Check broad occurrence
Start with region, habitat, season, and whether the plant is native, introduced, cultivated, localized, or still under review.
North America first
Foraging Guide
Learn where a plant may broadly occur, how identification should be approached, and when cultivation or a traceable supplier is the safer choice.
How to use this guide
Maps answer “might it grow here?”—never “go harvest here.”
Future range maps will use broad shaded regions rather than exact collection points. A shaded region does not establish abundance, correct identification, legal access, harvest permission, clean soil, or safe use.
Confirm multiple field marks
Use the whole plant, leaves, stem, flower, fruit or seed, habitat, season, and local range. Never rely on one image or app result.
Verify access and ethics
Check the exact land manager’s current rules, obtain permission, avoid sensitive populations, and leave uncertain plants untouched.
Public status language
Clear signals before collection is considered
Mapped
Documented broad region
Reviewed sources support broad occurrence. Local habitat, identity, access, contamination, and current rules still require confirmation.
Review
Localized or habitat-dependent
The plant may occur in the region but is not broadly available. Public maps will not expose precise populations.
Prefer growing
Cultivation preferred
Growing the correct species or buying verified material is favored over casual wild collection.
Protected
No harvest promotion
Collection guidance is restricted for conservation, cultural, legal, toxicity, lookalike, or sourcing reasons.