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Illinois · July

What foragers look for in Illinois in July

14 of the 19 species on the Illinois calendar have July records. Listed by how much of each row's year falls in this month.

Never eat anything based on this page or on the app. These tables show when people recorded these species in public datasets. They do not say anything is ripe, edible or safe, and they do not help identify a find. Confirm every find with a qualified local expert.
‹ JuneAugust ›
  1. Black cherryPrunus serotina
    Peak month for records
    100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=50 (35 in July)
  2. ChanterellesCantharellus spp.
    Peak month for records
    100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=159 (74 in July)
  3. SumacsRhus spp.
    Peak month for records
    100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=962 (242 in July)
  4. Black walnutJuglans nigra
    Records rising
    88% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=102 (23 in July)
  5. Blackberries, raspberries and relativesRubus spp.
    Records tailing off
    87% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=147 (61 in July)
  6. Oyster mushroomsPleurotus spp.
    Records tailing off
    76% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=1,969 (372 in July)
  7. Black trumpets and other CraterellusCraterellus spp.
    Records rising
    67% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=59 (14 in July)
  8. PawpawAsimina triloba
    Records rising
    52% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=192 (33 in July)
  9. American persimmonDiospyros virginiana
    Records rising
    45% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=159 (21 in July)
  10. ElderberriesSambucus spp.
    Records rising
    38% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=122 (26 in July)
  11. Wild roses (hips)Rosa spp.
    Records rising
    27% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=201 (12 in July)
  12. Chicken of the woodsLaetiporus spp.
    Records rising
    25% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=1,903 (174 in July)
  13. American plumPrunus americana
    Records rising
    17% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=44 (6 in July)
  14. MulberriesMorus spp.
    Records tailing off
    12% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Illinois · n=54 (4 in July)

In Illinois, July is the busiest month of the year for records of: Black cherry, Chanterelles, Sumacs. Records of Serviceberries (juneberries) drop below the listing line after June. "Peak month" means the month with the most records for that row; "rising" and "tailing off" describe the record counts on either side of it, nothing about the plant or fungus itself.

‹ JuneAugust ›

Questions

What do foragers look for in Illinois in July?

In public records for Illinois, people most often report these in July: Black cherry, Chanterelles, Sumacs, Black walnut, Blackberries, raspberries and relatives, Oyster mushrooms, Black trumpets and other Craterellus, Pawpaw. This is a list of records, not of anything safe to eat.

Does a record mean it is ripe or edible?

No. A record means someone reported the species that month. It says nothing about ripeness, quantity or edibility, and many have dangerous lookalikes. Confirm every find with a qualified local expert.

Same month, nearby

Wisconsin in JulyIowa in JulyMissouri in JulyKentucky in JulyIndiana in July

Illinois: the whole year · July across the US

Source and date

Counts are public records by calendar month, shown as a share of each row's busiest month. A record means someone reported the species that month; it says nothing about quantity, ripeness or safety. Records follow where and when people go out, so busy weekends and popular parks count more than remote ground.

iNaturalist
Research-grade observations, Illinois, all years to 2026-10-20: mushrooms as all observations; fruit and nut plants as observations annotated "Fruits or Seeds". Retrieved 2026-10-20 from the iNaturalist API. inaturalist.org
USA-NPN
Nature's Notebook "Ripe fruits" phenophase status records, Illinois, 2009–2025 (one record = one plant in one year, from first to last "yes"). Retrieved 2026-10-20 from the USA National Phenology Network data service, shown as a cross-check where a row has at least 8 records. usanpn.org
Rows
The 14 rows above are the species with at least 10% of their peak-month count, and at least 3 records, in July in Illinois. Common names are the ones foragers use and are not an identification; the scientific name is the source's taxon.

Record what you find

Forager's Field Notes is a private journal: your own names, your own patches, stored only on your phone. Log a find and your own calendar builds itself, week by week, with a year wheel you can share and a field checklist for next month.

It never identifies species or judges edibility. Free to start, no account.

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