Stachys sylvatica edible weed

 Stachys sylvatica (Hedge Woundwort, Whitespot, Hedge Nettle) is a common weed in Wellington and many other parts of New Zealand (1). 

There are not many references to it being used as food but Couplan (2) states the young leaves of all Stachys are edible raw or cooked, stating Stachys sylvatica has been eaten in Europe, recommending the taste of the raw leaves after being crushed for a few minutes.

I find the leaves unpalatable raw (without crushing) but after boiling for four minutes they loose most of their kick and are pretty good, with only a slight attitude some might not like much but which I enjoy. I have eaten the large mature leaves boiled in quantity hundreds of times. 

I find it is worth allowing this perennial shade loving weed to grow in the food garden as it is quite productive and can be continuously harvested a few leaves at at time without killing the plant. It grows up to 1 meter tall and does not usually cause much trouble to neighboring plants.

Reference

1) An Illustrated Guide to Common Weeds of New Zealand. Ian Popay, Paul Champion, Trevor James. 2004.

2) The Encylopedia of Edible Plants of North America. Nature's Green Feast. Francois Couplan. 1998. 

Oenanthe javanica, productive, low toil, crop

I've found the plant Oenanthe javanica (Water Dropwort, Vietnamese Celery, Water Celery) to be a highly productive perennial crop in my temperate garden, so far, I've found only Vietnamese Mint (Persicaria odorata) to be more productive and tasty.  Leaves grow back quickly after picking and it spreads quickly. It can be continuously harvested over spring, summer and autumn, much less productive in winter. I grow it in tubs as an aquatic, I have also noticed it escape into moderately moist soil nearby in the garden.

It will grow in full sun but growth is more luxuriant and leaves are noticeably softer and better to eat with some shade, 2-3 hours direct sun a day seems to be optimal.

The stems and leaves have a pleasant taste, somewhat like carrot, also seem somewhat metallic or mineral to me, in a good way. I don't think I have encountered the "white floating rhizome" which has been valued highly as food (1). I have encountered what looks to me more like a modified stem, pale green, running along the surface of the soil under the water spreading out roots as it goes, it has the same taste and texture as the stems.

I rarely if ever have to weed the tubs with this plant in it, it tends to monopolize an area, at least when grown in water (in Wellington, New Zealand). Seems like a perfect "low toil" species, requiring little or no care, ideal for "modern" gardeners, generally less accustomed to physical work than their ancestors.

Suitable for a small space such as an apartment balcony.

Government conservationists have very recently become concerned with the vigor of this plant in native water systems in New Zealand (2). I would argue the benefits of this plant outweigh the costs so hope it is never banned from home gardens. Many perfectly good aquatic food plants are already frustratingly banned in the name of supposedly virtuous native purity. Trying to restore pristine native aquatic ecosystems seems futile to me, the "weeds" have won as far as I can see.

  

1. Edible Water Gardens. Growing water plants for food and profit. Nick Romanowski. 2007

2. https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/123694247/pest-plants-invade-richmond-waterways-go-ballistic-across-new-zealand  

Astilboides tabularis edible

 

There does not seem to be any mention of Astilboides tabularis being edible on the net, however according to the book "Food Plants of China" by Shiu-ying Hu (2005) the young shoots and leaf stems are edible, used like asparagus. I find it has a unique and pleasant taste, raw or cooked, which I'd describe as rather smoky. The very large mature leaves are soft enough to eat too and have the same flavor, I don't see why they are not eaten too.  

It does not appear to be an especially productive crop but is a good plant for very shady moist locations where few other crops will grow. It is often sold in the West as an ornamental. I find they are extremely fussy about soil moisture content.