List of Plants for Wilderness Survival

Survival in the wilderness may depend upon your ability to recognize the difference between food that can save you and food that can hasten the arrival of death. It is good to know that Mother Nature is actually on your side. According to the editors of “Ultimate Survival,” 80 percent of all plants on earth are edible. The remaining 20 percent is split between inedible but non-poisonous plants and potentially fatal toxic vegetation.

  1. Cactus

    • Cacti offer a source of food as well as water.

      The only good thing about being stranded in the desert is that you run a fairly good risk of coming into contact with cacti. Both the fruits and flesh of cacti are edible and can be consumed raw, boiled or roasted. Take care to relieve cactus of the prickly spikes and needles and remember that this plant is a rich source of moisture.

    Nettles

    • Boil first and these spiky plants go down much easier.

      Nettles are one of those wild plants that you hope you’ll never have to rely upon for survival, but it’s good to know they are there. This tall, green herb is immediately recognizable as a result of the tiny little spikes that make just picking it up with a bare hand a source of discomfort. Preparing this stinging vegetation for consumption requires little more than dropping it into boiling water for a few seconds and waiting until it’s cool enough to handle.

    Raspberries

    • Raspberries in the wild are like coming across a million dollars in the city.

      If you can come across a patch of raspberries during your lone sojourn in the wilderness, count yourself lucky. Not only are raspberries about 1,000 times more enjoyable to eat than nettles, but they are loaded with Vitamin C and help protect against constipation.

    Mountain Sorrel

    • Mountain sorrel can rise from just a few inches to a foot off the ground and resembles a rhubarb that needs a growth spurt. The leaves of mountain sorrel deliver a welcome tart sensation that you may just enough to come back to once you’ve survived your wilderness encounter.

    Irish Moss

    • According to the author of “How to Stay Alive in the Woods,” if you manage to find Irish moss and want to stay alive and well, you’ll need to figure out how to boil it. You can try eating this plant raw, but it will be tough going at best. Tenderized from a fresh water cleansing, you can add it to a soup made with other edible plants to keep you alive and to ward off diarrhea.

    Dandelions

    • Dandelions will also provide you with some much-needed Vitamin C. The greens of dandelions are edible whether raw or cooked. Chicory is a more bitter green that is related to the dandelion and can be consumed either as part of a wilderness salad or cooked.

    Hazelnuts and Walnuts

    • Hazelnuts and walnuts are both quite plentiful in the wilderness. If you can locate an abandoned dwelling for shelter, there is a good chance you’ve just found yourself a steady supply of hazelnuts in the woods. Good news about finding walnut trees is that this is often an indication of nearby farms so you may not be as stranded as you think according to “Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal.”