Best foraging books for the Southwest
A foraging guide is only as good as its match to your area. These books are written for the Southwest. Always confirm an ID with two sources before you eat anything, and learn the deadly look-alikes first.
Written for the Southwest
Southwest Foraging
John Slattery · Southwest US
117 wild foods of the desert Southwest, from mesquite to prickly pear.
beginnerSouthwest US
Broader guides that also cover this area
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
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
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