Plant ID Pages

Plant ID Pages

Plant ID Pages

Hummingbird moth with bee balm blossom
Hummingbird moth with bee balm blossom

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)


Springtime sparkle. Edible flowers, pickled pods, and heart-shaped leaves..

What It Is

Redbud is one of the first trees to bloom each spring, covering its bare branches with bright pink-purple flowers before the leaves appear. Native to much of eastern and central North America, it’s also a popular yard and park planting. Both blossoms and young pods are edible, offering multiple harvests from a single tree.


Springtime sparkle. Edible flowers, pickled pods, and heart-shaped leaves..

What It Is

Redbud is one of the first trees to bloom each spring, covering its bare branches with bright pink-purple flowers before the leaves appear. Native to much of eastern and central North America, it’s also a popular yard and park planting. Both blossoms and young pods are edible, offering multiple harvests from a single tree.

Use It Like This

Leaves

  • Add young greens to soups or stir-fries.

  • Blend with lemon juice and honey for a soothing syrup.

  • Simmer into tea for digestive irritation.


Seeds

  • Collect late-season seeds as a natural fiber aid.

  • Stir into oats or stews for extra bulk.


Tip: Chew a fresh leaf and apply directly to a mosquito bite — quick relief within minutes.

Harvest Notes

  • Harvest young leaves; older ones become stringy and bitter.

  • Found almost everywhere — but avoid sprayed lawns, heavy foot traffic, or roadside edges.

  • Look for distinct parallel veins and a smooth, elastic leaf texture.


Wild Pantry Snapshot


Plantain is humble, healing, and always nearby. From first-aid poultices to nourishing greens, this plant is worth knowing well.

Students identifying and sorting edible wild plants as part of a foraging certification course.
Students identifying and sorting edible wild plants as part of a foraging certification course.
Students identifying and sorting edible wild plants as part of a foraging certification course.
Group of students processing acorns together during a foraging class, representing shared learning and scholarship.
Group of students processing acorns together during a foraging class, representing shared learning and scholarship.
Group of students processing acorns together during a foraging class, representing shared learning and scholarship.
Fresh wild greens and berries in a wooden bowl, representing the hands-on results of Foraging Academy’s certification classes.
Fresh wild greens and berries in a wooden bowl, representing the hands-on results of Foraging Academy’s certification classes.
Fresh wild greens and berries in a wooden bowl, representing the hands-on results of Foraging Academy’s certification classes.