Best foraging books for California

A foraging guide is only as good as its match to your area. These books are written for California. Always confirm an ID with two sources before you eat anything, and learn the deadly look-alikes first.

Written for California

1. California Foraging

   California Foraging

   Judith Larner Lowry · California

   120 wild foods found across California's very different landscapes.

   beginnerCalifornia
2. Foraging California

   Foraging California

   Christopher Nyerges · California

   Christopher Nyerges's guide to wild foods in California, from a long-time foraging teacher.

   beginnerCalifornia
3. 

   Mushrooms Demystified

   David Arora · California

   David Arora's huge mushroom identification reference, strongest for California and the West. Serious mushroom foragers treat it as the standard.

   advancedCaliforniaLarge reference

Broader guides that also cover this area

1. 

   All That the Rain Promises and More

   David Arora · Western North America

   Arora's pocket-sized, funny guide to western mushrooms. A lighter companion to Mushrooms Demystified.

   beginnerWestern North AmericaPocket-size
2. 

   Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West

   Gregory L. Tilford · Western North America

   Covers edible and medicinal plants from the Rockies to the Pacific with color photos.

   intermediateWestern North America
3. 

   Peterson Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs

   Steven Foster, Christopher Hobbs · Western North America

   The western counterpart to the Peterson medicinal guide, covering plants from the Rockies to the Pacific. Includes safety notes on toxic species.

   intermediateWestern North AmericaField guide