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Plants of South Korea

KR · 35.91°, 127.77°

We catalogue 163 plants documented in South Korea — 84 native and 79 introduced. Of these, 163 are edible and 75 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

50

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

Fritillaria verticillata
Fritillaria verticillata
Fritillaria verticillata
Liliaceaeedible
Galium gracile
Galium gracile
Galium gracile
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Heteropappus hispidus
Heteropappus hispidus
Heteropappus hispidus
edible
Hobbleberry
Hobbleberry
Viburnum lantanoides
ediblemedicinal
Hulten's Licorice Root
Hulten's Licorice Root
Ligusticum hultenii
edible
Japanese Hawthorn
Japanese Hawthorn
Rhaphiolepis umbellata
Rosaceaeedible
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum japonicum
ediblemedicinal
Japanese Wisteria
Japanese Wisteria
Wisteria japonica
Fabaceaeedible
Knotweed
Knotweed
Polygonum salicifolium
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Kozo
Kozo
Broussonetia kazinoki
edible
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Lathyrus alatus
Lathyrus alatus
Lathyrus alatus
Fabaceaeedible
Limonium tetragonum
Limonium tetragonum
Limonium tetragonum
Caryophyllaceaeedible
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Memorial Rosa
Memorial Rosa
Rosa wichuraiana
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Nepal Cinquefoil
Nepal Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis
Roseaceaeediblemedicinal
Photinia parvifolia
Photinia parvifolia
Photinia parvifolia
edible
Physaliastrum echinatum
Physaliastrum echinatum
Physaliastrum echinatum
edible
Phytolacca esculenta
Phytolacca esculenta
Phytolacca esculenta
ediblemedicinal
Pink
Pink
Dianthus plumarius
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum divaricatum
Polygonum divaricatum
Polygonum divaricatum
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum rumicifolium
Polygonum rumicifolium
Polygonum rumicifolium
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Porcelain Berry
Porcelain Berry
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
edible
Pyrus acidula
Pyrus acidula
Pyrus acidula
Rosaceaeedible
Pyrus macrostipes
Pyrus macrostipes
Pyrus macrostipes
Rosaceaeedible
Pyrus prematura
Pyrus prematura
Pyrus prematura
edible
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
II

Edible for food + foraging

50

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

Fritillaria verticillata
Fritillaria verticillata
Fritillaria verticillata
Liliaceaeedible
Galium gracile
Galium gracile
Galium gracile
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Heteropappus hispidus
Heteropappus hispidus
Heteropappus hispidus
edible
Hobbleberry
Hobbleberry
Viburnum lantanoides
ediblemedicinal
Hulten's Licorice Root
Hulten's Licorice Root
Ligusticum hultenii
edible
Japanese Hawthorn
Japanese Hawthorn
Rhaphiolepis umbellata
Rosaceaeedible
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum japonicum
ediblemedicinal
Japanese Wisteria
Japanese Wisteria
Wisteria japonica
Fabaceaeedible
Knotweed
Knotweed
Polygonum salicifolium
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Kozo
Kozo
Broussonetia kazinoki
edible
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Lathyrus alatus
Lathyrus alatus
Lathyrus alatus
Fabaceaeedible
Limonium tetragonum
Limonium tetragonum
Limonium tetragonum
Caryophyllaceaeedible
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Memorial Rosa
Memorial Rosa
Rosa wichuraiana
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Nepal Cinquefoil
Nepal Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis
Roseaceaeediblemedicinal
Photinia parvifolia
Photinia parvifolia
Photinia parvifolia
edible
Physaliastrum echinatum
Physaliastrum echinatum
Physaliastrum echinatum
edible
Phytolacca esculenta
Phytolacca esculenta
Phytolacca esculenta
ediblemedicinal
Pink
Pink
Dianthus plumarius
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum divaricatum
Polygonum divaricatum
Polygonum divaricatum
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum rumicifolium
Polygonum rumicifolium
Polygonum rumicifolium
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Porcelain Berry
Porcelain Berry
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
edible
Pyrus acidula
Pyrus acidula
Pyrus acidula
Rosaceaeedible
Pyrus macrostipes
Pyrus macrostipes
Pyrus macrostipes
Rosaceaeedible
Pyrus prematura
Pyrus prematura
Pyrus prematura
edible
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
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

31

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

Galium gracile
Galium gracile
Galium gracile
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Hobbleberry
Hobbleberry
Viburnum lantanoides
ediblemedicinal
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum japonicum
ediblemedicinal
Knotweed
Knotweed
Polygonum salicifolium
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Memorial Rosa
Memorial Rosa
Rosa wichuraiana
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Nepal Cinquefoil
Nepal Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis
Roseaceaeediblemedicinal
Phytolacca esculenta
Phytolacca esculenta
Phytolacca esculenta
ediblemedicinal
Pink
Pink
Dianthus plumarius
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum divaricatum
Polygonum divaricatum
Polygonum divaricatum
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum rumicifolium
Polygonum rumicifolium
Polygonum rumicifolium
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
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
V

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.

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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