Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea) is often one of the first plants a budding forager tries as a kid. It can grow just about anywhere but has a gift for growing in the most uninviting locations. That includes places even dandelions can’t take root.
Growing up in the desert in southern California, there was nothing but dust and sand on our playground. The only bit of life came from the tiny cracks in the asphalt handball courts, where enough moisture must collect from early morning dew. Pineapple weed thrived in those cracks when little else grew for miles in any direction.
That was the first time I tried pineapple weed, and I have to say I was unimpressed. Though it did smell vaguely of pineapple, it was bitter and thoroughly unpleasant.
But how much can you ask of a plant growing in asphalt in the desert? I assumed it probably tastes better given a less stressful environment.
Fast forward nearly 30 years later, and there aren’t many places where a dandelion won’t grow on our Vermont homestead. Marginal land is in short supply, which I’m happy about.
Still, there is one spot right in front of the garage covered in sand, packed gravel and in near full shade. Pineapple weed has found a home there, thriving where nothing else can.
That spot grows the lushest crop of pineapple weed I’ve ever seen. The plants are dense, and nearly a foot tall. Nothing like the desperate 3-4 inch specimens from my California childhood. Surely this pineapple weed is going to be the cream of the crop!
I break off a stalk in mid-summer when the plants are at their full height and bite right in…and then promptly spit it out.
It tastes wetter and greener than my childhood memory, but it’s still bitter and otherwise tasteless. Though the plant smells pleasant enough, I don’t get any hints of pineapple in the taste. What am I doing wrong?
I’m ready to give it up. Maybe I can taste some bitter principle in pineapple weed that others can’t, and perhaps I’m just not meant to enjoy this plant.
Then I look over to see my baby foraging buddy gobbling up pineapple weed with excitement. I usually have my 3-year-old daughter with me when I’m foraging in the woods, but this time since I’m right on the driveway the little guy (17 months) got to come too.
My daughter tried pineapple weed, and promptly spit it out just like I did. The little guy had a different strategy.
I watched him carefully pluck off the blossoms, leaving behind any green leaf or stem material. His little hands worked skillfully, picking apart those blossoms.
I’m not above learning from a baby that seems to know what he’s doing. I give it a try, plucking off a blossom and leaving the green material behind.
The taste…sweet, floral, pineapple-y…and just the slightest hint of bitter. I try again, this time using my teeth to just pluck off the very tip of the blossom, leaving the greenery around the base intact. It’s perfect!
This is what people are talking about! Deliciously sweet, strong pineapple flavor with hints of chamomile tea.
Perhaps there is some bitterness in the greens that I can taste that others can’t, or maybe they do taste it and just don’t mention it. The kids in the schoolyard ate the whole plant readily enough, but perhaps they were just showing off. If you’ve found it bitter in the past, be sure to pluck off just the blossoms and remove every bit of the feathery leaf matter.
I found one source that says pineapple weed greens are used in salads, but only before the plants blossom. Once pineapple weed breaks bud the leaves become unpalatably bitter.
That makes a lot more sense! Maybe it is a sweet green when it’s tiny and hasn’t blossomed, but I’ll have to wait until next year to try it.
I plucked off a handful of blossoms, keen on taking them inside to make a bit of tea. I couldn’t keep my little baby buddy out of them, and he gobbled them up by the handful.
Identifying and Using Pineapple Weed
Pineapple weed is known as wild chamomile, and both plants are in the aster family. There is another plant that is actually “wild chamomile” (Matricaria chamomilla) also found on roadsides and waste places, but this version has far fewer leaves and actually has white petals.
Pineapple weed is completely lacking petals and only has a yellowish-green central cone. My Edible Wild Plants field guide says that both have a mild pineapple and chamomile scent when the flower buds are crushed.
The medicinal properties of pineapple weed are supposed to be similar to cultivated or wild chamomile. It’s a mild sedative, effective against anxiety and mild gastrointestinal upset. My medicinal plant and herbs field guide says that it’s a traditional tea plant “used for stomachaches, flatulence, colds, menstrual cramps” and externally as a wash for sores and itchy conditions.
Pineapple Weed Tea
Since I find the bottom of the flower buds quite bitter, I’m actually taking the time to cut the tops of the flower buds off of the base. It makes sense, when you’re making dandelion wine the petals have to be completely removed from the bitter green sepals or the whole batch will be horribly bitter.
Most people don’t go through this step, and instead, just make a tea with the whole blossom heads. Try the blossoms whole.
If you don’t taste the bitterness, don’t bother separating the sepals. It’s a pain, and time-consuming, but this extra effort cuts out the bitter flavor and allows the sweet pineapple flavor to shine through.
Susannah
So interesting! I’ve been meaning to check this one out because its smell is so fabulous — glad to know more about it. LOVE your foraging posts!
Wynn Currie
I want to let you know that I stopped by and found your post interesting. I subscribed also.
Ashley Adamant
Wonderful, glad you enjoyed it.
Aine
I have it growing at the top of our driveway. I use it for a chamomile substitute. It is also reputed to keep mosquitoes away. If you taste the greens, you’ll understand why. Great site. I’ve followed you on FB and
Debbie Aristone
I am enjoying reading all about wild foraging posts and info.
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us.
I live in Ontario Canada and have this year joined a local foraging group.
My parents taught me as a young girl to forage for some wild mushrooms, and in the fall l look forward to the hunt. Had a good haul of wild Shaggy Manes. pear shaped puff balls, one soccer sized puff ball, and a wild portobellos types of mushrooms.
Looking forward to learning more about wild edible plants
Dianna
I have never seen this plant where I live (in the mountains of northeast TN). I will be on the lookout for it, though!
Syndie
Hi, I was wondering if you have tried to dry them and save them for using during the winter. I love eating them, so does my grandkids. I don’t notice any bitterness. Thanks.
Rose
Looking at your picture. You talk of removing the green but your picture still shows the green that the pineapple sits on. What are you removing,?
Administrator
When she was talking about removing the green, she removed the stem and leaves but there was still a bit of it left around the base of the blossom. This is why it was still a little bitter. Once she bit off the blossom with the tip of her teeth and was sure to leave all of the green around the base, there was no more bitterness.
Don Smith
I’m going to try to purposefully grow it in a pot or in my yard next spring. We’ll see how it goes, thanks for the article!
Ashley Adamant
Awesome, hope it works out for you!
Luin
I wonder if that would make an interesting liqueur.
Administrator
That’s an interesting idea. I would love to know if you decide to give it a try.
Erin
I’ve infused vodka with it and it tastes great!
Administrator
That’s awesome. Thanks for letting us know.
Felicia Stout
How did you learn so much? I am always impressed by your post and your information that you share! Do you have a post anywhere on your book collection or how you learned so much?
Administrator
Thank you for your kind words. We are so glad that you are enjoying the posts. There really isn’t a post with all the books, there are so many. I would just encourage you to pick one new skill that you want to learn about and start there. It’s really just a matter of building your skills one thing at a time.
Diana
I just love pineapple weed! I learned about it from you, so thank you! I can’t remember if I got this link from you or if I somehow stumbled across it, but this is my favorite way to use pineapple weed… Pineapple weed and red clover jam – absolutely delicious, not too sweet, delicious! https://nittygrittylife.com/wildflower-jam/ Thanks again for all of the info you get out to people – so helpful!
Administrator
I don’t recall sharing this but it looks like a lovely recipe.
Faith
Oh my, I have some pineapple weed that just popped up in one of my gardens. Now I know what it is and what to do with it. I’m learning so much from you. Thank you, I’m a fellow New Englander.
Administrator
You’re very welcome. So glad you are learning.
Erin
Have you tried making pineapple weed jelly? It’s amazing! I also make a pineapple weed infused vodka, which everyone loves 🙂
Administrator
I haven’t personally tried it yet but it sounds amazing.
tammy
The pineapple plant must be like Cilantro, some of us can taste a bitterness, I liken it to a soapy taste, while others don’t get the after taste. The pineapple weed might be the same, bitter for some but not for others. Love your posts, recently moved to New Mexico and I have Pineapple weed plants everywhere along with a plant that looks like a black pepper pod plant
Bonita
Yes! I have several plants growing up from the cracks in the driveway. Everyday I’m harvesting the biggest buds, I rinse them well and dehydrate for keeping over winter. I love tea from it
Administrator
That’s wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing.
Cindy-Lou
Up here in Canada, we call this plant, wild Camomile, and use it for a multitude of teas and infusions…
I love pineapple, but have never tasted even a hint of the pineapple taste, that you mention.
The bitterness of this plant is so very medicinal.
It helps to heal the liver, gives the Gaul Bladder a boost, is jam packed with vitamins and minerals, and really aids in the breakdown of consumed fats and oils.
If you don’t consume any sweet or sugary thing for two hours before adding this to your “oil & vinegar “ salad…. You will be amazed at the energy boost and how well your body digests your meal!
Happy “Health Break”.
Administrator
Thanks for sharing. It’s very difficult to taste the pineapple sometimes and if you get any green in with the bloom at all, you will only be able to taste the bitter.