9 Invasive Species You Should Shove Into Your Mouth

This delicately flowering plant is originally from Europe and was brought over to the U.S. in the 1800s. Its seeds quickly spread in the wind, and the plant emerges earlier in the springtime compared to many native species, according to the Nature Conservancy. This means that its leaves block out the sun for species native to North America, and it drinks up a lot of the soil moisture before other plants have a chance to do so.

Notice some garlic mustard near you? Rip it out of the ground, roots and all to ensure that it won’t grow back. And then make a meal. There are online recipes for garlic mustard pesto, which can be used in sandwiches or pasta. The shoots of the young plant can be roasted and eaten too, almost like you’d eat broccoli or asparagus. Toss them in some melted butter or olive oil and sprinkle a little sea salt for an easy-to-prepare side dish.

This purple-flowered plant may be cute, but it should be chewed to death like the rest of the invasive species on this list. Wild radish usually takes over grasslands and is occasionally found growing alongside the road in states out west, including California. Like other invasive greenery, it takes up space and pushes out plants that are native to the United States. This plant grows edible pods.

Here’s a recipe for pickling that part of the wild radish. Mix, put it in your fridge, and have it for an afternoon snack.

The name of this plant is not exactly appealing. If it sounds like something that causes irritation, you’re not wrong. The little spikes (aka nettles) on these plants can create a rash-like reaction on human skin. There is a variety that is native to the U.S. while the invasive variety is originally from Europe, according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. They’re hard to distinguish, but it’s best to avoid touching either without proper protection.

All parts of this plant are edible with the right preparation. The young leaves can be cooked and eaten. It’s used in soup recipes all over the world for added nutritional value. The shoots of the young, smaller nettle plants can also be eaten as you would other green veggies.

This water-loving plant spreads quickly in the shallow parts of different waterways. Eurasian milfoil is originally from Europe, Asia, and Africa. It looks delicate and fragile from afar. But it grows to create pretty thick mats in the water that it grows in and blocks off sunlight, which then kills off native plants, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Like a lot of the plants in this list, younger milfoil plants can be eaten as a vegetable. Don’t eat the plant if you aren’t sure about the cleanliness of the water it is growing in. But if you’re sure the water is clean, it’s safe to munch on.

Common Burdock is a pretty aggressive plant. It can grow in fields, pastures, and even in empty lots if there’s enough space. It is originally from Europe and is identified by the cluster of purple, thistle-like flowers at the end of the stems. Because it can grow in so many areas, it competes with native plants for space.

The stems and the roots of this plant are edible. They can be seasoned and roasted, like many other root vegetables. Roots can also be boiled before eating.

This weed has lovely flowers. But alas, it must die. It was introduced to the U.S. from Europe and has spread throughout the country. The flowering plant can grow into a tangled-looking mat. It’s found in various environments including stream banks, lawns, roadsides, and gardens, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Foraging blogs recommend eating the leaves in a salad, or cooking the leaves to substitute for spinach.

The autumn olive is pretty cool to look at. It has red berries that are dotted with silver. This plant was originally brought to the U.S. from Asia to help with erosion and for ornamentation, according to the USDA. But it spreads and outcompetes nearby native plants because this shrub produces so many berries.

To help eliminate this invasive pest, eat the berries. They’re described as both sweet and tart. Pull the fruit off of the shrub, and then yank the entire plant out of the ground when you’re done to ensure that it can’t grow back. But whatever you do, don’t spit the seeds out onto the ground. Carefully dispose of them so that more of these plants don’t grow.

As the name suggests, this plant is originally from East Asia. It arrived in the country in the 1800s and was used for ornamental reasons, according to the National Parks Service. Its small flowers allow it to spread quickly, and its roots are pretty strong which makes it harder to remove knotweed plants.

And like many invasive species, it grows quickly and sucks up all of the nutrients out of the soil before some nearby native species have a chance to grow. It also tolerates being in sunlight or in the shade, which makes it an unfortunately sturdy plant.

It’s a menace for gardeners throughout the country, but it’s becoming a favorite ingredient for chefs, Bon Appétit reported. It can be sautéed, pickled, or just eaten raw. For safety reasons, make sure that the area where the knotweed is sourced from hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides.

This herb-ey salad green is another edible plant that is messing with native plants throughout the U.S. Perilla is originally from Asia, and like other invasive species, the entire root system has to be pulled out of the ground to ensure that it won’t grow back. Perilla is also known as beefsteak and can poison cattle. It is found throughout the country because its seeds are spread with the wind.

You’ll especially find it in Korean dishes, where the leaves will be marinated and served as a side. Beefsteak plants make a great addition to a lot of meals (unless you’re a cow). It’s actually sold in some supermarkets under other names like wild basil. But why pay money for these leaves that may be growing near you?