Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

An erect summer annual with some useful medicinal qualities and minor edible and other uses. Bloom Color: Green. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect. Common Names include: great ragweed, Texan great ragweed, giant ragweed, tall ragweed, blood ragweed, perennial ragweed, horseweed,buffaloweed, and kinghead. Spanish: Artemisa grande. Germany: Dreilappige Ambrosie; Dreispaltige Ambrosie.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

This plant was cultivated by the pre-Columbian N. American Indians, seeds found in pre-historic sites are 4 - 5 times larger than those of the present-day wild plant, which seems to indicate selective breeding by the Indians. — This plant was cultivated by the pre-Columbian N.; American Indians, seeds found in pre-historic sites are 4 - 5 times larger than those of the present-day wild plant, which seems to indicate selective breeding by the Indians.; The following report is for A.; artemesifolia, it quite possibly also applies to this species.

Habitat & North American Range

Alluvial waste places, sometimes forming vast pure stands. (Zone 1)