Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Northern Monkshood

Aconitum septentrionale

Typically in season from January to December, peaking around June to August in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Grassland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Northern Monkshood (Aconitum septentrionale)

Photo: (c) Анна Митрошенкова, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Анна Митрошенкова · iNaturalist

When Northern Monkshood is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak June to August. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Northern Monkshood is usually found in Woodland, Grassland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Deadly look-alikes: Monkshood, Wolfsbane, Variegated monkshood. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Northern Monkshood into the field

Open Northern Monkshood in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Northern Monkshood: common questions

When is Northern Monkshood in season?

Northern Monkshood is generally in season from January to December, with its peak around June to August in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Northern Monkshood grow?

Northern Monkshood is usually found in Woodland, Grassland.

Is Northern Monkshood safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: Monkshood, Wolfsbane, Variegated monkshood. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits