Wild Edible Plants In Ohio: A Comprehensive Guide Of 15+ Plants

Foraging for wild edibles in Ohio can be an enjoyable experience to source local and sustainable foods. In this guide, I’ll provide insight into the variety of edible plants, fruits, and trees that are commonly found within the Buckeye State. Thanks for following along with my guide to wild edible plants in Ohio.

At the end, I’ll also go over some poisonous plants that I’ve found to be quite common in the state. As an Ohio-born and raised kid, learning about edible and deadly plants is an obsession I picked up pretty early on.

Let’s discuss it! But first, it’s important to clarify that NO online article substitutes for in-person training. Every article online has a thing or two that could be debated. So please use your judgment because there ARE plants that CAN kill you out there!

QUICK LOOK: A Few Resources Worth Sharing.

• Best Edible Plant Books: Here’s my list of the most useful edible plant books. Most of them are what I use for identifying plants in Ohio. I can’t recommend them enough.
• In-Person Course On Ohio’s Edible Wild Plants: At the Pathfinder Survival School, we offer courses on Ohio’s edible/medicinal wild plants. It’s located in Southeastern Ohio.
• Seek App: This is the app I use for an extra safety precaution in learning and identifying edible plants.

What Are Some Edible Plants In Ohio?

Ohio boasts a vast variety of edible wild plants (and they aren’t all boring), such as a juicy and tropical Pawpaw fruit located in woodlands, to infamous raspberries. There are many species to be found across the state for those who choose to partake in the activity known as foraging.

These edibles can offer a unique flavor experience that is hard to come by elsewhere due to their diversity!

Caution must be taken while looking for Ohio’s wild flora: there may, unfortunately, be some poisonous look-alikes (or look-similar) among them, so proper identification is critical before indulging in an otherwise unknown plant or berry (or tree).

I’ll go over a few common, deadly plants in the end.

Useful Tip: If you’re planning on eating something from nature, always make sure it’s identified correctly first – then enjoy your wild findings with confidence! You should have 3 sources of identification (minimum) when learning about a plant.

1. Red Raspberry

• Latin Name: Rubus Idaeaus
• Native: Yes

Let’s start with an easy one…

In Ohio, you can find wild raspberries growing during the late June and early July seasons. Foraging for these fruits is possible with care taken to protect from potentially poisonous plants in the area.

However, if you know what a raspberry looks like (and I’m assuming you do), then you can be pretty sure it’s edible if you find it in the wild.

This delicious fruit offers an abundance of iron, vitamin C, and antioxidants that make it ideal (if you’re fancy) for a variety of recipes such as jams or jelly along with pies and other desserts. There are even wines, cordials, and syrups which use this berry.

All in all, I like to sit there and eat them by the handful, or you can dry them for longer-term storage.

Edible Uses:

• Berries can be eaten raw or dried.
• Leaves can be eaten raw or dried for tea.
• Shoots can be peeled and eaten raw.

The infamous raspberry fruit is the most commonly enjoyed part of the plant, however, the leaves can be steeped to make a great tea. The raspberry plant is super easy to identify, and a very plentiful plant in all parts of Ohio.

The berries will ripen around June through late summer.

Habitat And Notes:

Raspberry bushes love the open sun, so you can find them wherever there are openings or along disturbed areas like fence lines.

2. Mayapple

• Latin Name: Podophyllum Peltatum
• Native: Yes

Native Americans and early settlers enjoyed this umbrella-shaped plant. It is essential to be mindful when doing so. Immature fruits are toxic, but trust me.. it’ll taste so bad at this stage that you’ll want to discard it!

It’s important to collect only the fully ripened fruits as the other parts of the plant are toxic (and the unripe fruit is too). The mayapple is a tricky fruit to harvest, as even when they ripen they’re often eaten quickly by raccoons and other scavengers.

Edible Uses:

• Fruit pulp is edible when ripe, discard the seeds as they are slightly toxic. The skin is bitter so you won’t want it. Fruits will be yellow and quite soft when ripe. Green and hard when unripe.

The ripened (yellow) fruit is edible in small amounts. All other parts of the plant are toxic. Colonies can go years without fruiting.

Habitat And Notes:

You will find mayapple blanketing many of the woodland floors (specifically hardwood forests). And if you find one, you’ll likely find many more as they grow by spreading out below the surface.

It’s common to find large patches of these plants. The Mayapple is common in all parts of Ohio and is very easy to identify.

3. Yellow Wood Sorrel

• Latin Name: Oxalis Stricta
• Native: Yes (Although debated)

Foraging for wood sorrel is enjoyable as it’s a plant that tastes great. The benefits of consuming this lemony-flavored herb are numerous: vitamins C and B-carotene as well as oxalic acid and flavonoids all make up its nutritional profile.

For culinary uses, salads may benefit most with a sprinkling of wood sorrel, or soups could have an extra punch by seasoning them, historically speaking, even scurvy was treated using wood sorrel consumption!

Edible Uses:

• Leaves are edible, and the entire Wood Sorrel Plant can be eaten.

The entire wood sorrel plant is edible, but the leaves are the most commonly used part.

Habitat And Notes:

You’ll find this plant everywhere around Ohio in open areas, gardens (yes it can be a weed), shaded areas, etc. It’s very easy to identify and quite a delicate edible wild plant.

4. Wild Carrot (Queen Annes Lace)

• Latin Name: Daucus Carota
• Native: No

The pretty and fluffy wild carrot, otherwise known as Queen Anne’s Lace, can be used the same way farm-grown carrots are used.

One thing to note is that it’s essential to differentiate between it and poison hemlock—a toxic plant that should never be eaten or consumed for any reason. Both plants sometimes grow side by side when foraging among wildflowers and vegetation.

Identifying these flora accurately before harvesting them is a must whenever you’re exploring outdoors, and many guidebooks help differentiate the two!

Edible Uses:

• Roots can be consumed the same as cultivated carrots. Differentiate between poison hemlock first.
• Flowers are edible.

The root is edible and it should smell strongly of Carrot. Poison Hemlock looks similar and is DEADLY if consumed!!

Habitat And Notes:

Oftentimes carrots grow in open areas and fence lines with lots of sun. For me, this plant grew directly next to poison hemlock in just about every place near where I grew up.

5. Field Garlic

• Latin Name: Allium Vineale
• Native: No

Wild garlic is a fantastic addition to various dishes, which can be identified by its triangular stem and lancet-shaped leaves. When pressed or bruised, this plant exudes an oniony garlicky scent that easily fills the area.

This herb often sprouts in humid locations such as meadows, streamsides, and even woodlands, harvesting it simply requires pulling near the base of each leaf stalk.

Experience for yourself wild garlic’s striking flavor when adding it to your preferred recipes the same way you would store-bought garlic! For me, that would mean using it for everything!

Edible Uses:

• The bulb is the prized possession of the garlic plant, but the leaves are also edible and healthy.

It’s important to note that field garlic has a very strong “oniony” smell to it.

Habitat And Notes:

Disturbed areas primarily. This is the most common variety and you’ve likely seen it hundreds of times. You can find it in lawns, garden beds, disturbed wooded areas, etc.

6. Cattails

• Latin Name: Genus Typha
• Native: Yes

Foraging for wild plants, specifically, cattails found in Ohio, should be at the top of your list. Samuel Thayer (Author Of Edible Plant Books) is known for stating this plant as the “Supermarket” of the swamp.

Why? Because it has many, many uses and is a great addition to your collected food.

Cattails can either be cooked or used as a thickener in soups and sauces much like potatoes are prepared. Boiling, mashing, or frying are some popular options!

Edible Uses:

• Young stems are edible at any time, but palatable when young.
• Roots are edible.
• Pollen can be used as a flour substitute.

Younger stems can be eaten raw or boiled, lower leaves can be munched on and the pollen from early cattails can be used as a flour substitute. The gelatin-ish slimy goo from the plant can be used as an antiseptic.

The flowerhead when mature has historically been used for extra insulation in clothing or clothing items.

Habitat And Notes:

Where there is water, there likely is cattail! Ponds, streams, marshes, swamps, lakes, etc all are abundant with cattails throughout North America and Ohio.

7. Wild Onion

• Latin Name: Allium Canadense
• Native: Yes

Wild onions are a great addition to your meals, providing an onion flavor that is not overwhelming.

Found in wooded areas and damp spots, the leaves of this plant can be easily recognized – they’re thin with waxy surfaces and have a distinct taste plus smell reminiscent of onions.

Harvesting them involves pulling from the leaves at their base the same way you would wild garlic.

Edible Uses:

Same as wild garlic, the bulb is the best part but the long stem and leaf are edible too.

Habitat And Notes:

Disturbed areas and lawns as well as damp areas.

8. Wood Nettle

• Latin Name: Laportea Canadensis
• Native: Yes

Wood nettle, a plant that has some traits in common with the well-known stinging nettles, possesses broader and thicker leaves than its counterpart.

The hairs on wood nettle are still irritating but do not sting as much which makes it an excellent choice for adding to your list of items you can find while foraging.

This particular vegetation is also edible and can enjoy many health benefits when ingested due to its nutritious properties.

9. Wild Strawberries

• Latin Name: Fragaria Vesca
• Native: Yes

Wild strawberries are a sweet, wild fruit that can be found in Ohio. These fruits have clusters of small berries which usually appear as dark purple or black and they inhabit woodlands, meadows, and roadsides alike.

When picking these delicacies from nature’s bounty, it is essential to practice mindfulness by taking only what you need. Keep an eye out for potential hazards such as poison ivy or stinging nettles nearby too!

10. Stinging Nettle

• Latin Name: Urtica Dioica
• Native: Yes

Stinging nettle is an edible plant that can be used in a variety of meals once cooked. This species has thin, green leaves which are approximately 2 to 4 inches long and have a pointed, jagged shape. It also possesses square stems reaching up to 6 or 8 feet tall.

Even though its stinging hairs can irritate when touched raw, cooking neutralizes them making the plant safe and delightful for consumption.

11. Wild Grapes

• Latin Name: Vitis Vinifera
• Native: Yes

In Ohio, I can find wild grapes in parks, near highways, and on farms. These plants have a range of culinary uses for making jams, jelly, or wines.

When looking to harvest these fruits, it is important to be aware of the environment as well as wear appropriate clothing since this will reduce the risks associated with contact with poisonous flora or fauna.

Edible And Useful Trees

Ohio is not only home to wild plants, but also some edible trees that offer useful benefits. These include oak (acorns), white pine (Needle tea), and pawpaw trees (fruit) with nutritious fruits and nuts for flavoring teas or spices.

There’s the maple tree which can provide delicious syrup along with persimmon (fruits) and sassafras whose roots have various uses too!

In this section, we will discuss each of these wild plants in more detail as well as their potential applications.

1. Oak (All Varieties)

Oak trees are not just visually pleasing but also produce edible acorns that can be leached (tannins), and then ground up into flour for various cooking purposes.

The process is simple: start by removing the shells from your harvested acorns, leach the meat by either boiling or straining in a stream, then grind them until they form a fine powder, and sift away any foreign material from it.

Acorn-based recipes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. On top of being nutritious and more calorie-dense than what you usually find.

LEARN MORE: Oak Tree Uses: America’s Most Useful Tree.

2. White Pine

This North American conifer is distinguished by its clusters of five thin needles and smooth bark on saplings. The white pine can be used to create an unusual tea with Vitamin C notes. Making it a multifaceted tree for curious tea drinkers.

I wrote an article detailing all of the significant uses of White Pine (edible and medicinal uses as well as traditional). Here’s a link to that post.

LEARN MORE: White Pine Uses: Medicinal, Edible, And Practical.

3. Pawpaw

In Ohio, foraging is a popular activity to reap the benefits of Pawpaw trees. The fruit they produce can be eaten raw or used in any tropical drink!

Pawpaws are close to being my favorite fruit because they taste so damn good and tropical and it’s native to the area! You have to try one if you have never.

Why? Pawpaws have a very tropical banana/mango flavor profile that you just wouldn’t expect in Ohio.

It’s highly nutritious too. Loaded with Vitamin C, Magnesium, Iron Copper, and Manganese giving you plenty of energy when out on your trip.

Go explore beyond just eating it right from the tree because pawpaws are readily available all across Ohio.

4. Maple

In the fall, Maple trees stand out with their striking foliage and provide an additional benefit, maple syrup. To make your homemade version of this sweetener, you must tap the tree for sap before boiling it down to reduce its water content.

Be sure to take safety measures such as wearing protective gear and using appropriate tools while tapping the trees.

5. Persimmon

Persimmons, known for their sweet and flavorful taste, can be found in many of Ohio’s woods. Typically, they will be in areas where there is full sun. It’s hard to say for sure where they are in Ohio because I have been to many forests where they are nowhere to be found.

6. Sassafras

Whenever I hear of rootbeer, I think of the sweet Sassafras decoction that I made out of some Sassafras roots during one of the survival courses I attended.

Sassafras smells quite like rootbeer once it is boiled down, and it has medicinal properties like aspirin.

So this tree is not edible, perhaps it’s more medicinal but altogether is a great tool to know about.

Ohio’s Poisonous Plants And Foraging Safety

Foraging in Ohio for wild edibles can be both gratifying and renewable, yet it’s essential to understand that there are also dangerous plants around (and more than I listed below). It is of utmost importance to use due care when gathering such produce and have a good understanding of the poisonous species found in this area to make sure you enjoy your experience while staying safe.

In this section I’ll review some toxic vegetation located throughout Ohio, offering general tips regarding safe foraging at the same time.

1. Poison Hemlock

Foragers should always be aware when looking for plants, as poison hemlock can sometimes be mistaken for wild carrot or parsnip. This hazardous plant has a few distinct features – glossy green foliage with lacy leaves, and purplish-red streaking on its hollow stem.

Plus, it does NOT smell like carrots the way that Queen Anne’s lace does, and it is hairless whereas Queen Anne’s lace has small hairs all along the stem.

It is essential to properly identify any potential edibles before consuming them. Failure to do so could result in severe consequences such as vomiting, seizures, and even respiratory problems.

A distant relative of mine died from ingesting poison hemlock back in the 1800’s.

2. Poison Sumac

Found in Ohio, a toxic plant known as poison sumac can result in severe skin irritation if it is touched or ingested. Long sleeves and pants along with gloves should be worn when near the shrub/tree so contact with its oval-shaped leaflets that have smooth edges (7-13 per pair of leaves) can be avoided.

Safe Foraging Tips

To enjoy foraging in Ohio while staying safe, it is important to be familiar with wild plants and edibles. Only consume foods that you are sure of being edible by getting the right training on recognizing them correctly. It’s also best to begin with small amounts when having your first taste of wild ingredients.

My best advice would be to take an edible and medicinal plants class at the Pathfinder survival school, located in southeastern Ohio.

Conclusion: Get Out And Forage For Wild Edibles In Ohio

Ready to head outdoors for some plant-hunting? With caution comes great reward, taking advantage of our natural resources responsibly makes it possible to enjoy delicious Wild Edible plants grown locally.

If you need a place to search, I wrote about some of the best hiking around Cincinnati. Many of the places allow foraging.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Ohio, foraging is a popular activity during the spring and summer months. When it comes to finding wild edibles in this state, these are some of the best times to go out looking for them!

To make sure your experience with gathering edible plants is safe and successful, there are resources available that can help you learn more about how to properly identify wild edibles. Following smart practices while going on forages will ensure both your safety as well as being considerate of nature’s balance.

Foraging offers a great way for outdoors enthusiasts looking to supplement their diets while exploring nature at its finest right here in Ohio! So why not take advantage of all that Mother Nature has made available this season by going out on your hunt?

Best Guidebooks On Wild Edible Plants In Ohio

Ohio’s my home state so it has become one of my favorite places to forage for wild edible berries and plants, I have many different guidebooks to help me learn about the plants in Ohio. Here’s my favorite book that I recommend to anyone interested in exploring the wild forage treasures of Ohio, it’s one of the greatest foraging books of all time.

Plant Resources