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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.

II

Edible for food + foraging

50

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

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
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese chestnut
Chinese chestnut
Castanea mollissima
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus sieversii
edible
Crowberry
Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Darnel
Darnel
Lolium temulentum
Poaceaeedible
Dumortier's daylily
Dumortier's daylily
Hemerocallis dumortieri
Asclepiadaceaeedible
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Fig
Fig
Ficus carica
Moraceaeedible
Giant Dogwood
Giant Dogwood
Cornus controversa
Cornaceaeedible
Great Burnet
Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
Rosaceaeedible
Ground Elder
Ground Elder
Aegopodium podagraria
edible
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Zingiberaceaeedible
Hemerocallis aurantiaca
Hemerocallis aurantiaca
Hemerocallis aurantiaca
edible
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Japanese false bindweed
Japanese false bindweed
Calystegia hederacea
edible
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Rosaceaeedible
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Menzies' burnet
Menzies' burnet
Sanguisorba menziesii
edible
Nankai-Giboshi
Nankai-Giboshi
Hosta tardiva
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Nodding broomrape
Nodding broomrape
Orobanche cernua
Orobanchaceaeediblemedicinal
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeoniaceaeediblemedicinal
Paradise Apple
Paradise Apple
Malus pumila
edible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Peony
Peony
Paeonia officinalis
ediblemedicinal
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

18

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

Almond
Almond
Prunus dulcis
ediblemedicinal
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Box Myrtle
Box Myrtle
Myrica nagi
Ericaceaeediblemedicinal
Catmint
Catmint
Nepeta cataria
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese chestnut
Chinese chestnut
Castanea mollissima
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Nankai-Giboshi
Nankai-Giboshi
Hosta tardiva
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Nodding broomrape
Nodding broomrape
Orobanche cernua
Orobanchaceaeediblemedicinal
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeoniaceaeediblemedicinal
Peony
Peony
Paeonia officinalis
ediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

50

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
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese chestnut
Chinese chestnut
Castanea mollissima
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus sieversii
edible
Crowberry
Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Darnel
Darnel
Lolium temulentum
Poaceaeedible
Dumortier's daylily
Dumortier's daylily
Hemerocallis dumortieri
Asclepiadaceaeedible
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Fig
Fig
Ficus carica
Moraceaeedible
Giant Dogwood
Giant Dogwood
Cornus controversa
Cornaceaeedible
Great Burnet
Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
Rosaceaeedible
Ground Elder
Ground Elder
Aegopodium podagraria
edible
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Zingiberaceaeedible
Hemerocallis aurantiaca
Hemerocallis aurantiaca
Hemerocallis aurantiaca
edible
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Japanese false bindweed
Japanese false bindweed
Calystegia hederacea
edible
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Rosaceaeedible
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Menzies' burnet
Menzies' burnet
Sanguisorba menziesii
edible
Nankai-Giboshi
Nankai-Giboshi
Hosta tardiva
Liliaceaeediblemedicinal
Nodding broomrape
Nodding broomrape
Orobanche cernua
Orobanchaceaeediblemedicinal
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeonia suffruticosa
Paeoniaceaeediblemedicinal
Paradise Apple
Paradise Apple
Malus pumila
edible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Peony
Peony
Paeonia officinalis
ediblemedicinal
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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