Ground elder
Aegopodium podagraria
leaf · herb
⚠️ Toxic look-alike
Never eat this plant unless you are certain it is not its toxic look-alike.
It is an umbellifer, the family of poison hemlock, fool's parsley and hemlock water dropwort, deadly in small doses. Ground elder is recognized by its leaves divided into three groups of three toothed leaflets, its grooved stem and its carrot-and-parsley smell; poison hemlock has very finely cut leaves, a smooth stem spotted with purple and a mousy smell. Hemlock causes progressive paralysis, starting with the legs, up to breathing.
If in the slightest doubt, leave it. If you feel unwell after eating it, even several hours later, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or 911.
Young leaves tasting of carrot and parsley, raw in salads or cooked like spinach.
- Origin
- Europe and western Asia
- Where to find it
- It carpets damp woodland, edges and old parks; in Finland, it is still made into spring soups and pies.
- Season (United States)
- March to June
- Preparation
- Only the young leaves, still folded, picked before flowering, are eaten; older ones turn tough and strong-tasting.
- Molecules
- Beta-carotene (vitamin A) · Lutein and zeaxanthin · Vegetable nitrates · ChlorophyllIn small amounts, not counted Falcarinol
- Did you know?
- It was grown in monastery gardens against gout; gardeners curse it, because it always grows back.