Horseweed Edible and Medicinal Uses [A Common Weed That Grows Near You]
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- Опубликовано: 8 авг 2020
- Horseweed(Conyza canadensis) is a common edible "weed" that grows throughout the U.S. in all 50 states. Scientifically it may also be cited under the name Erigeron canadensis, and some people call it mares tail too.
The most common edible part of the plant is the young, emerging leaf tips cooked, or dried and used as a spice or tea.
Horseweed is used medicinally to treat chronic intestinal inflammation, and as an antifungal that is active against a large array of pathogenic fungi, including many of those responsible for ringworm.
Horseweed likes to grow in open, sunny fields across the U.S. in dryland region AND humid rainy regions. Hot regions and cold regions. It's not very picky, and can grow in the cracks of sidewalks, or severely nutrient poor soils. It usually can be found in areas that have had the dirt recently disturbed, such as land cleared for construction.
Identification of horseweed is easy once you learn it, but it can be tricky the first time. There are a handful of other plants that superficially resemble horseweed, and it doesn't have any super distinct features. However, like all plants, once learned it can safely and reliably be recognized 100% of the time.
The plant is an annual herb, usually only with one solitary unbranched stalk per plant, but it can branch only when damaged.
Horseweed has lanceolate/almost linear leaves with gently and irregularly toothed margins. Hair is variable from location to location. Some will be hairy, but all at least have tiny hairs around the margin(edge) of each leaf. Leaves are tightly packed along the stalk, and have a resinous, spicy smell. If you put this plant in your mouth and chew it up raw, it will be intensely spicy.
Flower inflorescence similar in shape and appearance to wild lettuce(Lactuca spp.). Flowers small and indistinct with short white petals. Aster Family.
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1:02 Sitting here in my backyard, just lit a joint & google lensed this weed growing right next to me, which is what brought me here lol Well done calling that out
Heard about this plant from Black Forager just yesterday and the same day found at least 5 plants of it on my small property! Bunch of them jist sticking out of my driveway cracks! How did i not know this one my whole life? It was growing right next to my pineapple weed, wild letuce and purslane- which i grew up eating! How did this delicious one allude me for so long
You did not mention the root and its internal/ stomach/intestines/hemorrhoid...etc. uses.
Enjoyed you explaining /teaching about it
I am looking for info. on the root also.
Stem hairs and the tiny hairs on leaf margins are defining features of this species. Perhaps the stem "hairiness" seemed less on the plants in this video due to the maturity of the plants you found? Young plants that popped up in my garden in May definitely had fuzzy white hairs on stems and super-tiny hairs on leaf margins. (Hold up to a bright light to see them - my husband needed his reading glasses, but believe me, they are there!)
The raw leaf flavor approximates the hotness of a mild to moderate radish: Definitely a bit "bitey," but tasty if you like radishes. I boiled some leaves for perhaps five minutes (boiled about an inch and a half of water, added leaves, then lowered heat to a medium simmer with lid on after water returned to boil). Nice! The peppery or radishy bite completely disappears in favor of a nice vegetable flavor, kind of a pleasant "fuzzy" feeling in the mouth similar to delicious stinging nettles (nettles remind me of a buttery spinach). The cooked horseweed was especially nice with a smear of butter; non-dairy eaters could experiment with olive oil and garlic, yum! Now I'm regretting pulling up the horseweed to make room for my vegetable garden. But that's ok, I'll scout some out around town and collect some seeds. Too bad many people are poisoning their land with herbicides to eradicate horseweed, but unfortunately horseweed will often overwhelm and prevent other plants from growing. There are links to scholarly articles from various scientific journals if you do a search for anticancer or cytotoxic properties of Conyza canadensis, though I would caution anyone to consult a reputable herbalist website or book for dosage recommendations; the anticoagulant properties alone might cause a fatal outcome. In the meantime, everything in moderation! (I'll refrigerate and later drink the leftover cooking water as a tea tomorrow or the next day).
Thank you for the information. I wondered how to tell this species apart from other Conyza. The botany term for what you described is called "ciliate" margins. I'll have to look for that next time I see some.
I rarely see any dosage other than a teaspoon of dried to cup of hot water seems to be the norm from my reading & study.
Most common books do not even have that. They might mention... leaf or root is used but that's it.
The roots run super deep. For. Horse weed I believe it will spread without planting anything further
Ive been taking care of one of these for 15 months thinking it was an aster i planted. The thing is 7 ft tall.
Lol, same family tho
Isn't it in the sunflower family too?
It is in the sunflower family. Once it seeds it will die but be careful! Those seeds spread far and wide and it can easily take over an area. While native to North America, Mairstail or Horseweed is very hardy and is also now an invasive noxious weed in most of the world! It is also a major cropland pest, ruining millions of acres annually having developed immunity to glyphosate and increasingly other herbicides as well. Personally I tend to be sympathetic to weeds more then to humans who want to eliminate them, lol!
Thanks for sharing, appreciate, I have this in my yard and I love it
That location looks disturbed to me, likely from flash flooding during a rain event, as evidenced by the piles of exposed sand and the types of plants present 😊
These can actually grow twice annually. Mairstail, which is also called Horseweed or Canadian Fleabane have a lovely appearance imo but is also now an invasive noxious weed in most other parts of the world, and ruins large large amounts of crop acreage annually in just the United States as well as elsewhere. Btw Mairstail was the first weed to develop widespread immunity to glyphosate, and now increasingly other herbicides as well. It is a common garden and sidewalk crack weed as well, -a real surviver!
Common as hell in Germany and an outstanding herb few people know about in my country. I eat it with parmesan pasta, make pesto or make tea with it.
Sounds delicious! I will have to do it with extra virgin olive oil and pasta with vegan Parmesan (I have a dairy allergy). Just make sure it wasn't sprayed! It's Native here in North America and an invasive weed in most of the world including Germany. Interestingly, Mairstail was the first weed to develop widespread glyphosate immunity, and is well on it's way to becoming one of the world's so called superweeds. It is a lovely plant however in my opinion!
Thank you Matthew
I know it as Canadian horseweed in California. Very spicy!
This is one I’ve seen but didn’t know it was edible, thanks!
Great video 👍
I think I just found it in my backyard! For making a tincture, do I also have to only pick the newest parts, like for culinary uses?
Reminds me of radish flavor.
I found horseweed growing in my yard. Since my landlord occasionally mows, we have bushy plants. I broke off the tips, soaked in vinegar water. Rinsed then pureed with some water and froze in an ice cube tray like i do other herbs.
Is there any reason i shouldn't freeze it?
No reason that I know. Thanks for watching!
Can you give more of a detailed talk on this plant. We have Flaxleaf fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) where we are.
This grows all over nyc! Are you located in Phoenix? You mentioned it. I used to love there and wish I was into foraging then... I wonder what grows.
Thanks fir the information. I have it in my garden here in Germany and did not know that its edible. But its autumn now, i think i will uproot before the seeds spread?
I don't understand the 2 dislikes. I guess some people will just disagree with everything anybody says.
Thank you for you story. This plant is common enough in Europe, too and particulary in Ukraine, where I live.
Yes, it is Native to North America but is also an invasive weed in most of the rest of the world. Horseweed or Mairstail is also the first weed to have developed immunity to glyphosate. I say good for it!
I guess i have couple grow very well n tall n i cut off half still growing well. See you guys check there're in my garden?
It is good raw to❤
Kewl video. We have this growing here in west Texas. Ours don't look as healthy as yours, but eh, desert. he he... We're going to pull a bunch for compost soon.
Why tho when u can harvest dry and put in a jar to use for seasoning in chili or cooking
Why would you say not to eat it raw. It’s not stronger than arugula and tastes delicious in a salad. Cooking it will kill its medicinal properties.
gd one
grows in europe as well.
Mairstail or Horseweed is considered an invasive noxious weed in most of the world outside of North America where it is Native to. Mairstail has also developed substantial herbicide immunity especially to glyphosate and has become a major cropland and garden pest since 1980. Personally, I think it is lovely looking and say good for it! lol
That’s not what we call horseweed
What do you call Horseweed then? There are a couple of closely related attorneys species native to South America sometimes called Horseweed as well. All are highly weedy and invasive outside their native range and very weedy within it as well.
I think i miased the medicinal parts. But i did get its spicy
Can I smoke it tho
Hi can we make the horseweed root as a tea ? benefits of the root and how many gram a day (leaf and root) can we eat daily? .Thank you for your help and sharing
I do not know about the root being used. I only use the leaves sparingly as a spice or in tea.
Have heard of root for internal - stomach, intestines, hemmoroids...etc.
Been looking for dosage too.
The norm is a teaspoon to cup of hot water. But have not seen how often to use for this type & part of plant .
I have a similar plant in my yard with wider leaves , I thought it was maybe mugwort but the seak app says horseweed ?? Do you think it's still edible ??
What "seek" app ?
Thank you
@@richardramey5943 It is an app people can put on their phones that identifies plants. pretty cool , if you have a smart phone.
Not sure but there is a related species (not as common) similar looking but with wider leaves from South America as apposed to the North American Horseweed. There is also the closely related and even more weedy Hairy Fleabane also from South America, which looks similar to Canadian Fleabane or Mairstail (also called Horseweed) but has even thinner and gray blue green darker colored leaves and is more typically smaller and multi branched.
Where can l buy horse weed
Okay why would you want to buy something that grows wild everywhere and is free.
Probably in your back yard. Go for a nature walk.
You cannot buy Horseweed! lol It's a prolific invasive weed in most of the world and is highly weedy in it's native range in North America as well. But it should be very easy for you to find and plant some if you like, -it grows all over the place! Make sure to identify it good though as it can be confused with the similer looking hairy Fleabane which is shorter with more blue green leaves. Also make sure any you harvist hasn't been sprayed with herbicides first!
what were the medicinal uses as implied by the video's title....smh
like 200
You stayed a another name
I am inundated w horeseweed I HATE THEM 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Well, It's an invasive noxious weed in most of the world despite its good qualities. It's also very weedy within it's native North American range as well where it has become far more common over the last century do to human caused environmental disturbance. Horseweed is now generally immune to glyphosate and was the first weed to become so. Mairstail or Horseweed is also a major cropland pest and ruins millions of acres annually. Otherwise a lovely plant though! lol
I don't understand the 2 dislikes. I guess some people will just disagree with everything anybody says.
I've disliked videos by accident before.