Which parts of the plant are edible?

Which parts of the meadow knapweed are edible?

The leaves, shoot tips and the flowers of the meadowKnapweed. Leaves and shoot tips are only used as additional seasoning in the kitchen because of their bitter taste.

The flowers of the meadow knapweed have no taste of their own and are therefore primarily used as a decoration for vegetable platters, wild cabbage salads and soups. They give colorful salads a very decorative look.

The flowers can be consumed fresh immediately after harvest. But they can also be dried well and used later.

When does the meadow knapweed bloom?

The flowering period of the wild plant lasts from June to November. During this time, the flowers can be harvested at any time. The leaves are not quite as bitter before they bloom and should therefore only be picked until they bloom.

If the bitter taste doesn't bother you, the leaves can of course also be collected later.

Meadow knapweed as fodder

Meadow knapweeds are often found in meadows and pastures. They contain no toxins and can therefore be eaten by grazing animals without hesitation.

However, the plants are usually spurned because the taste is simply too bitter.

Meadow knapweed as a medicinal plant

An extract can be obtained from the leaves of the meadow knapweed. It was previously used for eye diseases.

The roots were also once used for medicinal purposes. Due to the high bitter content, the root has a diuretic and digestive effect. It was also given to strengthen the general well-being.

Good bee pasture and hop substitute

The meadow knapweed is loved by bees and in nature Bumblebees approached. It is therefore considered good Bee pasture.

The leaves and shoot tips of the meadow knapweed contain a lot of bitter substances. They used to be collected from August to September and used as a substitute for hops for brewing beer.