May Harvest & Growth

Plants traditionally documented for use, harvest, or growth in the Plains region during the month of May.

34 species documented for this period
Asteraceae

common yarrow

Achillea millefolium L.

Flowering season is May through September.; Not given
Liliaceae

tapertip onion

Allium acuminatum Hook. var. cuspidatum Fernald

Spring
Liliaceae

wild onion

Allium ascalonicum L.

spring
Liliaceae

shortstyle onion

Allium brevistylum S. Watson

Spring, summer, or fall
Liliaceae

meadow garlic

Allium canadense L.

Late fall or early spring
Liliaceae

Drummond's onion

Allium nuttallii S. Watson

Late fall; Spring, summer, or fall
Liliaceae

textile onion

Allium reticulatum G. Don var. playanum M.E. Jones

spring
Ranunculaceae

candle anemone

Anemone cylindrica A. Gray

spring
Aceraceae

silver maple

Argentacer saccharinum (L.) Small

spring
Asclepiadaceae

showy milkweed

Asclepias giffordii Eastw.

Late spring to summer; Spring; Summer
Asteraceae

arrowleaf balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.

spring; Not given
Unknown

Gairdner's Yampah

Carum gairdneri (Hook. & Arn.) A. Gray

The roots are gathered in May or June soon after the plant starts
Scrophulariaceae

downy paintedcup

Castilleja sessiliflora Pursh

Spring
Fabaceae

eastern redbud

Cercis canadensis L.

Late fall and winter; Early spring
Asteraceae

wavyleaf thistle

Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng.

Spring, summer, late fall; Not given
Cornaceae

redosier dogwood

Cornus sericea L.

Cut in late April or early May just as the sap starts to run
Equisetaceae

field horsetail

Equisetum calderi B. Boivin

Not given 149; Fall; Harvested in spring; Harvested in the fall; Not given
Rosaceae

Virginia strawberry

Fragaria virginiana Duchesne

Spring through summer
Fabaceae

American licorice

Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh var. glutinosa (Nutt.) S. Watson

Early spring until about 12” high
Asteraceae

common sunflower

Helianthus lenticularis Douglas ex Lindl.

fall; Spring through late summer
Apiaceae

garden lovage

Levisticum paludapifolium Asch.

spring
Asteraceae

dotted blazing star

Liatris punctata Hook.

Spring; Not given
Apiaceae

fernleaf biscuitroot

Lomatium dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance

Not given; Spring
Lamiaceae

wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa L.

spring; Not given
Brassicaceae

tall tumblemustard

Norta altissima (L.) Britton

spring
Apiaceae

Gardner's yampah

Perideridia gairdneri (Hook. & Arn.) Mathias

Not given; Harvested in May or June; May and June
Solanaceae

longleaf groundcherry

Physalis longifolia Nutt.

spring
Salicaceae

balsam poplar

Populus balsamifera L.

spring
Fabaceae

large Indian breadroot; Indian Potato; Indian Breadroot

Psoralea esculenta Pursh

spring; Not given
Fabaceae

190; Indian Turnip; Wild Alfalfa; slimflower scurfpea

Psoralea tenuiflora Pursh var. floribunda (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) Rydb.

Best time to gather the plant is April and May; Best time to gather the plant is April and May.; Best time to harvest is April and May; Not given
Caryophyllaceae

common chickweed

Stellaria media (L.) Vill.

Spring
Unknown

Unknown Plant

Stipa contracta (B.L. Johnson) W.A. Weber

Late spring to early summer
Asteraceae

stemless Townsend daisy

Townsendia sericea Hook.

spring
Typhaceae

broadleaf cattail

Typha latifolia L.

Spring