Hello Sochan! I am happy to eat your leaves of early spring!

Tasty in salad, and cooked in the many ways we prepare tender leafy greens (think: adolescent kale, escarole, etc).

This native American perennial of the sunflower family, aka green headed coneflower aka Rudbeckia laciniata, is a treasure, and a newish one for me. I am excited to get closer to it! 

Do you know it and use it, and if yes, how so?

A friend shared a root division of it a few years ago, and now it is thriving (seriously spreading) in the wild gardens in rich soil, and part-shade. Now that it's established, the deer are leaving it alone (deer-resistant = wow).

Sochan is a gift for non-human wildlife too: yummy to a diverse array of pollinators!

If you can, plant some! It grows in hardiness zones 3-9. Its leafy, floppy stalks grow 3-10 ft. tall, and in summer and early fall, it sprouts 3-4 inch droopy sunflowers. And give it room to spread!

#Sochan #RudbeckiaLaciniata #NativeAmericanPlant #Foraging #WildEdible #ForagingAndFeasting #DinaFalconi #Garden #GreenHeadedConeflower

Below are images of sochan leaves in early spring (now) and perfect for eating!