Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Yerba Santa

Eriodictyon californicum

Typically in season from May to August in the northern hemisphere. Found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum)

Photo: Breck Breckenridge (Public domain)

When Yerba Santa is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak May 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

Yerba Santa is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: thickleaf yerba santa, hairy yerba santa, white sage. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Yerba Santa into the field

Open Yerba Santa 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.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Yerba Santa: common questions

When is Yerba Santa in season?

Yerba Santa is generally in season from May 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 Yerba Santa grow?

Yerba Santa is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges.

Is Yerba Santa safe to forage?

Similar species: thickleaf yerba santa, hairy yerba santa, white sage. 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