What is in season right now?

Pick your USDA zone and month to see what wild edibles are peaking near you. Every entry includes identification notes, dangerous lookalike warnings, and how to harvest without damaging the patch.

USDA Zone

Month

Seasonal Calendar

Click any species to see identification details and safety warnings. Check boxes to track what you have found this season.

Select a species from the calendar above to see identification details, lookalike warnings, and harvesting tips.

Safety and Common Mistakes

Where Not to Forage

Within 50 feet of busy roads (exhaust and heavy metals)
Conventional farm edges (pesticide drift)
Railroad ties and treated lumber areas (creosote)
Downstream from industrial sites or landfills
Protected wildlife areas and nature preserves (illegal)

Private Property and Ethics

Always ask permission before foraging on private land
State parks often require a foraging permit
National parks prohibit plant collection entirely
Leave no trace. Do not trample surrounding plants
Never dig up rare or at-risk species

Before You Eat Anything

Be 100 percent certain of identification from at least two sources
Try a tiny amount first and wait 24 hours for reactions
Some wild plants must be cooked to be safe
Avoid plants that taste bitter, soapy, or burning
When in doubt, throw it out

Sustainable Harvesting Rules

Take no more than 10 to 20 percent of a patch
Never harvest the only patch you can find
Pick leaves and flowers before roots when possible
Spread your harvesting across multiple locations
Return to the same patches year after year to monitor health

Printable Pocket Guide

Generate a compact, printable guide for the current season in your zone. Fold it and take it into the field.

Questions Beginners Ask

: Search for your zip code on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website. Most of the US falls between zones 3 and 10. If you are unsure, pick a zone one number lower than you think to be safe. The calendar will still be useful as a general guide.
: Roadside foraging is risky due to vehicle exhaust, road salt, and herbicide spraying. Many city parks prohibit foraging entirely. Always check local regulations first. Railroad tracks, industrial areas, and conventional farm edges are also poor choices due to chemical contamination.
: Bird flu primarily affects birds and poultry. The risk to foragers picking plants is very low. However, avoid handling sick or dead wild birds, and always wash your hands and your harvest thoroughly. If there is an active bird flu outbreak in your area, check local wildlife agency guidance before visiting wetlands or waterfowl areas.
: A common rule is to take no more than 10 to 20 percent of what you find in one patch. Never take the only patch in an area. Leave the healthiest plants to reproduce. For roots and bulbs, be especially conservative since the whole plant dies. For leaves and flowers, the plant usually survives.
: The USDA zone system is used in the US and Canada, so Canadian foragers can use this too. For Europe and other regions, the zones do not translate directly, but the seasonal patterns may still be roughly useful as a starting point. A region-specific field guide is strongly recommended outside North America.

Why this calendar exists

Most foraging books organize plants alphabetically. That is great for looking something up, but it does not help you answer the question you actually ask most often: what can I find right now? This calendar flips the approach. Pick your zone and month, and you get a focused list of what is actually ready to harvest.

Every species entry includes the dangerous lookalikes that cause the most confusion. Morel mushrooms and false morels. Wild carrot and poison hemlock. Wild garlic and death camas. These are the mistakes that send people to the hospital, and they are the ones we call out first.

This is a starting point, not a replacement for a good regional field guide. We recommend carrying a physical guide in the bag with your harvest basket. The calendar works best as your weekly planning tool, and the field guide works as your in-the-moment confirmation.

Last updated: January 2026 · Data based on USDA zone averages and regional foraging references. Seasonal timing may vary by 2 to 4 weeks depending on your specific microclimate.