Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Alligator Juniper

Juniperus deppeana

Typically in season from August to November, peaking around August to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeana)

Photo: cogdogblog on Flickr · CC BY 2.0

When Alligator Juniper is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak August to October. 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

Alligator Juniper is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: Savin juniper, One-seed juniper, Rocky Mountain juniper. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Alligator Juniper into the field

Open Alligator Juniper 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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Alligator Juniper: common questions

When is Alligator Juniper in season?

Alligator Juniper is generally in season from August to November, with its peak around August to October 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 Alligator Juniper grow?

Alligator Juniper is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland.

Is Alligator Juniper safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: Savin juniper, One-seed juniper, Rocky Mountain juniper. 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