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Plants of South Korea

KR · 35.91°, 127.77°

We catalogue 50 plants documented in South Korea 34 native and 16 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 22 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

34

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

Red Leg
Red Leg
Polygonum persicaria
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
River Beauty
River Beauty
Epilobium latifolium
edible
Russian Wormwood
Russian Wormwood
Artemisia sacrorum
ediblemedicinal
Salix bakko
Salix bakko
Salix bakko
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix chaenomeloides
Salix chaenomeloides
Salix chaenomeloides
ediblemedicinal
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
ediblemedicinal
Salix nipponica
Salix nipponica
Salix nipponica
ediblemedicinal
Sandbar willow
Sandbar willow
Salix gilgiana
ediblemedicinal
Sanguisorba tenuifolia
Sanguisorba tenuifolia
Sanguisorba tenuifolia
edible
Sargent's apple
Sargent's apple
Malus sargentii
Rosaceaeedible
Scabiosa fischeri
Scabiosa fischeri
Scabiosa fischeri
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Scilla scilloides
Scilla scilloides
Scilla scilloides
edible
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Siberian Yarrow
Achillea sibirica
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Silkworm Thorn
Silkworm Thorn
Cudrania tricuspidata
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax nipponica
Smilax nipponica
Smilax nipponica
Aristolochiaceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax sieboldii
Smilax sieboldii
Smilax sieboldii
ediblemedicinal
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Stellaria alsine
Stellaria alsine
Stellaria alsine
ediblemedicinal
Stellaria sessiliflora
Stellaria sessiliflora
Stellaria sessiliflora
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria
ediblemedicinal
Suaeda japonica
Suaeda japonica
Suaeda japonica
edible
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Typha minima
Typha minima
Typha minima
edible
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Vicia hirticalycina
Vicia hirticalycina
Vicia hirticalycina
Fabaceaeedible
Vicia tridentata
Vicia tridentata
Fabaceaeedible
Vietnamese coriander
Vietnamese coriander
Persicaria odorata
edible
Vitis parvifolia
Vitis parvifolia
Vitaceaeedible
White Birch
White Birch
Betula platyphylla
edible
Wild Soya Bean
Wild Soya Bean
Glycine soja
edible
Winged Prickly Ash
Winged Prickly Ash
Zanthoxylum planispinum
edible
sticky chickweed
sticky chickweed
Cerastium viscosum
edible
II

Edible for food + foraging

50

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

Red Leg
Red Leg
Polygonum persicaria
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
River Beauty
River Beauty
Epilobium latifolium
edible
Russian Wormwood
Russian Wormwood
Artemisia sacrorum
ediblemedicinal
Salix bakko
Salix bakko
Salix bakko
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix chaenomeloides
Salix chaenomeloides
Salix chaenomeloides
ediblemedicinal
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
ediblemedicinal
Salix nipponica
Salix nipponica
Salix nipponica
ediblemedicinal
Sandbar willow
Sandbar willow
Salix gilgiana
ediblemedicinal
Sanguisorba tenuifolia
Sanguisorba tenuifolia
Sanguisorba tenuifolia
edible
Sargent's apple
Sargent's apple
Malus sargentii
Rosaceaeedible
Scabiosa fischeri
Scabiosa fischeri
Scabiosa fischeri
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Scilla scilloides
Scilla scilloides
Scilla scilloides
edible
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Siberian Yarrow
Achillea sibirica
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Silkworm Thorn
Silkworm Thorn
Cudrania tricuspidata
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax nipponica
Smilax nipponica
Smilax nipponica
Aristolochiaceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax sieboldii
Smilax sieboldii
Smilax sieboldii
ediblemedicinal
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Stellaria alsine
Stellaria alsine
Stellaria alsine
ediblemedicinal
Stellaria sessiliflora
Stellaria sessiliflora
Stellaria sessiliflora
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria
ediblemedicinal
Suaeda japonica
Suaeda japonica
Suaeda japonica
edible
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Typha minima
Typha minima
Typha minima
edible
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Vicia hirticalycina
Vicia hirticalycina
Vicia hirticalycina
Fabaceaeedible
Vicia tridentata
Vicia tridentata
Fabaceaeedible
Vietnamese coriander
Vietnamese coriander
Persicaria odorata
edible
Vitis parvifolia
Vitis parvifolia
Vitaceaeedible
White Birch
White Birch
Betula platyphylla
edible
Wild Soya Bean
Wild Soya Bean
Glycine soja
edible
Winged Prickly Ash
Winged Prickly Ash
Zanthoxylum planispinum
edible
sticky chickweed
sticky chickweed
Cerastium viscosum
edible
Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
edible
Almond
Almond
Prunus dulcis
ediblemedicinal
Alpine Sweetvetch
Alpine Sweetvetch
Hedysarum alpinum
Fabaceaeedible
Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
edible
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
edible
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Box Myrtle
Box Myrtle
Myrica nagi
Ericaceaeediblemedicinal
Bridewort
Bridewort
Spiraea salicifolia
Rosaceaeedible
Calystegia pellita
Calystegia pellita
Calystegia pellita
Convolvulaceaeedible
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta cataria
ediblemedicinal
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodiaceaeedible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

22

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

Red Leg
Red Leg
Polygonum persicaria
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Russian Wormwood
Russian Wormwood
Artemisia sacrorum
ediblemedicinal
Salix bakko
Salix bakko
Salix bakko
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix chaenomeloides
Salix chaenomeloides
Salix chaenomeloides
ediblemedicinal
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
Salix matsudana
ediblemedicinal
Salix nipponica
Salix nipponica
Salix nipponica
ediblemedicinal
Sandbar willow
Sandbar willow
Salix gilgiana
ediblemedicinal
Scabiosa fischeri
Scabiosa fischeri
Scabiosa fischeri
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Siberian Yarrow
Achillea sibirica
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Silkworm Thorn
Silkworm Thorn
Cudrania tricuspidata
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax nipponica
Smilax nipponica
Smilax nipponica
Aristolochiaceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax sieboldii
Smilax sieboldii
Smilax sieboldii
ediblemedicinal
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Stellaria alsine
Stellaria alsine
Stellaria alsine
ediblemedicinal
Stellaria sessiliflora
Stellaria sessiliflora
Stellaria sessiliflora
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria
ediblemedicinal
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Almond
Almond
Prunus dulcis
ediblemedicinal
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Box Myrtle
Box Myrtle
Myrica nagi
Ericaceaeediblemedicinal
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta cataria
ediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

16

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

Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
edible
Almond
Almond
Prunus dulcis
ediblemedicinal
Alpine Sweetvetch
Alpine Sweetvetch
Hedysarum alpinum
Fabaceaeedible
Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
edible
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
edible
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Box Myrtle
Box Myrtle
Myrica nagi
Ericaceaeediblemedicinal
Bridewort
Bridewort
Spiraea salicifolia
Rosaceaeedible
Calystegia pellita
Calystegia pellita
Calystegia pellita
Convolvulaceaeedible
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta cataria
ediblemedicinal
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodium hybridum
Chenopodiaceaeedible
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in South Korea?

50 speciess — 34 native and 16 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 22 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in South Korea?

Common edible species include Red Leg, River Beauty, Russian Wormwood, Salix bakko, Salix chaenomeloides. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in South Korea?

22 medicinal plants catalogued for South Korea, including Red Leg, Russian Wormwood, Salix bakko, Salix chaenomeloides, Salix matsudana.

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 asia

Georgia
GE
Turkey
TR
United Arab Emirates
AE
Afghanistan
AF
Armenia
AM
Azerbaijan
AZ
Bangladesh
BD
Bahrain
BH
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