Identification Guide for Additionalteen Plants with Violet Blooms
In the world of foraging, there's a hidden treasure trove of edible and medicinal plants waiting to be discovered right in our backyards. Among these are several purple-flowered species that offer a variety of culinary and health benefits. Here's a roundup of some of the most common purple-flowered plants you might encounter.
Nightshade (Solanum sp.)
While nightshade plants, with their small purple flowers, are beautiful to behold, it's essential to approach them with caution. Most wild nightshade species are toxic, and many are invasive. However, with care, you can safely enjoy the fruits of Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) and Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) once they've turned from flowers to berries.
Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
This beautiful purple flower may be considered a weed due to its prolific spreading, but rest assured, the flowers are edible. The rest of the plant, however, is generally not considered edible.
Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea)
A purple-flowered variant of wood sorrel, this plant offers a tangy, lemon-y flavour. All wood sorrels are edible and delicious, and their colour can range from pink to purple, depending on the plant.
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
This low-growing weed in the mint family boasts purple to pink flowers and some small spines. Often mistaken for purple dead nettle, both plants are edible and medicinal.
Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
A primary succession plant, fireweed takes over after fires, floods, or other disturbances. Every part of it is edible and medicinal, with the leaves used to make a tea substitute called Ivan Chai, and the flowers used to make fireweed jelly.
Wild Violet (Viola sp.)
This plant's violet, white, or occasionally yellow flowers make a lovely wild violet jelly that tastes an awful lot like blueberries. The leaves are the most medicinal part of the plant, and they're generally used in salves to encourage lymphatic drainage.
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Also known as creeping Charlie and Ale Hoof, ground ivy is one of the most common lawn weeds with purple flowers. It has been used for centuries as both food and medicine, with its leaves being used in brewing beer before hops became common.
Heal-All (Prunella vulgaris)
This low-growing weed with purple flowers has been used medicinally by cultures all over the world. As the name suggests, it's reputed to heal almost everything.
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
A common invasive field weed with spikes of stunning purple to pink flowers, every part of the plant is edible, though it's not commonly eaten. It's sometimes confused with other weeds with purple flowers, like Blue Vervain and fireweed.
Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum)
Almost as common as dandelions in some parts of the country, purple dead nettle can take over vast areas of lawn quickly. The name "dead nettle" refers to the fact that it doesn't have a sting, unlike very painful stinging nettle. It's edible and medicinal, with the leaves used in salves to stop bleeding.
Notable Mentions from Germany
Researchers in Germany have studied wild herbs with purple flowers, such as the common viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) and purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum).
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