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Plants of Japan

JP · 36.20°, 138.25°

We catalogue 28 plants documented in Japan 0 native and 28 introduced. Of these, 28 are edible and 12 have medicinal uses.

II

Edible for food + foraging

28

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

Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Rat-Tail Radish
Rat-Tail Radish
Raphanus sativus caudatus
Brassicaceaeedible
Redcurrant
Redcurrant
Ribes sativum
Rosaceaeedible
Rock Cress
Rock Cress
Arabis lyrata
Brassicaceaeedible
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix gracilistyla
Salix gracilistyla
Salix gracilistyla
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
ediblemedicinal
Saw Grass
Saw Grass
Cladium mariscus
Cyperaceaeedible
Small Reed Mace
Small Reed Mace
Typha angustifolia
Cyperaceaeedible
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
ediblemedicinal
Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum odoratum
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Sweet Rocket
Sweet Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
edible
Swine Wartcress
Swine Wartcress
Coronopus didymus
edible
Sword Bean
Sword Bean
Canavalia gladiata
Fabaceaeedible
Tropical kudzu
Tropical kudzu
Pueraria pseudohirsuta
Fabaceaeedible
Upland dewberry
Upland dewberry
Rubus invisus
ediblemedicinal
Upright Hedge Parsley
Upright Hedge Parsley
Torilis japonica
Apiaceaeediblemedicinal
Water Milfoil
Water Milfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Haloragaceaeedible
Watercress
Watercress
Nasturtium officinale
ediblemedicinal
White Mustard
White Mustard
Sinapis alba
ediblemedicinal
White Willow
White Willow
Salix alba
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Wild Pepper Grass
Wild Pepper Grass
Lepidium virginicum
edible
Wild Radish
Wild Radish
Raphanus raphanistrum
edible
Yankee Blackberry
Yankee Blackberry
Rubus frondosus
ediblemedicinal
Yellow Avens
Yellow Avens
Geum aleppicum
Rosaceaeedible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
Zhe Bei Mu
Zhe Bei Mu
Fritillaria thunbergii
Liliaceaeedible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

12

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

Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix gracilistyla
Salix gracilistyla
Salix gracilistyla
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
ediblemedicinal
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
ediblemedicinal
Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum odoratum
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Upland dewberry
Upland dewberry
Rubus invisus
ediblemedicinal
Upright Hedge Parsley
Upright Hedge Parsley
Torilis japonica
Apiaceaeediblemedicinal
Watercress
Watercress
Nasturtium officinale
ediblemedicinal
White Mustard
White Mustard
Sinapis alba
ediblemedicinal
White Willow
White Willow
Salix alba
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Yankee Blackberry
Yankee Blackberry
Rubus frondosus
ediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

28

Non-native species established in Japan. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Rat-Tail Radish
Rat-Tail Radish
Raphanus sativus caudatus
Brassicaceaeedible
Redcurrant
Redcurrant
Ribes sativum
Rosaceaeedible
Rock Cress
Rock Cress
Arabis lyrata
Brassicaceaeedible
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix gracilistyla
Salix gracilistyla
Salix gracilistyla
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
ediblemedicinal
Saw Grass
Saw Grass
Cladium mariscus
Cyperaceaeedible
Small Reed Mace
Small Reed Mace
Typha angustifolia
Cyperaceaeedible
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
ediblemedicinal
Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum odoratum
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Sweet Rocket
Sweet Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
edible
Swine Wartcress
Swine Wartcress
Coronopus didymus
edible
Sword Bean
Sword Bean
Canavalia gladiata
Fabaceaeedible
Tropical kudzu
Tropical kudzu
Pueraria pseudohirsuta
Fabaceaeedible
Upland dewberry
Upland dewberry
Rubus invisus
ediblemedicinal
Upright Hedge Parsley
Upright Hedge Parsley
Torilis japonica
Apiaceaeediblemedicinal
Water Milfoil
Water Milfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Haloragaceaeedible
Watercress
Watercress
Nasturtium officinale
ediblemedicinal
White Mustard
White Mustard
Sinapis alba
ediblemedicinal
White Willow
White Willow
Salix alba
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Wild Pepper Grass
Wild Pepper Grass
Lepidium virginicum
edible
Wild Radish
Wild Radish
Raphanus raphanistrum
edible
Yankee Blackberry
Yankee Blackberry
Rubus frondosus
ediblemedicinal
Yellow Avens
Yellow Avens
Geum aleppicum
Rosaceaeedible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
Zhe Bei Mu
Zhe Bei Mu
Fritillaria thunbergii
Liliaceaeedible
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Japan?

28 speciess — 0 native and 28 introduced. Of these, 28 are edible and 12 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Japan?

Common edible species include Radish, Rat-Tail Radish, Redcurrant, Rock Cress, Salix decipiens. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Japan?

12 medicinal plants catalogued for Japan, including Radish, Salix decipiens, Salix gracilistyla, Salix matsudana, Smilax riparia.

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

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