What to Forage in Early Spring (10 Wild Herbs & How to Use Them)
Spring is (almost) here, and the forests and fields will be waking up with fresh, nutrient-rich herbs ready to harvest!
Foraging in early spring offers a unique opportunity to gather medicinal and edible plants while they are at their most vibrant and nutrient-dense. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned herbalist, this guide will walk you through 10 common wild herbs you can forage in early spring, how to identify them, and how to use them in teas, tinctures, and salves.
Want to bring wild herbs into your home apothecary? Download my free guide: From Garden to Apothecary
10 Wild Herbs to Forage in Early Spring
Before you start foraging, always ensure that you’re harvesting from pesticide-free areas and that you properly identify each plant.
1. Nettles (Urtica dioica)
Where to Find It: Moist, shady areas, near streams and forest edges.
Why It’s Great: Rich in iron, magnesium, and calcium, making it excellent for energy, immunity, and allergy support.
How to Use It:
• Dry the leaves for nourishing tea.
• Use fresh in soups and pestos (blanch first to remove the sting).
Recommended Tool: Fine Mesh Strainer for Herbal Teas
2. Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Where to Find It: Garden beds, meadows, disturbed soil.
Why It’s Great: Cooling, anti-inflammatory, great for skin and digestion.
How to Use It:
• Eat raw in salads or blend into pesto.
• Infuse into oil for a soothing salve.
Chickweed is often overlooked, but it’s a fantastic herb for soothing irritated skin!
Shop My Handmade Herbal Salves here.
3. Violet (Viola spp.)
Where to Find It: Lawns, shady areas, near trees.
Why It’s Great: Gentle lymphatic cleanser, rich in vitamin C, and supports respiratory health.
How to Use It:
• Make violet-infused honey or syrup.
• Use leaves in salads or herbal teas.
Try This: Homemade Violet Syrup Recipe (See below!)
4. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Where to Find It: Everywhere—yards, fields, roadsides.
Why It’s Great: Liver-supporting, mineral-rich, and digestive tonic.
How to Use It:
• Make dandelion root tea (dry and roast the roots).
• Use flowers for dandelion salve or infused oil.
Try This: Dandelion Root Tea
5. Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Where to Find It: Hedges, woodlands, moist shady areas.
Why It’s Great: Supports lymphatic drainage, kidney health, and skin detox.
How to Use It:
• Make cleavers cold infusion tea.
• Blend fresh with water for a spring detox drink.
Pro Tip: Cleavers have a sticky, velcro-like texture—this is how you know you’ve found them!
6. Plantain (Plantago major & Plantago lanceolata)
Where to Find It: Roadsides, yards, disturbed soil.
Why It’s Great: One of the best herbs for skin healing, bug bites, and minor wounds.
How to Use It:
• Chew and apply fresh leaves as a natural poultice for bites and stings.
• Infuse in oil for salves or use dried for wound-healing tea.
7. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Where to Find It: Meadows, along roadsides, open fields.
Why It’s Great: A powerful first-aid herb, great for stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation.
How to Use It:
• Make a yarrow tincture for immune support.
• Use fresh leaves to stop bleeding from cuts and scrapes.
• Brew into yarrow tea to help with colds & fevers.
Did You Know? Yarrow has been used in herbal medicine for centuries, even by soldiers on the battlefield!
8. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Where to Find It: Open fields, meadows, along roadsides.
Why It’s Great: Rich in minerals and known for supporting women’s health, lymphatic cleansing, and digestion.
How to Use It:
• Dry and brew into a nutritive tea for deep mineral support.
• Use in herbal infusions for detox and immune support.
• Add fresh red clover blossoms to salads for a mild, sweet flavor.
9. Wild Garlic (Allium vineale)
Where to Find It: Woodlands, meadows, shaded forest areas.
Why It’s Great: Edible & medicinal, great for immune support, heart health, and adding bold flavor to meals.
How to Use It:
• Chop fresh leaves for a garlic-flavored pesto.
• Use bulbs like traditional garlic in cooking.
• Infuse in oil for a potent immune-boosting herbal oil.
Foraging Tip: Wild garlic looks similar to other plants, but its strong garlic smell makes it easy to identify.
Garlic Press for Easy Prep (These are life changing for using fresh garlic in your cooking. This one is similar to the one I have.)
10. Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)
Where to Find It: Fields, roadsides, disturbed soil.
Why It’s Great: A lesser-known but edible wild green packed with vitamins A & C.
How to Use It:
• Use young leaves raw in salads or sauté like spinach.
• Seeds can be used as a mustard substitute in seasoning blends.
• Makes a great foraged green for stir-fries or soups.
Wild Greens Tip: Harvest before flowering for the best flavor—older leaves can taste bitter.
Salad Spinner for Washing Wild Greens
Wild Violet Syrup Recipe
One of the easiest ways to use wild violets is by making a homemade violet syrup, which captures their delicate floral flavor and stunning purple hue.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup fresh wild violet petals (pesticide-free)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1–3 drops fresh lemon juice (optional, for color enhancement)
Instructions:
1. Harvest & Prepare: Collect 1 cup of fresh wild violet petals, ensuring they are clean.
2. Infuse: Place the petals in a heatproof jar and pour the boiling water over them. Cover and let steep for 24 hours.
3. Strain: Strain out the petals and transfer the liquid to a small saucepan.
4. Sweeten: Add sugar and gently heat, stirring until dissolved. Do not boil.
5. Color Boost (Optional): Add a few drops of lemon juice to enhance the purple hue.
6. Store: Let cool, then transfer to a glass jar or bottle. Store in the fridge for up to a month.
Ways to Use It:
Add to tea or lemonade for a floral twist.
Drizzle over pancakes, waffles, or ice cream.
Mix into cocktails or sparkling water.
Need glass jars for syrups? Grab mason jars here.
How to Use These Herbs in Everyday Life
• Brew them into herbal teas
• Infuse in honey, vinegar, or oil
• Add to spring recipes (soups, pestos, salads)
• Dry for herbal remedies throughout the year
Want to Learn More?
Download my free guide: From Garden to Apothecary: A Beginner’s Guide to Using Herbs
Shop my handcrafted herbal teas & salves here.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our homestead at no extra cost to you.