Gardeners Learn About Edible Native Plants

At six years old, Mark Brownlee became hooked on gardening. By age 15, he propagated plants for sale. Brownlee's grandfather was an original "organic gardener" who infused his love of plants in all Brownlee family members. As owner of American Native Nursery, Brownlee offers native plants, mostly from local seed sources, through his Quakertown-based company.

On Monday night, Brownlee spoke about "Historical Uses of Native Plants" at the monthly meeting of the BucksMont Organic Gardeners at the . Native plants are generally regarded as those grown in North America prior to European settlement.

Brownlee discussed the many benefits of native plants: they provide food and shelter to wildlife, they require little irrigation and maintenance and chemicals are not required for their upkeep. In short, gardening with natives will save you time and money, Brownlee said. Ornamental natives such as purple coneflower, sweetbay magnolia, serviceberry and winterberry holly are popular in today's landscapes.

Pennsylvania is home to many native plant species that Native Americans and settlers used for food, medicine, decoration and many functional uses. Dyes, teas, poultices, medical extracts and other applications were common.

Historically, edible native plants were an important food source for indigenous peoples of North America. These plants not only provided sustenance during times of scarcity, but they added variety to meat-based diets. As Europeans settled this county, foraging for native species declined. Through the years, species such as chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) became less favorable as a food source. However, chokecherry was a main ingredient in pemmican, a staple of the Native American diet. Settlers used the berries in jams, jellies, wine and syrup. Today, birds and other wildlife enjoy these delectable berries.

Brownlee asked the crowd if they could name some of our native fruits and vegetables. This knowledgeable group of organic gardeners named quite a few. Some of these include: blueberries, cranberries, elderberry, grape, plum, paw paw and prickly pear. You'll find native stands of prickly pear around the base of the cliffs in the High Rocks section of Ralph Stover State Park near Point Pleasant in Bucks County, and across the river in New Jersey. The edible fruits are a treat for those in the know.

Native vegetables include corn, pumpkin, butternut squash, beans, sweet potatoes, peppers and potatoes. Did you know that cattails are an edible vegetable? These unique nutritional powerhouses, located in swampy areas, provide year-round nourishment. In early spring, the fiber-rich fresh roots (corms) of cattails (a.k.a. "wild asparagus") can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked in salads or stews.

"You can cook the young shoots just like asparagus," Brownlee said.

In summer, the lower part of the stem can be eaten raw or cooked. Many compare the flavor to that of corn. By mid-summer, you can shake the yellow pollen into a bag and use it to supplement flour in pancakes or bread. It's also useful for thickening soups and stews.

BucksMont Organic Gardeners meet at Churchville Nature Center the second Monday of every month. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information visit their website.