1. Poke Sallet 

Also called pokeweed and pokeberry, you definitely do not want to confuse this Arkansas edible as a salad, as this leafy green is poisonous when eaten raw. Poke Sallet grows in leafy shoots in spring and early summer; however, one should not attempt to eat poke sallet in late summer as the more mature, fruit-bearing shoots can have increased toxicity. This staple of Southern culture can be sauteed in a pan with bacon, much like one would cook collard greens. Keep an eye out for this plentiful weed on your next outdoor excursion.

2. Possum Grapes 

Interested in a sweet treat? Keep an eye out for this wild grape in September. Not to be confused with a muscadine grape — which is another wild grape found in Arkansas — possum grapes are a pea-sized, deep blue-purple berry that grows in bunches. Possum grapes are found in trees on vines with curly, thin tendrils and wide heart-shaped leaves with jagged edges. If you find possum grapes in a tree low enough to reach, they make a sweet trail snack — although I would spit out the seeds. Possum grapes can also make a sweet jelly.

3. Wild Pickle 

For the pickle lovers out there, look out for this cute little weed from the spring to fall months. Wild pickle, also known as wood sorrel, is an abundant weed that can grow to about 6 inches high. Wood sorrel has sets of three round leaves similar to clover, five-petaled yellow flowers and seed pods resembling miniature okra. The entire plant is edible, although the tart seed pods are what have earned the plant the “wild pickle” nickname. When picking wood sorrel, avoid areas that may be contaminated with pollutants or pesticides. 

4. Coral Mushroom
   

If you are looking to get into mushroom hunting, coral mushrooms are a fun place to start. Coral mushrooms, as their name implies, closely resemble the sea organism. Coral mushrooms are usually about 2-3 inches tall with curved, branching limbs and can vary from off-white to a light yellow color. I have had the best luck finding coral mushrooms on wet, leafy hillsides with plentiful oak trees in the area. Coral mushrooms are great when sauteed with garlic and butter, but always consult a guidebook before consumption as there are poisonous lookalikes to the edible coral mushroom. 

5. Honeysuckle
   

While not native to the area, almost everyone has a childhood memory of snacking on this sweet flower as a child. Loved by many, this fragrant bush can be found in the spring by following your nose. While the whole flower is edible, the best part of honeysuckle is the small drop of nectar that you can extract by carefully pinching off the green base of the flower and then gently pulling the style of the flower down through the hole in the base. Even better, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating this ecologically damaging invasive plant.