edible trees (not just the fruit!)

Gail H

Seeing the discussion on all the the edible salad greens reminded me of how much my kids loved to snack on young Japanese maple leaves. I looked them up and found this really interesting article.

https://www.americanforests.org/magazine/article/edible-trees-foraging-food-forests/

One that they left off was redbud. The young leaves, buds and tiny seed pods are edible.

I think I'll go poke around in the woods and see what's "cooking"!

Torey

@Gail H Excellent post! Thanks so much!

judsoncarroll4

Neat! I've never tried Japanese maple! I've had pine, spruce, birch, redbud, sassafras, maple seeds... maybe a couple of others... I'll have to try more!

LaurieLovesLearning

If you can get a cinnamon tree...the bark & if I remember correctly, the leaves can be used as well. I ran across another exotic tree lately that is similar.

I think it is so interesting that there are so many nutritious edibles that we pass by on a regular basis and we often don't even have a clue. It is such a fascinating thing and it so much more than just tree saps.

I enjoy all of this new to me information. Thanks!

Melinda

Interesting. Thank you for posting.

Obiora E

@Gail H Thank you for sharing. It did not mentioned Black Locust. If I remember correctly the seed pods can be fried as a fritter and eaten. Also with regards to Slippery Elm Bark, I may sometimes use the powder and add to cornbread batter and pancake batter.

judsoncarroll4

I had my first red buds of the season today! Still just buds in the sandhills of NC

Monek Marie

I love nibbling on red buds. I planted a few more tree so that I can harvest a few more in the spring.

They don't grow quite as rampant here in Pa as they did in NC.

Tave

@LaurieLovesLearning, Nature's Sunshine makes a cinnamon leaf essential oil that is amazing. It has the same antibacterial properties as the bark.

MaryRowe

And slippery elm is not the only elm with edible parts: seeds and young leaves of the Chinese elm ( and most likely any other variety) are edible too:

http://www.eattheweeds.com/chinese-elm-a-tree-that-doesnt-go-dutch-2/

Cornelius

Thank you for sharing! I want to try some maple leaves now.