Ukrainian forest

Forest plants — what they help with

Name: Dryflower
Address: UA
Price range: $$

Nine plants of the Ukrainian forest, forest edges and old shady parks. Nettle that grows everywhere; fern gathered in spring and wrapped in legends; bilberry for summer and winter; lingonberry for the kidneys; periwinkle woven into wedding wreaths. And — plants you must never touch without a doctor.

This is an editorial reference, not medical advice. Pay special attention to sections marked ⚠ — some plants on this list are fatally poisonous.

01 / 19

Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica · Urticaceae

Where it grows: Damp forest edges, riverbanks, yards — all of Ukraine
Part used: Young leaves (spring), seeds (autumn), root (late autumn)
Harvest season: Leaves — April-May. Seeds — September-October.

For

Raise hemoglobin, strengthen hair and nails, stop bleeding, diuretic

Treats

Iron-deficiency anemia, hair loss, heavy menstruation, edema, chronic fatigue

How to use

Leaf decoction — ½ cup twice a day. Young nettle in borscht (spring). Hair rinse — strong decoction, pour after washing and leave in. A handful of seeds in the morning — a natural adaptogen.

⚠ Danger

Increases blood clotting — forbidden with thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, after heart attack, on blood thinners. During pregnancy — with great caution.

02 / 19

Ostrich fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris · Onocleaceae

Where it grows: Shady damp forests of Polisia, Carpathians, Volyn
Part used: Young curled shoots (fiddleheads) in spring
Harvest season: April-May — shoots 10–15 cm tall

For

Edible delicacy rich in omega-3, iron and carotene. In decor — symbol of mystery and Ivan Kupala.

Treats

As food — support for exhaustion, anemia, vitamin deficiency. As decor — no medicinal use.

How to use

Shoots must be boiled 15 min in two changes of water (raw = toxic!), then fried with garlic. In decor — herbarium between books, coiled shoots create spirals.

⚠ Danger

⚠ Raw shoots are toxic — cause severe poisoning. MUST be boiled 15+ minutes before eating. Many fern species (male, lady) are entirely inedible — only eat ostrich fern.

03 / 19

Male fern

Dryopteris filix-mas · Dryopteridaceae

Where it grows: Coniferous and mixed forests of the Carpathians, Polisia
Part used: Rhizome (external use only!)
Harvest season: September-October, when dormant

For

Decorative lacy foliage for compositions, symbolic meaning. NOT for self-treatment.

Treats

Historically — against worms, but dosing is lethally risky. We don't use it today.

How to use

Decor: dried leaves between book pages — herbarium. In orchid bouquets. Symbol of Ivan Kupala — the «fern flower» of legend, which doesn't actually exist (fern doesn't bloom).

⚠ Danger

⚠ The rhizome is toxic — its poisons attack the heart, kidneys, vision. Absolutely not for internal use without a doctor. Self-treatment is fatal.

04 / 19

Bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus · Ericaceae

Where it grows: Coniferous forests of Polisia, Carpathians, Volyn
Part used: Berries (fresh and dried), young leaves
Harvest season: Berries — July-August. Leaves — May-June.

For

Vision, antioxidant protection, lowering blood sugar

Treats

Age-related vision decline, early stage type 2 diabetes, diarrhea, gum inflammation

How to use

A handful of fresh berries daily in season. Dried — add to tea (with rose hips). Leaves — as a separate decoction for type 2 diabetes, 2-week courses.

05 / 19

Lingonberry

Vaccinium vitis-idaea · Ericaceae

Where it grows: Pine forests of Polisia, Volyn, Carpathians
Part used: Berries, leaves
Harvest season: Berries — August-September. Leaves — before flowering (May).

For

Urinary tract health, reducing edema, kidney antiseptic

Treats

Cystitis, pyelonephritis, kidney stones, edema during pregnancy, rheumatism

How to use

Leaf tea — ½ cup 3 times a day for cystitis, 10-day course. Fermented berries — traditional Ukrainian winter preservation, a source of vitamin C.

Caution

Don't combine with stomach-acid-lowering drugs. With stomach ulcer — avoid the leaves.

06 / 19

Periwinkle

Vinca minor · Apocynaceae

Where it grows: Shady deciduous forests, old parks of Halychyna, Podilia
Part used: Above-ground parts during flowering
Harvest season: May-June, during flowering

For

Cerebral circulation, memory, concentration. Traditional love symbol in wedding rites.

Treats

Vascular headache, age-related memory loss, tinnitus, dizziness

How to use

Alcohol tincture — 25 drops three times a day in 3-week courses. Fresh leaves in the bride's wedding wreath — a Ukrainian ritual custom.

⚠ Danger

Contains alkaloids — overdose is dangerous. Forbidden during pregnancy, lactation, under 18, with hypotension, bradycardia. Only under medical guidance.

07 / 19

Plantain

Plantago major · Plantaginaceae

Where it grows: Roadsides, trails, glades — everywhere in Ukraine
Part used: Leaves, seeds
Harvest season: Leaves — May to first frost. Seeds — August-September.

For

Wound healing, anti-inflammatory effect, skin cleansing

Treats

Cuts, scrapes, insect bites, cough with phlegm, bronchitis, skin inflammation

How to use

A fresh leaf on a cut — a classic of Ukrainian childhood. Decoction for cough — 1 tbsp per cup of boiled water, 3 times a day. Seeds — a gentle laxative (1 tsp at night, followed by water).

08 / 19

Wild strawberry

Fragaria vesca · Rosaceae

Where it grows: Forest edges, glades of coniferous and mixed forests
Part used: Berries, leaves
Harvest season: Berries — June-July. Leaves — during flowering.

For

Metabolism, vessels, lowering blood pressure

Treats

Hypertension, atherosclerosis, gout, kidney stones, vitamin deficiency

How to use

Leaf tea — ½ cup twice a day, 3-week course. Fresh berries — a handful daily in season. Dried leaves in a winter tea blend.

Caution

Possible allergy — try a small amount the first time. Under 3 years — caution.

09 / 19

Lily of the valley

Convallaria majalis · Asparagaceae

Where it grows: Shady deciduous forests of Polisia, Podilia, Bukovyna
Part used: Flowers, leaves — only as raw material for medicines!
Harvest season: May — during flowering

For

Cardiac stimulation — only as a component of pharmaceutical preparations under cardiologist supervision

Treats

Heart failure, arrhythmia — only as pharmaceutical preparations (corglicon), not by self-treatment

How to use

As a garden ornament or in a spring bouquet — yes. Internally — NO, NEVER. Even water from a vase of lilies of the valley is toxic to pets and young children.

⚠ Danger

⚠⚠⚠ Fatally poisonous plant. All parts contain cardiac glycosides (convallatoxin). 2–3 berries can kill a child, 6–8 an adult. Pets — cats especially sensitive. DO NOT REPEAT FOLK RECIPES. Use a pharmaceutical prescribed by a cardiologist instead.

10 / 19

Elder

Sambucus nigra · Adoxaceae

Where it grows: Forest edges, thickets, abandoned gardens — all of Ukraine
Part used: Flowers (May-June), berries (August-September)
Harvest season: Flowers — peak bloom. Berries — after they turn black, NOT green.

For

Immunity, anti-flu effect, antioxidants, fever reduction

Treats

Flu, respiratory infections, fever, chronic sinusitis, mild rheumatism

How to use

Flower tea — 1 tbsp per cup, 3 times a day during colds. Berry syrup (cooked with sugar 1:1) — a tablespoon in the morning in winter, a classic Ukrainian flu prevention.

⚠ Danger

⚠ Green (unripe) berries, leaves and bark are TOXIC — contain cyanogenic glycosides. Always cook berries before consumption. Raw black berries in large quantities can also cause nausea.

11 / 19

Greater celandine

Chelidonium majus · Papaveraceae

Where it grows: Forest edges, under fences, in shady yards — everywhere
Part used: Orange stem sap (externally), above-ground parts
Harvest season: Herb — May-June during flowering. Sap — fresh in summer.

For

Wart removal, fungal suppression, external skin treatment

Treats

Warts, papillomas, calluses, fungal skin infections, psoriasis

How to use

Externally: apply fresh orange sap to a wart twice a day — after several weeks it dries up on its own. Decoction — for baths with psoriasis (diluted in a tub of warm water).

⚠ Danger

⚠ Internally — only with a doctor. Concentrated tincture is liver-toxic. Alkaloids cause poisoning above dose. Raw sap in sensitive people can burn the skin — rinse if it reddens.

12 / 19

Field horsetail

Equisetum arvense · Equisetaceae

Where it grows: Damp meadows, ditches, forest edges, fields of Polisia and Poltava
Part used: Green summer shoots (NOT spring spore-bearing stems!)
Harvest season: June-July, the green sterile form

For

Kidneys, urinary tract, silicon for skin-hair-nails

Treats

Edema, cystitis, kidney stones, brittle nails, hair loss, skin rashes

How to use

Decoction — ½ cup 3 times a day, 10-day course, then break. Externally — hair rinse after washing (1 tbsp per liter) — for strength and shine.

Caution

Don't confuse with marsh horsetail (toxic — has broad crown branches). Don't drink during acute nephritis. Courses longer than 3 weeks deplete vitamin B1.

13 / 19

Coltsfoot

Tussilago farfara · Asteraceae

Where it grows: Clay slopes, roadsides, near water bodies
Part used: Flowers (early spring), leaves (early summer)
Harvest season: Flowers — March-April. Leaves — May-June.

For

Thinning phlegm, easing cough reflex, wrapping hot joints

Treats

Bronchitis, laryngitis, chronic dry cough, joint pain in rheumatism

How to use

Leaf decoction — for cough, 2–3 times a day. Fresh leaves applied cold-side down to inflamed joints. The name is eternal: one side of the leaf is smooth («stepmother»), the other warm and downy («mother»).

⚠ Danger

⚠ Don't drink longer than 2 weeks in a row — contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that accumulate in the liver. Strictly forbidden during pregnancy, lactation, and in children under 6.

14 / 19

Burdock

Arctium lappa · Asteraceae

Where it grows: Abandoned gardens, roadsides, forest edges — all of Ukraine
Part used: Root (first-year plant — before flowering)
Harvest season: September-October of year 1, or early spring of year 2

For

Skin and hair health, metabolic normalization, blood cleansing

Treats

Eczema, acne, hair loss, dandruff, furunculosis, type 2 diabetes, gout

How to use

Root decoction — ½ cup twice a day, 3-week course. Burdock oil (root infused in sunflower oil for 2 weeks) — rub into hair roots 1 hour before washing.

Caution

With diabetes — adjust glucose-lowering medication with a doctor. Don't use during pregnancy without supervision.

15 / 19

Wild garlic (ramsons)

Allium ursinum · Amaryllidaceae

Where it grows: Damp shady forests of the Carpathians, Podilia, rarer Polisia
Part used: Leaves (young, in spring)
Harvest season: April-May, before flowering

For

Spring adaptogen, blood-pressure reduction, cardiovascular support, gut antiseptic

Treats

Spring vitamin deficiency, mild hypertension, atherosclerosis, dysbiosis, weak post-winter immunity

How to use

Fresh leaves in salads, on sandwiches, in borscht instead of dill. A classic Carpathian-Ukrainian recipe — a couple of bunches a week throughout April. Keeps fresh for a week in the fridge.

Caution

⚠ Don't confuse with lily of the valley (poisonous!) — leaves look similar. Wild garlic smells of onion/garlic; lily of the valley does not. In Carpathian regions — Red Book listed, collect sparingly.

16 / 19

Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna · Rosaceae

Where it grows: Forest edges, hedgerows, old fences across Ukraine
Part used: Flowers (May), fruits (September-October)
Harvest season: Flowers — during bloom. Fruits — after first frost (sweeter).

For

Heart support, rhythm smoothing, gentle blood-pressure reduction, calming

Treats

Mild arrhythmia, age-related tachycardia, early-stage hypertension, nervous palpitations, menopause

How to use

Fruit tea at night — ½ cup, 3-week course. A classic heart blend for older age: hawthorn + lemon balm + rose hips (1 tsp each per cup). Alcohol tincture — from a pharmacy, not homemade.

Caution

Don't combine with anti-arrhythmic drugs — may amplify their effect. With serious heart disease — only under cardiologist supervision.

17 / 19

Sphagnum (peat moss)

Sphagnum · Sphagnaceae

Where it grows: Peat bogs of Polisia, the Carpathians, Volyn
Part used: Whole plant (dried)
Harvest season: Collected year-round — season-independent

For

Natural antiseptic base, decorative material for terrariums

Treats

In WWII — used as wound dressing (absorbs 20× its weight in water + releases natural antiseptics). Today — for packaging orchids, terrariums, plant nurturing.

How to use

In decor: base for terrariums; insulation around pots in winter; in moss wreaths — for Christmas compositions. In folk medicine — under a bandage on cuts when hiking (no gauze nearby).

18 / 19

Cowslip primrose

Primula veris · Primulaceae

Where it grows: Glades of deciduous forests, edges in Podilia, Carpathians
Part used: Flowers (April-May), roots (autumn)
Harvest season: Flowers — peak bloom. The first flowers of spring — collect sparingly.

For

Gentle expectorant for children, early-spring vitamin C, calming

Treats

Early bronchitis in children, dry cough, insomnia, tension headaches, vitamin deficiency

How to use

Flower tea — ½ cup at night for children with cough (proven grandmother's remedy). Fresh flowers — in spring salads, act as both decoration and post-winter vitamin C.

Caution

Pollen allergy possible. Root — for adults only, contains saponins that cause nausea at overdose.

19 / 19

European mistletoe

Viscum album · Santalaceae

Where it grows: Parasitic on apple, poplar, birch trees — all of Ukraine
Part used: Young shoots with leaves (NOT berries!)
Harvest season: Late autumn to early spring, when mistletoe is most active

For

Blood-pressure normalization, adjuvant therapy in oncology (under doctor supervision)

Treats

Mild hypertension, menopausal blood-pressure instability, insomnia from nervousness. In oncology — studies show adjuvant effect as part of combined therapy.

How to use

Tincture from a pharmacy (NOT homemade!) — as prescribed. In decor — a traditional Christmas motif in Europe. In Carpathian folk rites — protection above the house door.

⚠ Danger

⚠ Berries are poisonous — especially for children and pets. Raw leaves are also toxic. Homemade tinctures have unpredictable dosing. Only standardized pharmaceutical preparations under medical supervision.

Forest plants — what they help with

This is an editorial reference, not medical advice. Pay special attention to sections marked ⚠ — some plants on this list are fatally poisonous.