They Invaded the US… and You Can Eat Them: 10 Edible Invasive Plants

10 Edible Invasive Plants - Hidden Survival Foods Growing Everywhere

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What if your backyard weeds were actually edible? From roadsides to riverbanks, these invasive plants have quietly overrun ecosystems across the United States, but they’re not just pests, they’re food.

In this episode, we uncover 10 edible invasive plants that outcompete native species but offer surprising nutritional value. Some were delicacies in ancient cultures, others were wartime survival foods, and a few still appear in gourmet recipes today.

If you’re into wild foraging, survival gardening, invasive species management, or just curious about edible weeds you’ve probably walked past a dozen times, this is the video for you. Learn the science, history, uses, and even the risks behind these fascinating botanical invaders.

📺 Video chapters:

00:00 | Intro
These plants took over the land , and now they’re taking over your plate.

01:04 | Burdock (Arctium minus)
Infamous for its Velcro-like burrs, this root vegetable is a Japanese delicacy and an ecosystem disrupter.

02:47 | Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Often mistaken for native phlox, this wildflower invades forests while offering edible flowers and vitamin C-rich leaves.

04:28 | Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Introduced as a “living fence,” it now forms dense thickets. Its rose hips are high in vitamin C and once helped prevent scurvy.

06:00 | Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Common in landscaping, this shrub shelters ticks but offers tart berries used in jellies and jams.

07:25 | Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Sold as a superfood, this aquatic plant invades waterways while packing a mustard-like punch and major nutrients.

08:46 | Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
A backyard favorite turned forest strangler, its fragrant flowers can be used in teas and syrups.

10:23 | Field Garlic (Allium vineale)
A ship-ballast stowaway, this wild onion-garlic hybrid flavors forager meals while ruining dairy with “garlic milk.”

11:39 | Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)
The forgotten “oyster plant,” prized in Europe, now grows wild with a delicate taproot flavoring stews and soups.

13:11 | Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis)
A fleeting bloom with blue petals once used in Japanese woodblock prints, now edible, mild, and quietly invasive.

14:31 | Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)
Not a true lily, but a roadside smotherer with edible buds known as “golden needles” in Chinese cuisine.

So the next time you spot one of these “pests” in the wild, remember, what’s invading your garden might just be your next meal.

#EdibleWeeds #InvasivePlants #ForagingUSA #SurvivalGardening