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Plants of Switzerland

CH · 46.82°, 8.23°

We catalogue 135 plants documented in Switzerland — 42 native and 93 introduced. Of these, 134 are edible and 74 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

35

Species naturally occurring in Switzerland — best adapted to local climate and soil.

Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Fir Clubmoss
Fir Clubmoss
Lycopodium selago
edible
Golden-chain tree
Golden-chain tree
Laburnum anagyroides
Fabaceae
Grey Birch
Grey Birch
Betula populifolia
edible
Himalayan Ash
Himalayan Ash
Fraxinus floribunda
edible
Hordeum intermedium
Hordeum intermedium
Hordeum intermedium
Poaceaeedible
Italian Honeysuckle
Italian Honeysuckle
Lonicera caprifolium
edible
Jersey Cudweed
Jersey Cudweed
Gnaphalium luteoalbum
edible
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Valerianella carinata
edible
Knotweed
Knotweed
Polygonum salicifolium
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Low-Running Blackberry
Low-Running Blackberry
Rubus villosus
ediblemedicinal
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
edible
Parsley Piert
Parsley Piert
Aphanes arvensis
Lamiaceaeedible
Perennial Flax
Perennial Flax
Linum perenne
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Red Goosefoot
Red Goosefoot
Chenopodium rubrum
edible
River Beauty
River Beauty
Epilobium latifolium
edible
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
ediblemedicinal
Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil
Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
ediblemedicinal
Sandpaper Oak
Sandpaper Oak
Quercus pungens
Fagaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
edible
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Swamp lawyer
Swamp lawyer
Rubus australis
ediblemedicinal
Tragopogon porrifolius
Tragopogon porrifolius
Tragopogon porrifolius
edible
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
ediblemedicinal
Whitebeam
Whitebeam
Sorbus aria
edible
II

Edible for food + foraging

34

Plants with edible parts documented in Switzerland. Always identify positively before harvest.

Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Fir Clubmoss
Fir Clubmoss
Lycopodium selago
edible
Grey Birch
Grey Birch
Betula populifolia
edible
Himalayan Ash
Himalayan Ash
Fraxinus floribunda
edible
Hordeum intermedium
Hordeum intermedium
Hordeum intermedium
Poaceaeedible
Italian Honeysuckle
Italian Honeysuckle
Lonicera caprifolium
edible
Jersey Cudweed
Jersey Cudweed
Gnaphalium luteoalbum
edible
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Valerianella carinata
edible
Knotweed
Knotweed
Polygonum salicifolium
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Low-Running Blackberry
Low-Running Blackberry
Rubus villosus
ediblemedicinal
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
edible
Parsley Piert
Parsley Piert
Aphanes arvensis
Lamiaceaeedible
Perennial Flax
Perennial Flax
Linum perenne
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Red Goosefoot
Red Goosefoot
Chenopodium rubrum
edible
River Beauty
River Beauty
Epilobium latifolium
edible
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
ediblemedicinal
Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil
Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
ediblemedicinal
Sandpaper Oak
Sandpaper Oak
Quercus pungens
Fagaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
edible
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Swamp lawyer
Swamp lawyer
Rubus australis
ediblemedicinal
Tragopogon porrifolius
Tragopogon porrifolius
Tragopogon porrifolius
edible
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
ediblemedicinal
Whitebeam
Whitebeam
Sorbus aria
edible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

17

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Knotweed
Knotweed
Polygonum salicifolium
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Low-Running Blackberry
Low-Running Blackberry
Rubus villosus
ediblemedicinal
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Perennial Flax
Perennial Flax
Linum perenne
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
ediblemedicinal
Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil
Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
ediblemedicinal
Sandpaper Oak
Sandpaper Oak
Quercus pungens
Fagaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Swamp lawyer
Swamp lawyer
Rubus australis
ediblemedicinal
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
ediblemedicinal
V

Could grow here climate-matched · zone selection

24+

Plants that are not yet recorded with a Switzerland distribution but match the local hardiness zones. Useful for foragers expanding the catalog and gardeners planning what to plant.

Acer argutum
Acer argutum
Sapindaceaeediblemedicinal
Acer distylum
Acer distylum
Sapindaceaeediblemedicinal
Aconitum heterophyllum
Aconitum heterophyllum
Aconitum heterophyllum
ediblemedicinal
Aconitum multifidum
Aconitum multifidum
Aconitum multifidum
Ranunculaceaeediblemedicinal
Aconitum violaceum
Aconitum violaceum
Aconitum violaceum
ediblemedicinal
Adam's Needle
Adam's Needle
Yucca smalliana
ediblemedicinal
Adenophora denticulata
Adenophora denticulata
Adenophora denticulata
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adenophora lamarkii
Adenophora lamarkii
Adenophora lamarkii
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adenophora liliifolia
Adenophora liliifolia
Adenophora liliifolia
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adenophora remotiflora
Adenophora remotiflora
Adenophora remotiflora
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adria Bellflower
Adria Bellflower
Campanula portenschlagiana
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adriatic Bellflower
Adriatic Bellflower
Campanula fenestrellata
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adriatic Bellflower
Adriatic Bellflower
Campanula garganica
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Alchemilla alpina
Alchemilla alpina
Alchemilla alpina
ediblemedicinal
Alecost
Alecost
Tanacetum balsamita
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Aleppo Oak
Aleppo Oak
Quercus infectoria
ediblemedicinal
Aleutian ragwort
Aleutian ragwort
Senecio cannabifolius
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Alfalfa
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
ediblemedicinal
Aligator Juniper
Aligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
Pinaceaeediblemedicinal
Alleghany Blackberry
Alleghany Blackberry
Rubus allegheniensis
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Allegheny Barberry
Allegheny Barberry
Berberis canadensis
ediblemedicinal
Allegheny Plum
Allegheny Plum
Prunus alleghaniensis
ediblemedicinal
Allium acuminatum
Allium acuminatum
Allium acuminatum
ediblemedicinal
Allium aflatunense
Allium aflatunense
Allium aflatunense
ediblemedicinal
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Switzerland?

135 speciess — 42 native and 93 introduced. Of these, 134 are edible and 74 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Switzerland?

Common edible species include Amaranthus campestris, Arrow Head, Bath Asparagus, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Black Mustard. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Switzerland?

74 medicinal plants catalogued for Switzerland, including Black Mustard, Blackberry, Bulbous Buttercup, Catmint, Chinese Artichoke.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

Other europe

Andorra
AD
Albania
AL
Austria
AT
Bosnia and Herzegovina
BA
Belgium
BE
Bulgaria
BG
Belarus
BY
Cyprus
CY
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