Bistort (Polygonum bistorta)

Family: Polygonaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Bloom Color: Pink. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring. UPDATE 6/01/2012: Polygonum bistorta L. is a synonym of Persicaria bistorta (L.) Samp. Form: Irregular or sprawling, Rounded.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Roots/Tubers

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

Flavor & Culinary Uses

mild flavour, especially when the leaves are young, though the texture is somewhat chewy when they are eaten raw. — Leaves - raw or cooked.; One report says that they are rather bitter, but we have found them to have a fairly mild flavour, especially when the leaves are young, though the texture is somewhat chewy when they are eaten raw.; They make an excellent substitute for spinach.; In Northern England the leaves are an ingredient of a bitter Lenten pudding, called Easter ledger pudding, that is eaten at Lent.

Habitat & North American Range

Damp meadows and by water, especially on acid soils. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7)