The 5 Most Useful Plants You’re Stepping on Right Now

Out in the woods, I see folks walk right past life-saving resources without even realizing it. Truth is that the trails, clearings, and creek banks around Georgia Bushcraft are packed with plants that have been used for food, medicine, and tools since long before we ever put boots on the ground. And yet, most people never take the time to learn what’s underfoot.

That’s the thing about nature; it doesn’t jump up and down screaming “Hey! I’m useful!” You’ve got to slow down, pay attention, and learn to ask the right questions. One of my favorite ways to teach plant use is by pointing out the things people are already walking on. These aren’t exotic herbs or rare mushrooms, they’re common, humble plants that thrive right where we live and walk.

So next time you're on the trail, take a moment. Look down. You might be stepping on something that could save your hide one day. Here are five of the most useful wild plants you're likely to overlook, and why it’s worth learning what they can do for you.

1. Plantain (Plantago major)

Let’s start with a plant you’ve certainly seen, even if you didn’t know its name. Plantains thrive in compacted soil, which means you’ll find it along roadsides, trails, parking lots, and campsites. You’ve stomped on it without a second thought.

But this little green survivor is a powerhouse. The broadleaf version (Plantago major) is especially easy to spot. Plantain contains compounds like aucubin, baicalein, and apigenin, which have been shown to reduce inflammation. These compounds interfere with the body’s inflammatory response, helping to reduce the swelling and redness that come with bee stings.

 Just pluck a leaf, chew it up or mash it with water, and slap it on a bee sting or mosquito bite. It’ll cool the burn, reduce swelling, and speed up healing. That’s not bushcraft myth that’s centuries of real-world use.

Other uses:

• Younger leaves are edible, though a bit fibrous—cook them like greens.

• The seeds have been used historically for digestive issues.

• Many Indigenous people in North America at one point called this “white man’s footprint” because it is not native to us here and was brought here by European settlers. 

Pro tip: Show this plant to kids and tell them it’s “Nature’s Band-Aid.” They’ll remember it forever.

2. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

With its lacy, fern-like leaves and clusters of white flowers, yarrow might look dainty—but it’s tough as nails. You'll find it in sunny fields, forest edges, and along disturbed ground. It’s been used on battlefields to stop bleeding, and modern studies confirm its antimicrobial properties.

If you get cut in the woods, a yarrow poultice can slow or even stop the bleeding. Dry some in advance and crush it into a powder for a DIY field styptic. That’s real-world first aid straight from the ground.

Bonus use:

• Steep the leaves for tea to ease stomach cramps and digestive upset.

Good to know:
Yarrow has a strong, almost medicinal scent. Learn to recognize it by smell as much as by sight. This is how I typically find it. With my nose long before my eyes find it.

3. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Chickweed is one of those plants that shows up quietly in moist, shaded areas—under bushes, at the base of trees, along garden edges. It grows low and spreads fast, with small white star-like flowers that give it away if you look closely.

The leaves and stems are edible, tender, and packed with vitamins A and C. On the trail, you can eat it raw for a refreshing, slightly grassy flavor. But that’s not all, chickweed is also a go-to for treating minor rashes, bug bites, and skin irritation. Make a poultice or a salve, and you’ve got yourself a natural skin soother.

Why it’s useful for teaching:
It’s got a single line of tiny hairs running down one side of the stem, a great ID trick for beginners. It is one of my favorites to start people off understanding all the wonderful details in plant ID that can be found. 

4. Pine (Pinus spp.)

I know what you’re thinking, “Craig, that’s a tree, not a plant I’m stepping on.” But you are absolutely stepping on its needles, cones, and bark every time you walk through the woods. And I’d argue pine is one of the most versatile plants in the entire forest.

Here's just a few ways pine can serve you:

• Needles: High in vitamin C, make a tea that’s refreshing and immune boosting.

• Sap: Acts as a natural antiseptic and wound sealer.

• Inner bark: Can be scraped and eaten in a survival situation. It’s not tasty, but it’s calories. I even made cookies for Field and Stream with it one time.  

• Fatwood: The resin-heavy heartwood ignites easily and burns hot, even when wet.

Even the smoke from burning pine can help repel bugs in camp. So don’t overlook this towering giant, it gives you a lot more than just shade. Pines are so rich in uses, I consider them a must have tool in the survivalist’s foraging skill set. 

5. Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Sheep sorrel is one of those plants people often mistaken for a weed. It’s small, low-growing, and found in disturbed areas like field edges and sunny patches of ground. But its arrow-shaped leaves have a tangy, citrus-like flavor that makes it a great trail nibble. A lot of people already know it’s easier to identify cousin, Wood Sorrel, pictured below, but find this one if you want an even sharper lemony flavor. 

Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, sheep sorrel has been used traditionally for everything from scurvy prevention to cooling down fevers. Just don’t overdo it—it contains oxalates, which in large amounts can cause kidney trouble.

Best use:
Add a few leaves to wild salads or chew on one as a thirst-quencher when you're on the move.

Field tip:
The sharp leaf shape is a dead giveaway. Once you see it, you’ll spot it everywhere.

About the author

Craig Caudill is the Director of Nature Reliance School, where he leads in-person and online training in wilderness survival, bushcraft, tracking and disaster readiness. He is the author of multiple books on outdoor skills and has been featured as a consultant for the US Government, national television, and survival programs. With decades of experience, Craig is dedicated to teaching others how to interact responsibly with nature while building self-reliance. Learn more at www.naturereliance.org.