This article provides insight to anyone foraging or gardening in the Southeastern United States, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. My name is Cheyenne Jolene Yates; I am a forager, ecologist/conservationist (M.S.), and herbalist who teaches about foraging, herbalism, and all things nature. Whether you are a gardener or explorer of the wild, this article will help you identify edible plants and deepen your understanding of Southeast foraging.

What Is a Weed?

There are many nuances of how plants are considered weeds. Simply put, a weed is a plant growing somewhere they are not wanted. That is a pretty broad definition because any plant could be a weed, depending on who you ask. So botanists and biologists have reworked the definition as “a plant that has escaped cultivation”.

Throughout history, humans have attempted to remove unwanted plants to cultivate plants they find more desirable. Throughout colonization and immigration to new lands, people have brought plants for food, medicine, or comfort. As people began cultivating plants on these new lands, some plants soon escaped cultivation and became problems known as “weeds”.

From the broader definition, almost any plant can be considered a weed. Thus, we will need to understand more terminology before we dive into what makes some weeds more problematic than others.

“Native” = plants that have existed historically in North America before European colonization.
“Non-Native” = plants that have not existed historically in North America but have been introduced.
- “Invasive” = a category of non-native plants whose introduction to new environments has caused ecological harm.
- “Naturalized” = a category of non-native plants that do not disturb the balance of ecosystems

As it often is with most definitions defined by science, plants do not always neatly fit these categories. A plant can be non-native without becoming invasive or start as an invasive and over time naturalize to the new environment. Naturalized versus invasive plants are constantly up for debate in the scientific communities so it is good to be familiar with both.

Focus on Non-Natives - Invasive & Naturalized Plants for Foraging

Although I forage for native plants, I like to focus on foraging more invasives to help restore ecosystem health. Again, invasive plants are non-native species causing ecological harm. They do this in a laundry list of ways. Invasive plants are usually well adapted to spread rapidly and aggressively because they reproduce prolifically. Many invasives produce large amounts of seeds, thrive on disturbed soil, and have aggressive roots that take over other native root systems. Due to all of these adaptions and skills, invasive plants can outcompete native plants for moisture, light, and nutrients, which leads to them taking over native species' growing space. Additionally, they often have little to no predators to keep their populations in check like native plants do.

Overall, in an ecosystem, invasive plant growth results in reduced plant diversity and degradation of wildlife populations and habitat. As invasive plants spread, they reduce plant and animal diversity which leads to degraded ecosystems. The explosive growth of invasive plants has led to the decline of 42% of the United States’ endangered and threatened species. For 18% of endangered and threatened species in the U.S., invasive plants are the main reason for their dwindling populations. The big picture is that invasive plants disrupt the balance in ecosystems and leave them less able to withstand stressors.

To restore the healthy balance in ecosystems, it is necessary to remove invasive species. Land management in the United States mainly uses herbicides to eradicate problematic invasive species. Although I can agree with certain applications of herbicides, I also think that we are excessively using herbicides and do not fully understand the long-term ecosystem and health effects of using herbicides too liberally.

But what if there was another way? We collectively can work to use foraging for invasive plants as a way to benefit ecosystems. So many of these invasive and naturalized plants were brought over by humans because they are edible and/or medicinal. This means that many of the plants we view as “weeds” can make great options to forage. They often grow in gardens, near houses, or any disturbed soil, making them accessible to many people.

I am calling for a new way of thinking. What if as a collective we came together to physically remove these invasive species and turn them into food or medicine? We would be able to reduce our herbicide use, feed people, and provide medicines. But this requires us all to individually wake up to the beauty and power of invasive plant medicine. This article is here to provide you as an introduction to some of my favorite invasive and naturalized “weed” plants you can find in the Southeast:

5 Common Foragable Non-Native Plants in the Southeast

Fast forward to the modern day, and most people cannot recognize the plants around them. They often see these weeds as a nuisance to be irradicated at all costs. Each year, billions of kilograms of herbicides are used worldwide to kill off weeds and invasive plants. But as a forager and herbalist, I see the potential for a different way of removing and being in relationship with the land around us. So many of the so-called weeds are edible and/or medicinal. What if we began to see the weeds as something desirable to put on our dinner plates or use as medicine?

Common Chickweed – Stellaria media – Caryophyllaceae Family

While many chickweeds are edible and medicinal, here we focus on the common chickweed, an annual that grows prolifically in the Southeast throughout cool weather in moist, shady areas. It originated in Europe and Asia. Some consider chickweed naturalized and often use it as a cover crop on degraded soils. Chickweed loves disturbed soils, so it can often be found growing in lawns, near houses, and garden beds.

Identification

Common chickweed is fairly easy to see because it sprawls along the ground and often forms thick mats. This plant contains a lot of moisture so its leaves can have a succulent-like appearance. The leaves have a broadly egg-shaped appearance with a pointy tip. Its leaves are oppositely arranged on its stem. And although the entire plant is not hairy, if you look closely at the stems, you can see a line of white hairs. If you gently break apart chickweed at its stem, a thin elastic cord will appear and give you a further positive clue for identification. Chickweed has tiny white flowers that look like 10 petals from a distance but if you take a closer look, there are 5 total petals, each with a split down the middle.

Southeast U.S. Availability

Chickweed is considered a cool-season annual. Where I am located in Central Southeast Georgia, I can see chickweed grow as early as November through April. Its arrival may change year to year depending on how cold the temperatures are.

Edibility

All parts of chickweed are edible. It is best to pick it fresh and use it immediately either raw or cooked. I love to take a fresh handful to my morning smoothies or to process into ice cubes. Cooked, it can be a great addition to a delicious pesto. Energetically, it is a cooling and moistening plant and tastes slightly sweet, moist, and a tinge of bitter. Chickweed is a highly nutritious plant that can provide vitamins like A, B, C, and fatty acids. As chickweed ages, it can get tough and not as ideal for foraging.

Medicinal Uses

Medicinally, it can be used internally or externally. Due to its juicy nature, chickweed can help to soothe skin irritation and inflammation throughout the body. Externally, it is commonly as a salve for burns, eczema, psoriasis, wounds, and rashes. Internally it can be used as a tea or tincture for hemorrhoids, to move the lymph, and as a spring cleanser. Historically, spring tonics were herbs that were consumed in early spring to help the body cleanse itself from the heavy winter foods and move stagnation.

Henbit – Lamium amplexicaule – Lamiaceae

One of the most common weeds in lawns and vegetable gardens. Now found all throughout the U.S., Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Chickens delight in its taste and favor over other plants. Many biologists consider henbit to be naturalized.
Identification & Habitat
Henbit is a sprawling, short winter annual with upright, square, and hairy stems. Its opposite leaves form round whorls that clasp the stem. The leaves are hairy with rounded scallops and heavily veined. Henbit flowers are tubular and purplish-red. This plant can often be confused with purple deadnettle (*Lamium purpureum*); however, purple deadnettle’s upper leaves are triangle, occur on petioles, and are distinctly red or purple-tinted, unlike the upper leaves of henbit. Henbit loves disturbed soil and can be found in gardens, fields, meadows, and even in urban habitats.

Southeast U.S. Availability

Starts growing in late fall but is best for harvest in late winter and spring.

Edibility

All parts are edible. They can be eaten raw or cooked. Blend fresh into smoothies, toss into salad, or add to a soup. Henbit taste can range from a green veggie taste to slightly sweet and peppery.

Medicinal Uses

While more research is needed, henbit is known to have laxative, diaphoretic, and stimulant effects. Additionally, it has been found to help with rheumatic joint pain.

Perilla – Perilla frutescens – Lamiaceae (Mint) Family

Perilla, also known as shiso or beesteak plant.

Perilla is a herbaceous summer annual plant that loves disturbed soils. Originally from Southeast Asia, this plant has been traditionally used in cooking. In Korea, it was sometimes used in making kimchi to provide an earthy, tangy, slightly sweet, and savory taste. It has been introduced as an ornamental and culinary plant in the Southeast U.S. Unfortunately, it has now jumped out of the garden bed and spread rapidly along forest edges, old fields, ditches, waterways, and roadsides.

Identification & Habitat

Perilla is an herbaceous plant that grows from 1-7 ft tall. Just like all others in the mint family, it has square stems and oppositely arranged leaves. Leaves are slightly heart-shaped with a predominant purple-red mid-vein. Sometimes leaves have a purple underside. Teeth on leaves are broad, forward-pointing, and sharp. Perilla spreads rapidly in garden beds, along forest edges, old fields, ditches, waterways, and roadsides.

Southeast U.S. Availability

This plant first arrives in late spring and can last until the first frost. In moisture-rich conditions, it can grow quickly. Will grow in sun or partial shade.

Edibility

Perilla has a strong flavor, and to me, it has a slight licorice taste. It has been cultivated for thousands of years in Southeast Asia for use in various foods such as vinegars and sauces and is edible raw, cooked, and fermented. One of my favorite ways to eat perilla is to include it in fresh spring rolls, it provides a great tanginess. Eat before flowering for the best taste.

Medicinal Uses

Scientific studies have found Perilla useful for a variety of ailments: depression, cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, and ulcers. Additionally, it is effective as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant. Used as a tea in Asia for diarrhea, coughs, vomiting, and fevers. Avoid during pregnancy.

Cleavers – Galium spp. – Rubiaceae

Identification & Habitat

Cleavers like to grow together in dense mats. Cleaver leaves are whorled in groups of 6-8, narrow, and lance-shaped. Their stems are sprawling, square, and covered in tiny hooks. Cleaver flowers are small, white to greenish, with four petals, blooming in spring to early summer. Their seeds are round and covered in hooked hairs.

You can often find them in gardens, streams, forest edges, ditches, and roadsides. They tend to prefer moist and shaded areas or at least partly shaded. They are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. In the southeast U.S., most biologists would consider them naturalized.

Southeast U.S. Availability

Best in Spring when plants are young and vibrant green, don’t harvest late in the season once it has turned brown. For the most potent medicine and taste, use fresh and do not dry.

Edibility

Cleavers can be eaten raw, but they need some preparation to eat in large amounts. Fresh cleavers are great to blend with water into smoothies. Due to their rough texture, it is best to blanch cleavers to soften the hairs and make them more palatable. Cleavers can be lightly steamed or sautéed or added to soups and stews. They do have a slight grassy flavor but they are rich in Vitamin A and C.

Medicinal Uses

Cleavers have been traditionally used as a gentle lymphagogue (moves lymphatic fluids), diuretic (flushes the body/increases urination), and to support the urinary tract, kidneys, and skin. Its cooling and moistening properties help to relieve inflammation, eczema, acne, and psoriasis, both internally and & externally.

For the most potent medicine, it is best to take cleavers fresh. They can be taken as an infusion (tea) by steeping 10-15 min in hot water or as a tincture. For external use, leaves should also be fresh and used as a poultice directly on the skin.

Kudzu - Pueraria montana – Fabaceae (Pea) Family

Kudzu is well known by many Southerners even if they do not consider themselves to be plant people due to its rapid growth and ability to overtake native plants completely. This famous vine from Asia was originally introduced to the U.S. as an ornamental vine and a crop for livestock. Later, it was also intentionally introduced to prevent soil erosion. It has become one of the most invasive plants in the southeast.

Identification & Habitat

Kudzu is a semi-woody vine that often grows on the edges of forests, near roads, and human activities. It has alternate leaves, each with 3 leaflets. Flowers are clustered, upright, and purple.

Southeast U.S. Availability

Kudzus leaves are available in early summer until the first frost. It then will die back to its woody stems over fall and winter. Flowers are available from about July through October.

Edibility

Kudzu has been used extensively in Japan for various dishes for hundreds of years. Kudzu starch, made from processed roots, is a popular thickening agent for soups and stews. In spring, young tender growth can be eaten raw or cooked. Their taste is a mild green bean flavor. The flowers can be processed into jelly, sorbet, and lemonade.

Medicinal Uses

Energetically, kudzu is cooling and moistening, and roots are usually used for medicine. Traditionally, it was used to treat fevers, headaches, stiffness, and neck and shoulder pain. Additionally, it was used to treat diarrhea and hypertension. It is particularly effective at improving blood flow. One of its most profound uses was to treat alcoholism, hangovers, and drunkenness. It can be helpful to reduce alcohol cravings both physically and spiritually, leading to a reduction in alcohol intake.

Foraging for Invasives to Improve Ecosystem Health

We are stewards of the earth and can work together to improve ecosystems. By changing our thinking to view non-native and invasive plants as a source of food and medicine, rather than a nuisance, we can work towards healing ourselves and our world. By heavily foraging for invasives, we would be able to reduce our herbicide use, feed people, and provide medicines. Let’s get together and forage!

Literature Cited

Bennett, C. (2015). Southeast foraging: 120 wild and flavorful edibles from Angelica to wild plums. Timber Press.

Brenbrook, C. M. (2016). Invasive Plants. Environmental Sciences Europe. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 28(3). https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/invasives/index.shtml

de la Forêt, R., & Han, E. (2020). Wild remedies: How to forage healing foods and craft your own herbal medicine. Hay House.

Foster, S., & Duke, J. A. (2000). Peterson field guide to medicinal plants and herbs of eastern and central North America (2nd ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Vorderbruggen, M. (2022). Foraging: Explore nature's bounty and turn your foraged finds into flavorful feasts. DK Publishing.

Scott, T. L. (2010). Invasive plant medicine: The ecological benefits and healing abilities of invasives. Healing Arts Press.

Shane, C. (2021). Southeast medicinal plants: Identify, harvest, and use 106 wild herbs for health and wellness. Timber Press.

Shen, M. et al. (2024). Kudzu invasion and its influential factors in the southeastern United States. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation. 130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2024.103872

U.S. Forest Service. (n.d.). Invasive plants and animals. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/invasives/index.shtml

White, M. (n.d.). Cleavers (Galium aparine). HerbRally.

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