Re: The Polk Green Plant!

Hi Ladonna;
Thank you for that wonderful reply and others you have sent, that "Posse" thing was a hoot!
Yes, what you have growing outside your window is a "Tried & True" Polk plant. You described it perfectly! Yes, it is a toxic plant, it contains oxalic acids, and so do other things we eat, such as rhubarb, and eggplant, they are all part of the nightshade family, but, once it's cooked, the toxins are relieved and the end result is fine to eat. Now, to cook polk greens up proper, you need the fresh tender tops of the plants, and you need a lot of them, then just cook them as you would any green. They are delicious. My Granny Church cooked them for years and years (She passed on at 99 years of age), and my momma is still cookin them (at 65).

An interesting tidbit on the "Polk" green, it cant be cultivated! Interesting, but its been tried over and over, it doesn't grow by commercial ways, it just has to grow it's own self... Also, a song was written about this plant, it was called "Polk Salad Annie", it was kinda a Blues Tune, but was very popular.

Ok, thats all I can share with you on the Polk plant, except, one other thing, Oh, my goodness, those possums just love to eat those berries!!!

Peace My Friend,
David In Virginia