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Sneaky edibles -What are the most beautiful edibles in your garden?

Ac Baker

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posted 2 months ago

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Marianna Marinda wrote:definitely Rose of Sharon; I'm creating a rainbow of this!

I realise, what I grew up calling Rose of Sharon is Hypericum calycinum: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/8994/hypericum-calycinum/details

This is not safe or good to eat!

But are you talking about Hibiscus syriacus: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/40530/hibiscus-syriacus/details ?

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Jane Mulberry

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posted 2 months ago

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Hypericum calycinum isn't edible, but it does have medicinal uses.

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Marianna Marinda

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Location: Central PA, gradually relocating to Central Upstate NY

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posted 2 months ago

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I've noticed visual differences in the leaves, but my plants are not established enough to really make comparisons yet. When it comes to edibility, the very little bit of experience I have is that the texture of mature leaves is too tough to be desirable, so I'd stick to younger versions if anything. I don't have much experience at all with this yet though; I just know enough to place these in my orchard/edibles area to get familiar with as an edible option.

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Jay Angler

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posted 2 months ago

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Marianna Marinda wrote:... When it comes to edibility, the very little bit of experience I have is that the texture of mature leaves is too tough to be desirable, so I'd stick to younger versions if anything...

I find that with leaves that aren't as commonly used as food in our culture, research is my friend. Often there's a time of year they're picked, or specific ways they're prepared that is important to know.

I noticed that I have a volunteer Amaranth in one of my planters the other day. I picked a bunch of the leaves to try, but first I sliced them fairly thinly, then I stir fried them with a couple more common foods, including some cooked new potatoes and green onions. It tasted great! I suspect if I'd simply boiled the leaves and served them by themselves, they wouldn't have gone over as well!

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Marianna Marinda

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Location: Central PA, gradually relocating to Central Upstate NY

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My plants are not mature enough to make much comparison yet, sorry. I just got most of them in the ground this year, and they are small but establishing well at least. The most I have noticed about cultivar differences are all about flower color and some degree of leaf shape or variegation. But not enough info to really post about yet.

What I have noticed is that mature leaves are too tough to be desirable for eating, even if everything else about them would be ideal. Maybe the young leaves would be better? , or the flowers I haven't tried. I'm sure I got my info from Plants For a Future (PFAF), in case you want to check it out, and once they're big enough I might try a few experiments again.