Forager's Field NotesUnited States · September
What foragers look for in September
26 of the 29 mushrooms, fruits and nuts on this calendar have US records in September. Records differ a lot by state, so each row lists the states where September clears the listing line.
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.
- American persimmonDiospyros virginianaPeak month for records
- Black walnutJuglans nigraPeak month for records
- Chicken of the woodsLaetiporus spp.Peak month for records
- Hedgehog mushroomsHydnum spp.Peak month for records100% of this row's US peak · n=1,558 US records · listed for September in 6 states: Indiana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington
- Wild roses (hips)Rosa spp.Peak month for records100% of this row's US peak · n=12,644 US records · listed for September in 32 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts and 20 more
- ChagaInonotus obliquusRecords tailing off99% of this row's US peak · n=3,049 US records · listed for September in 13 states: Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and 1 more
- Hickories and pecanCarya spp.Records tailing off92% of this row's US peak · n=1,595 US records · listed for September in 16 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and 4 more
- SumacsRhus spp.Records tailing off
- Prickly pearOpuntia spp.Records tailing off89% of this row's US peak · n=4,369 US records · listed for September in 8 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Utah
- PawpawAsimina trilobaRecords tailing off
- Giant puffballCalvatia giganteaRecords rising78% of this row's US peak · n=7,043 US records · listed for September in 19 states: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and 7 more
- Lion's mane and other HericiumHericium spp.Records rising
- King boleteBoletus edulisRecords rising72% of this row's US peak · n=6,634 US records · listed for September in 16 states: Alaska, California, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and 4 more
- Hen of the woods (maitake)Grifola frondosaRecords rising
- Black trumpets and other CraterellusCraterellus spp.Records tailing off
- Oyster mushroomsPleurotus spp.Records tailing off
- Wild grapesVitis spp.Records tailing off62% of this row's US peak · n=3,506 US records · listed for September in 18 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and 6 more
- Blueberries, huckleberries and relativesVaccinium spp.Records tailing off57% of this row's US peak · n=11,635 US records · listed for September in 30 states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and 18 more
- ChanterellesCantharellus spp.Records tailing off
- ElderberriesSambucus spp.Records tailing off
- American plumPrunus americanaRecords tailing off
- ChokecherryPrunus virginianaRecords tailing off28% of this row's US peak · n=2,382 US records · listed for September in 11 states: California, Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin
- HazelnutsCorylus spp.Records tailing off15% of this row's US peak · n=1,896 US records · listed for September in 5 states: California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia
- Blackberries, raspberries and relativesRubus spp.Records tailing off13% of this row's US peak · n=19,447 US records · listed for September in 13 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont, Washington and 1 more
- Serviceberries (juneberries)Amelanchier spp.Records tailing off
- Black cherryPrunus serotinaRecords tailing off
Questions
What can you forage in September?
This page cannot tell you what is safe to forage. It shows what people across the US record in September: American persimmon, Black walnut, Chicken of the woods, Hedgehog mushrooms, Wild roses (hips), Chaga, Hickories and pecan, Sumacs. Check your own state's page, and confirm every find with a qualified local expert.
Is September a good month for mushrooms?
10 of the 11 mushroom groups on this calendar have US records in September. Records are not a forecast for your patch.
Source and date
- iNaturalist
- Research-grade observations, all 50 states, 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
- Rows
- A row appears when September holds at least 10% of the row's busiest US month. The state list uses each state's own rows. 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.