic.
Thank You for telling me what Senecio glabellus is! I have been mowing around it and checking my books but couldn’t find any mention of it. I am glad I don’t eat what I don’t know but this explains why I couldn’t find it in my field guides!!
Wow ~ I’m so glad to have discoverred your site. I look forward to either a private class, or a group class. Meanwhile, I have what my local extensions office states is earth star; so glad it’s not the death angel. I’m not sure what rigorous process they’d sent it through, but I was told to eradicate it from my yard, and to pull all of my garden veggies from the yard, too, as the toxins could spread it’s spores to the veggies. I’m a bit confused with this, as it’s the death angel that’s so toxic, and I thought the earth angel, and truffles were actually edibles? Clearly, I will not consume anything unless I know for certain what it is, but I’d be so very appreciative to know you’re take on this situation, and by which method I should take to eradicate it? It’s alot of yard here, and I am looking for the simplist and least expensive method. I have fruit trees, too, and am definitely hoping you’ll offer me feedback that the release of the spores won’t be toxic to those, too? These stars or angels… They grow up after rains, atop woods, and release a cyenne pepper like looking powder. They’re are potentially a hundred or so after each rain. Yikes! What do you recommend? Thanks so much for your wisdoms, and I’ll be hoping to plan a class here, and look forward to watching your videos, too. Awesome work ~ thanks for helping make our beautiful planet greener. ~ K. Brown
Sorry, I avoid talking and teaching about mushrooms because of legal liabilities.
Hi Kathleen,
Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Mushrooms, items 362 (Geastrum fimbriatum) and 363 (G. triplex) are both colloquially called “earth star.” Both are listed as inedible or of no interest, because of their texture. No mention is made of them OR their spores being toxic. I would expect extreme toxicity from the Amanita clan (death angel, destroying angel, etc.), including their spores. I used to destroy any I found, when I lived in the mountains in Colorado. In this book, the first 16 mushrooms are Amanita species, nearly all of which are poisonous, many deadly, and the notation is made that many of them actually taste quite good, but some 8-10 (or more) hours later, you wind up deathly ill or dead! Even the ones that are listed as edible come with the warning that they closely resemble toxic species, so it just seems like an entire clan better off being avoided.
The puffballs, on the other hand, are delicious! I have harvested, cleaned, sliced and frozen, or prepared fresh, many puffballs, and the giants are the best – because they’re the biggest! They are also a favorite of assorted bugs (but so are all the edible mushrooms I’ve ever hunted), but the early shroomer gets the shrooms before the bugs have a chance to infest them.
The admonition in some “safe mushrooming” books to avoid ALL mushrooms with gills will cause you to ignore the wonderful Agaricus family – the familiar field mushrooms which you find in the grocery store, both fresh and canned. They are very easy to ID once the cap starts to open and you can see the pale-peach gills which darken to melon, brown and finally black as the cap ages. At the peach to brown-gill stages, the white cap and stem are delicious, with the typical flavor of the store-bought fresh mushrooms.
Get yourself a copy of this book and take it with you – or find someone who has hunted mushrooms safely for years and knows the local edible varieties. In Colorado I was blessed to have a neighbor who did, and she taught me the field mushrooms as well as the edible boletes, which are also superb and can be enormous! I sliced and froze gallons of them one year. Now I live in upstate NY and need to learn the edibles and where to find them, all over again.
I wish I understood why a mushroom toxic or non toxic weighed differently in liabilities than any other of these even deadly plants, which you do not avoid discussions of, but I hope that the presence of such in my yard would not interfere with the opportunity of a personal yard class, in the future. I moved here with the presence of them already existing, and now ~ suddenly, I feel quite vulnerable to this oddity, that I’m sitting on some kind of freakish plane, while my intentions are to seek the most lawful and safest remedy and wisdoms to it’s regard. Please enlighten me with any resources of whom I may turn to for more information on this subject, who won’t shun me in my search to take the most responsible measures. Thank you.
A lot of something that is not edible is… a lot of something that is not edible. I prefer lichen over mushrooms (as a wild edible albeit famine food) because of the 19000 species of lichen perhaps two are bad for you, and of the many more thousand species of mushrooms/fungus some 96% are not good for you. The spread is from nearly no liability to extreme liability. I avoid the issue and sleep well at night. Let those who specialize in mushrooms teach mushrooms.
Thank you. I have absolutely no intentions of eating any wild foraged mushrooms by the way. It’s just inquisitive of whether or not my veggies are safe. With no more furthur ado to the discussion of mushrooms, will you still accept a reservation to a personal class here for the six acres of other plants which may be truly edible? I’ve got tons and tons perhaps, of these growing around yhe circumference of my orchard, which I’d been using as a beneficial garden, and to my surprise, I’ve recently discoverred many may be edibles. I’ll still of course, continue contact with the wonderful professionals at the e tensions office for thier services; and am hoping to if not take a personal yard class, host a group class. I do hope that I have not alarmed you ha, to steering clear. I can rake stars up for the class, at least, and not discuss… Mushrooms lol. Anyway… I’ll be awaiting your reply as to how to reserve time and gather details of your costs and scheduling if you would be so kind. Anyway, your videos are amazing, and i plan to continue to learn by these as well as other authors on the subject, and as the extensions office suggested, is to bring to them any plant anyone hopes to consume prior to tasting to be 100% certain of it’s safety. I plan to learn the plants, eg true dandelion, by as many resources as I can find, then bring the one to them which I feel most certain is the one which is edible, not a cousin or look alike, etc., to learn with certainty that I have the understanding of it’s identification. I enjoy cooking and preparation, though it’s so fun and so awesome to k ow that my food is truly, truly, fresh and straight from natures garden. With over 90 videos which I’ve taken note of to the edibles, wow ~ that is an infinite combination of recipes to craft up. Okay… So, thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule, and I do hope to learn from you, what’s… That ~ that’s growing in my yard!? Much appreciation, peace, and blessings. Kathleen. =D
P.S… I have just today from your videos, recognzed that what I thought were regular trees, might be wild cheery ~ though, I’ll take every precaution first, as they’re not yet in bloom anyway, and wild grapes, which i’d never before thought might be edible. And those nuts ~ that drop of three huge matured trees are acorns, edible for flours. Very fun, if after my continued search I find that there’s not an unedible look alike to those. Beauty berry, plantains, lambsquarters, mustard, cloves and much more, are some other mentions which I will have tons of fun learning “what’s… That ~ really!?”. It’s fun. Just thought I’d share a little on the lighter side. Oh yeah, aha, if you do ever schedule it out for here, Bon appetit! Perhaps some fruits will even be harvesting then, too. Oh, pines and oaks too, and two maple trees ~ if those are maples, and more. No worries if you don’t want to, i’ll keep your videos and other authors and my books and the extensions office at easy access.
Kathleen
Finally… No more… I’ve take. Too much of your time, I do t want to be charged for it, aha.
Hey green, I was wondering if these mushroom type things were toxic our not, sorry I don’t know the name but as a kid in florida near ocala we used to pick them up and squeeze them and a huge puff of brown dust would come out I’m assuming the dust is its spores, but we used to kickem around and what not I just showed my nephew them and he had fun squeezing the brown dust out,but ive never had any problems touching them and just wanted to hear your knowledge on this little plant, its white and small maybe quarter size, grows in the shade usually and has a small hole in the top of its white dry dome, I’ve only seen them growing directly on the ground no stem or really any roots.is like to know what its name is if you know thank you so much for your website and by the way I don’t eat mushrooms
Hi Josh,
Your mushroom sounds like what we used to call puff balls when I was a kid. Don’t remember squeezing them, but do remember stomping on them & watching the soot fly from them.
A few years back I saw the biggest ones ever in my daughter’s yard in Springfield, Tn. They ranged from size you mentioned to almost as big as my head & firm and snow white in color. I left them be because they were not in the stomping stage. Later I was reding in a mushroom field guide that the puff ball is edible ( think the recipe
suggested was to slice them them, bread them and fry like chicken).
Don’t know how reliable this source is. but their beware was to be sure there was absolutely no semblance of a stem or stalk whatever on any you ate because there was a look alike non edible but it did have varying degrees of stems.
Okay, wrapping it up to conclusion then: Plan “b”: i plan to order seeds of wild food foraging varieties, in garden form and labeled, to ensure that what I am discovering in my yard and abroad, is indeed a safe choice, as to not loose precious time in savouring the awesome wonders of delicious natures’ gifts, nutritious, fresh, and a great way to learn thier true identifications, in addition of course, to continuous learning before any outdoor foraging excursions such as the aforementioned plan “a”, saving grace of complexities, and enjoy a genuine and safe, natural wild food harvest.
Many thanks for your inspirations.
Good info! You sure know a lot bout plants!
Can you please advise me if Penstemons are poisenous, particularly Rocky Mountain Penstemon, penstemon strictus? Thanks.
They are listed as non-edible and poor forage for animals.
Great website.! I’ve looked through out the not-edible list and didn’t find the Smilax. I’ve searched a little bit on line and it looks like what we called Zarzaparrilla in Spanish and it’s supposed to have some medicinal applications. Our backyard here at the northwest of Florida is full of that weed and I just wonder if it can be somehow used.
Thanks for your work.
Thanks for your constant attention to the plants and safety issues surrounding them. The information on privet is correct there are many medicinal uses for ligustricum but probably best left to knowledgeable herbalists, taken together with buffering herbs and other compounds reducing any toxic property. Interestingly, our ‘inkberry’ privet, Foresteria was considered a panacea by native peoples. This plant is actually oleaceae, olive species whose tropical cousins like the privet possess anti viral properties.
Hi–I am just learning to harvest wild from my yard in No. California. I loved your video on Sonchus, of which I have a lot. Am wondering about eating roots, as some of it I need to pull up very young? and flowers?
also, how about scarlet pimpernel? In my brief research, I find conflicting information.
many many thanks, Hallie
To my knowledge the roots of the Sonchus are not eaten. I have no reference to that. As for Angallis arvensis,it is used sparingly in salads and as a cooked green. But it is high in saponins and can be slightly toxic and also cause dermatitis in some people. Externally it is used as a detergent, as a medicine expoectorant, diuretic, cholagogue and laxative. It is a plant to be careful with.
hi, i recently ran across a vine that looks like a cross between solanum americanum and the horse nettle. it has the leaves, flowers ,fruit and fruit placement of americanum but has thorns on it’s leaves. top and bottom. the fruit look like tiny watermelons, if that isn’t what mottled means.
If it is a solanum and looks like little watermelons leave it alone. Whether a “horse nettle” or a “soda apple” they are all usually quite toxic.
Hi Ben,
My aunt showed me a plant that appeared in her yard a few yard a
few years ago and asked if I knew what it was. I didn’t but guessed it to be in the bull nettle family. Recently found what the identification might be in Eastern/CentralMedicinal Plants and Herbs (Steven Foster * James A Duke) page 47. It is tagged “hairy nightshade” or solanum sarrachoroides of the deadly nightshade family. Her volunteer plant had leaves very like watermelon, thorns like the bull nettle family, and globular fruits like the bull nettle family of a near lemon yellow color. Don’t know if they would have changed to black as described for the hairy nightshade or not, since she took my advice, which was, I don’t know what it is but my guess is the bull nettle family and unless you want a blue jillion of the blasted thorny devils next year, pick all its berries and dispose of them where they can’t spread. She promptly picked all of the pretty little round lemon balls off and got rid of them. They do have a medicinal purpose but don’t eat them.
Greetings Green Deane
I surfed across your fabulous site about an hour ago and I’ve been reading ever since. I signed up for your email list and I shall anxiously await your next visit to Port Charlotte FL, so I can attend your lecture! (I live near St Pete Beach)
Becca
I was looking at Lambsquarters/Goosefoot information online and I was shocked to see this Wordpress blog had a picture of a Black Nightshade plant and was saying that it is Lambsquarters. The leaf is somewhat similar in shape but the texture and color are different and the flowers are totally different. Black Nightshade? Scary. Never trust one website to tell you what to eat unless you want to die huh. I wish everyone came here first. This site is excellent and very reliable information. Thank you Dean. By the way, cooked up my first ever meal of Lambsquarters today and it was YUMMY!
I’ve been enjoying your videos and website for a few weeks Dean! Very nice! I’ve gotten back into eating my day lillies, dandelions, bee balm, and adding hosta and clover, purslane, etc., as I learn more. My garden greens production has decreased w/ the summer heat so am checking to see if the virginia creeper leaves are edible since I have lots of it.
Oh dear! I don’t know much but I’ve read that some people break out with a skin rash from exposure to Virginia Creeper. I certainly would never try to eat it. I sincerely hope Dennis didn’t.
After seeing Giant Hog Weed, how would I identify Wild Carrot. They look so much alike.
Among many ways Hogweed is huge, as tall as an adult or more, Carrots are perhaps a little more than knee high.
Although Argemone spp. are quite valuable medicinally, its seeds are quite edible. Toasted first their flavor comes out and they make a nice wild replacement for poppy seed in breads and cereals and such.
What evidence do you have for that?
i have questions about some plants that are prolific in m area. Who do I contact with pictures to obtain information on their toxicity.
you are so cool my friend. f only I could shadow you for a year or two.
Toxicity is not my topic but you can post the pictures on the Green Deane Forum on the What Is It page.
“Wavyleaf Basket Grass” So thats what that is lol…
A non-edible lllicium anstum – looks like star anise – tends to grow in Japan. Leave this plant alone.
My husband and friend convinced themselves that butter weed was butterwort and ate several leaves. Both had diarrhea for almost two weeks. I suggest considerable vetting before eating unknown plants. (They agree now but who knows about the next time.)
We have a horse farm in brooksville,fl and our property and adjoining properties are prevalent for soda apple. Is there a proper way to dispose of them, since mowing just spreads the plant? How toxic are these for horses and cows?
I’m enjoying your website!
I don’t know about horses but they think the seeds came to Florida in the tummies of cows from South America!
Hi, does anyone know if there is anything which looks like Jack By The Hedge? I’m pretty sure it’s what is growing up our lane but not 100% and want to make sure there’s nothing similar that’s poisinous before I eat it.
Thanks
Lea
I’ve been reading that Crotalaria longirostrata is used as food in Mexican and Salvadorian cuisine. Wonder if you can find any information in any of your books, rather than just info off the web. TIA!
C. longirostrata is listed in Cornucopia II (page 103) as edible. The young shoots are steamed, leaves a blossoms are also eaten.
You must have a wonderful home library. Thank you so much for taking the time to look into that and sharing your source.
Mr. green, i was ( when i was younger) a bit of a survivalist and took interest in all kinds of edible and medicinal plaints. i used to go out for weeks at a time with a pup tent and a rifle living off the land in the back woods of greensbug Kentucky. i have not been in the backwoods in many years because of my job keeps me traveling. i have developed a bit of a memory problem in my not so younger years. but i do remember studying a type of cherp that grew on limestone rock that was edible,
probably not the most tasty in the woods but did offer some nutrition. i enjoy watching survival shows and picking out potential foods that most will just walk over and not recognise it as food. recently i saw an episode where one walked for miles and could not find anything to eat. but as the cam was panning around i recognized something growing on the rocks that looked like what i remembered as cherp. i may not have the right name with the wrong plaint. i tried looking it up but could not find anything on it or even a picture. would you happen to have any information about this type of edible. it could be a fungus or something else idk. please let me know if it rings a bell. thank you, thurman.
could it be Lichen you are thinking of Thurman?
Here is a link to merriweathers data on lichen.
http://www.foragingtexas.com/2007/07/lichen.html
and here is Green Deans link….
http://www.eattheweeds.com/usnea-food-and-pharmacy-lichen/