Common Edible Plants in the American Deserts

prickly pear cactus

The prepper mentality calls for a full state of preparedness for any eventuality that might be dangerous or even life-threatening. These can come in a wide range possibility, covering both natural disasters and man-made dangers. However, some areas are a dangerous place for anyone and they have been this way since the dawn of time. The deserts are one of the most infamous such areas and they have been rightly feared ever since man started to venture into them. In this regard, the US is no different with a great percentage of its territory being of a desert type. Saying a desert is an inhospitable place is a great understatement because these areas are not just dangerous but often turn deadly for those who get lost inside of them.

The same comes as a combination of different factors, like the heat and a lack of both food and water. For a prepper, being knowledgeable about desert survival is an absolute necessity and many generations of wilderness survival experts have focused on deserts in particular. In these environments, the key element is the ability to find food and water and stop the rapid degradation of the person’s physical condition under those extreme natural conditions. With that in mind, here is an overview of the common edible plants in American deserts that will help any prepper in a survival situation.

 

The General Info on Desert Plants

Some of the best sources of food when it comes to using plants in the desert are their seed and fruits that can be safely eaten. At the same time, many plants in this environment are full of spines and thorns, have razor-sharp leaves and come loaded with toxins. That is why eating plants indiscriminately in the desert could end up being a very bad idea. In the US, there are four big deserts that are located in the southwestern corner of the country. All of them can prove to be quite deadly if visitors do not know what can be eaten in a time of emergency. Yet, all of them hold plants that can easily sustain a human being for a prolonged period of time. Also, these plants do not come with any other danger like toxins or poisons some other desert flora contains.

 

Chia Sage

Salvia columbariae

picture by: Curtis Clark

The Latin name of this plant is Salvia columbariae and its seeds are very nutritious. In fact, their relative called Chia (Salvia hispanica) recently became a part of nutrition that bases itself on whole foods and other healthy-eating diets. The seeds are located in the dry spiky heads that these plants possess. They can be eaten as an addition to any other meal.  Chia Sage seeds will provide multiple vitamins and minerals as well as healthy fats and protein, making it a very useful food in a survival situation.

 

Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus

This plant is best-known thanks to its image – it comes in the form of flat and elongated green pads that are regularly used as a source of food. The same practice is widespread across many arid regions and these make them a common sight on the desert survival menu. Once cleaned from the spikes, these can be fried or boiled, while its fruits are also edible. The main element that is so useful in this plan is its inner flesh which is rich in sugary taste and holds many seeds. All of the seeds are a great source of protein and fats.

 

Agave

agave

This species is also well-known in the healthy diet circles and in the wild, its flower stalks, leaves, flowers and even their seeds can be eaten. The plant is also full of fiber, meaning they offer a mean that is long-lasting. However, the downside is that their nutritive value is not that big, so a person would have a tough time surviving on agave alone.  Agave can be found in the hot and arid regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States (also known as the American Southwest).

 

Mesquite
Mesquite plants, pods and leaves

Picture By Leslie Seaton from Seattle, WA, USA (Mesquite) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Mesquite or Prosopis spp in Latin is a plant with pods that look like those from beans. They look like shrubby small trees and their beans can be used to make a traditional native flour. Once the pods are dried and then grounded, they only need to be mixed with water. After that, the resulting dough can be eaten raw or used to make mesquite cakes,  cookies, cornbread and many other things.

 

Pinyon Pine


This plant is basically a species of pine which has adapted itself to flourish in deserts. They produce a large seed that can be eaten; in fact, many call the same seed a “pine nut”. They are great tasting and also come with plenty of calories. In a survival situation, they are one of the best go-to foods out there.

 

Thanks to this list of common edible plants in American deserts, all those who find themselves in a situation in these environments should be able to find great sources of nutrition.

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