Edible for food + foraging
28Plants with edible parts documented in Japan. Always identify positively before harvest.
Medicinal traditional + clinical
12Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.
Introduced naturalized + cultivated
28Non-native species established in Japan. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.
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.
Other asia
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