Hosta is Edible
I get that everyone wants to forage the trendy plants – ramps, morels, fiddleheads, etc. And why not? They are delicious. But my passion is to use, and teach others to use the common weeds and landscaping plants that are right in our own backyards.
It’s mid-spring and our quarter acre is just full of good eating – wood sorrel and dandelion, creeping charlie and garlic mustard, day lily shoots, and hosta. And so much more.
Yes, hosta is edible and the rolled up leaves, or shoots, as they emerge in the spring, are a great alternative to asparagus.
My favorite was to prepare them? Bacon wrapped hosta shoots.
Harvesting Hosta Shoots
Hosta is a common landscaping perennial which loves shade, but will grow in full sun as well. It’s also very low maintenance, making it a popular plant in gardens everywhere.
Hosta shoots appear early to mid-spring. To harvest, simply cut the young shoot at ground level. Wash thoroughly before using. They are great sliced raw in salad, too!
The shoots, leaf petiole, whole leaves and flowers are edible, but taste best when young. All hosta species are edible.
Learn about identifying plants here: The Forager’s Guide to Plant Identification.
More Than Weeds
A Foraging eCourse for Beginners
Are you interested in foraging, but a bit hesitant because you don’t trust your own abilities? I created a mini eCourse just for you. In More Than Weeds: 5 Common Plants to Forage for Food and Medicine you’ll learn that identifying plants is all in the details.
Using common plants with which may be someone familiar you’ll learn beginner botany skills that you will be able to use as you move forward. You’ll gain confidence to use these plants for your family in food and safe, home remedies. Get started now!
Ingredients
- 24 hosta shoots
- 12 slices of bacon cut in half
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 400°F.
- Wash the hosta shoots, and pat dry.
- Wrap a piece of bacon around each hosta shoot. Place seam side down on the parchment paper.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the hosta shoots over and bake 10 more minutes or until the bacon is crisp.
- Enjoy!
Thank you for visiting Learning And Yearning. May "the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num 6:24-26
Wanda says
Hi…. what do you do with creeping Charlie???
Susan Vinskofski says
I add a small amount to salads. I know that some people use it to make pesto, but I find the taste much too strong for that. It is quite overwhelming to my taste buds.
Seasonn says
So glad to know this. I LOVE knowing what plants I could eat in a survival situation!
Kristel Wiesner says
Wish I would have read this a couple weeks ago when we still had shoots. I’ll add some leaves to a salad and give it a try.
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Kristel, be sure to keep it in my mind for next year. The leaves will get tougher as they get older but are still edible. I have a friend who uses them to make pigs in the blanket instead of cabbage. I need to give that a try!
Kristel Wiesner says
Love the pigs in a blanket idea. We tried the leaves in salad and used small leaves. I thought the stem was especially good, kind of sweet.
Perfect Plants says
How interesting!! Sounds delectable! We have hostas at our nursery and did not know you could eat them 🙂 https://myperfectplants.com/product/hosta-blue-cadet/
Liz says
I have so many hostas! I am going to try this! Do they taste like asparagus? Cabbage more?
Diana says
If I harvest some, will the plants send out new ones?
Susan Vinskofski says
Harvesting the shoots will not kill the plant, but that shoot won’t grow this year. So just harvest a shoot here and there.