Skunk Vine (Paederia foetida)

Family: Rubiaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

A fast-growing vine with stems reaching up to 7 m long that twine into other plants for support and commonly grown in East Asia is known as Skunk Vine or Paederia foetida. The leaves of this plant are opposite and narrowly oval and the flowers are gray-purple. The fruits are oval and red or yellow. Skunk vine has great potential to be a weed as it can become naturalized in many areas and seeds can easily be dispersed by birds.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavour, the leaves are sometimes mixed with grated coconut and spices, and then eaten raw as a side-dish with rice. — Leaves - raw or cooked.; Although they have a strong flavour, the leaves are sometimes mixed with grated coconut and spices, and then eaten raw as a side-dish with rice.; The minced leaves are steamed and eaten; they can be added to soups; or are mixed with various vegetables and spices, then wrapped in a banana leaf and cooked over a fire.; Any offensive smell disappears as the leaves are cooked.

Habitat & North American Range

A ruderal in thickets and woodland, also along forest edges, in secondary evergreen to deciduous forest and clearings in primary forest. Also grows in montane vegetation up to 3,000 m, on steep, forested slopes, or on sandy or rocky sea coasts. (Zone 6)