3 Helpful August Plants

Kudzu (g. Pueraria)

Many people are familiar with the destruction this incredibly fast-growing vine can cause, but did you know it also has beneficial uses? The strong vine can be woven into hats or baskets. The fragrant purple bloom is edible, as well as the tips of new growth at the end of each vine!

Broad-Leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Dock is a familiar "weed" to many and is commonly found in yards and gardens. The leaves grow from the center in a large rosette, and are edible when young and fresh. This plant is pollinated by the wind (instead of insects), so the flowers have no nectar!

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

This small shrub-like tree is native to this area and has been an important resource to those living in WNC for thousands of years. Its berries can be used to make a tart drink similar to lemonade or to dye cloth a lovely shade of pink. Tiny, soft hairs on the stems of this plant give them a velvety appearance similar to that of a buck's antlers in the spring.

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