Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Ground Elder

Aegopodium podagraria

Typically in season from March to July, peaking around April to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Woodland edges, Woodland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria)

Photo: Flavien Saboureau · CC BY

When Ground Elder is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to June. 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 July

Where it grows

Ground Elder is usually found in Disturbed ground, Woodland edges, Woodland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Deadly look-alikes: poison hemlock, cowbane, fool's parsley. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Ground Elder into the field

Open Ground Elder 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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Ground Elder: common questions

When is Ground Elder in season?

Ground Elder is generally in season from March to July, with its peak around April to June 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 Ground Elder grow?

Ground Elder is usually found in Disturbed ground, Woodland edges, Woodland.

Is Ground Elder safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: poison hemlock, cowbane, fool's parsley. 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