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Edible parts
- Young leaves (before flowering, March-April)
- Young shoots as spinach substitute
Recognition
- Leaves trifoliate-compound, 7 leaflets (hence 'seven'-leaf)
- Triangular angular stem
- White flat flower umbels (resembles wild parsley)
- Light anise/parsley-like scent
- Grows prolifically in gardens and woodland edges
Preparation tips
- Only use young leaves before flowering
- Blanch like spinach, in soup or pesto
- After flowering plant becomes bitter and less suitable
Dangerous lookalikes
- Hemlock (Conium maculatum) — DEADLY TOXIC, similar white flowers
- Hemlock: red blotches on stem, unpleasant mousy smell
- Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa) — near water, DEADLY
Medicinal use
- Traditionally used for gout and rheumatism (podagra)
- Diuretic effect
Never eat a plant you can't identify with certainty. If in doubt, leave it.
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