Summer on PEI is short and it’s important to take time to stop and smell the flowers. This month I’ll be profiling some Island plants that are not only aromatic but have what you may find to be surprising uses. First up is a plant that everyone has passed, some have noticed, but few have taken a moment to appreciate: Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea, though I prefer the fun-to-pronounce older name of Matricaria matricarioides. Seriously, try it!).
Pineapple Weed gets mistaken for Chamomile, and the two plants are closely related (in the same Genus). They share similar feathery leaves and overall growth form, but Chamomile has short white petals while Pineapple Weed has only central disk florets. This lack of petals makes for an alien-like flower that looks a bit like a Pineapple, but that’s not where it gets its name.
Grab a handful of this plant and you’ll find it has a distinct Pineapple scent. Even better, it has a Pineapple flavour that’s most noticeable in the flowers; you won’t think you’re eating a piece of the tropical fruit, but the Pineapple notes are unmistakable and get stronger the longer you chew. The flowers can be eaten as-is or tossed into salads, used fresh or dried to make a lovely tea, or added to cookies, muffins, or other baked goods.
While Pineapple Weed’s best-known use is for tea, it has a secret superpower: essential oil distilled from stems, leaves, and flowers has been shown to be as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes. This plant is native to parts of western North America where it was traditionally used as an insect repellant by rubbing it on the skin, carrying it in pouches, or burning it. I add bunches to the egg cartons I burn in my Bug Away Smoker (made here on PEI by the wonderful Malpeque Fine Iron Products) and while I haven’t done a controlled test to see if it’s more effective than egg cartons alone, it works and adds a nice scent.
Over the past century or more, Pineapple Weed has spread from the west and is now present in every Canadian province and most American states. You can find it in disturbed areas along roads and trails, in gravel drives, in high-traffic paths through mowed grass, and even pushing up through cracks in sidewalks and pavement. It spreads only by seeds, and they stick to car tires, footwear, and animal feet, further distributing Pineapple Weed throughout human habitats.
At some point during your daily travels, I’m betting you’ll notice Pineapple Weed if you look for it. Though it prefers habitats we have modified to suit ourselves, it is still part of PEI untamed!
I would see it often as a child and noticed the pungent smell, but never new what it was. Thank you