Wild Harris

Silverweed    (Photo: Laurie Campbell)

Silverweed is one the most common flowering plants on the machair and coastal areas. The leaves are covered in silver hairs – which gave the plant its name.

It is very useful for healing – you can put the leaves into your boots to relieve tired feet!

Silverweed    (Photo: Laurie Campbell)

Because it has soft stems it does not get damaged when people walk on it – you can often see the red stems across paths near the coast.

The roots can be eaten – they taste a bit like parsnip.

Silverweed is a favourite food of geese – the scientific name is ‘anserina’ from the word ‘anser’ meaning goose.

by Alison Tyler