Native species
21Species naturally occurring in South Korea — best adapted to local climate and soil.
Edible for food + foraging
50Plants with edible parts documented in South Korea. Always identify positively before harvest.
Medicinal traditional + clinical
24Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.
Introduced naturalized + cultivated
29Non-native species established in South Korea. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.
Frequently asked
How many plants are documented in South Korea?
163 speciess — 84 native and 79 introduced. Of these, 163 are edible and 75 have medicinal uses.
What edible plants grow wild in South Korea?
Common edible species include Aletris spicata, Almond, Alpine Sweetvetch, Amaranthus campestris, Amaranthus polygamus. See the Edible section above for the full list.
What medicinal plants grow in South Korea?
75 medicinal plants catalogued for South Korea, including Almond, Asiatic tearthumb, Box Myrtle, 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.
Other asia
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