Michigan · September

What foragers look for in Michigan in September

17 of the 24 species on the Michigan calendar have September 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.

‹ August October ›

Black trumpets and other CraterellusCraterellus spp.
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=502 (163 in September)
Black walnutJuglans nigra
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=57 (17 in September)
USA-NPN cross-check: 19 "Ripe fruits" plant-year records in Michigan peak in October.
Chicken of the woodsLaetiporus spp.
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=2,340 (810 in September)
Giant puffballCalvatia gigantea
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=591 (267 in September)
Hen of the woods (maitake)Grifola frondosa
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=832 (421 in September)
King boleteBoletus edulis
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=58 (28 in September)
Lion's mane and other HericiumHericium spp.
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=977 (482 in September)
Wild grapesVitis spp.
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=58 (16 in September)
Wild roses (hips)Rosa spp.
Peak month for records
100% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=362 (80 in September)
PawpawAsimina triloba
Records tailing off
76% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=94 (25 in September)
ChagaInonotus obliquus
Records tailing off
74% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=298 (46 in September)
SumacsRhus spp.
Records tailing off
63% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=739 (128 in September)
Hedgehog mushroomsHydnum spp.
Records tailing off
63% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=86 (24 in September)
Oyster mushroomsPleurotus spp.
Records tailing off
57% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=3,791 (453 in September)
Blueberries, huckleberries and relativesVaccinium spp.
Records tailing off
54% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=190 (37 in September)
ElderberriesSambucus spp.
Records tailing off
51% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=616 (95 in September)
ChanterellesCantharellus spp.
Records tailing off
38% of this row's peak · iNaturalist research-grade observations, Michigan · n=665 (104 in September)

In Michigan, September is the busiest month of the year for records of: Black trumpets and other Craterellus, Black walnut, Chicken of the woods, Giant puffball, Hen of the woods (maitake). Records of Blackberries, raspberries and relatives, Chokecherry, Hazelnuts drop below the listing line after August. "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.

‹ August October ›

Questions

What do foragers look for in Michigan in September?

In public records for Michigan, people most often report these in September: Black trumpets and other Craterellus, Black walnut, Chicken of the woods, Giant puffball, Hen of the woods (maitake), King bolete, Lion's mane and other Hericium, Wild grapes. 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 September Indiana in September Ohio in September

Michigan: the whole year · September 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, Michigan, 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, Michigan, 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 17 rows above are the species with at least 10% of their peak-month count, and at least 3 records, in September in Michigan. 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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