01
Do not harvest if doubt remains
Correct identification is non-negotiable. If traits, habitat, contamination risk, or look-alikes remain unclear, stop there.
Wild Forager · Germany · Android beta
Learn which edible wild plants have been observed near you.
Wild Forager brings nearby biodiversity observations, plant traits, seasonality, and look-alike warnings together in one place.
Built for careful learning, not as a shortcut to harvesting.
Best used with local knowledge, field guides, guided walks, and time outdoors.
190+ edible plants
Curated for Germany
Based on open biodiversity data
Interactive detail
Whole plant (habitus)
Flat-topped white flower cluster, separate leaf stalks, and a narrow bulb form the clearest overall wild garlic profile.
Key field cue: each leaf emerges on its own stalk. Lily of the Valley does not.
Plant illustrations by María José Madrigal.
A different approach
Careful comparison instead of quick answers.
Wild Forager is not built for one-click certainty. It brings together edible wild plants, Germany-focused curation, nearby observations, morphology, seasonality, and confusion risks in one place so plant knowledge can build over time.
- Focused on edible wild plants rather than general plant lists.
- Curated for Germany, with nearby biodiversity observations and habitat context.
- Traits, seasonality, and look-alike warnings brought together in one learning companion.
How learning in the field is supported
Three ways Wild Forager helps you learn
Wild Forager supports learning before, during, and after time outdoors by keeping observation context, plant traits, seasonality, and caution in one place.
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Notice what has been documented nearby
Observation maps help people pay attention to local plant diversity without treating individual records as proof of presence.
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Compare before you decide
Plant pages bring together morphology, habitat cues, seasonality, and confusion risks so comparison becomes more deliberate.
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Learn in context
Use the app during walks, with field guides, and across repeated seasons until names turn into real plant knowledge.
Wild Forager supports independent learning, but it does not replace expert guidance, field experience, or independent confirmation.
Your own records
Keep track of observations, notes, and favorites
Wild Forager is not only for comparison in the field. It also lets people keep a personal record of what they have seen, where they saw it, and what they want to revisit later.
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Save observations with context
Store the place, date, and photo together so each record stays tied to a real encounter outdoors.
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Add personal notes
Write down field details, reminders, or follow-up questions while the plant and place are still fresh in memory.
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Track what you are learning over time
Keep favorites, revisit earlier finds, and build a steadier sense of which plants have actually become familiar.
Inside each plant profile
What each plant profile includes
Illustrations, photos, traits, habitat context, seasonality, and look-alike warnings come together in one place so what is in front of you can be compared more carefully.
This is educational guidance, not identification certainty. Never collect or
consume a plant based on the app alone.
Wild Safety
Responsible foraging starts with restraint
Wild Forager is designed to slow the process down: observe first, compare carefully, and treat habitats as more important than harvest. In the app, these and additional safety recommendations are included directly in the learning flow.
02
Respect protected areas and local rules
Protected areas, protected species, and local rules exist for good reason. Responsible foraging means respecting them without exception.
03
Take only small amounts
Harvest only from abundant populations and leave enough for regeneration, wildlife, and the place itself.
04
Share knowledge with care
Avoid exposing sensitive places or rare species. Good plant education should strengthen conservation, not pressure it.
05
Avoid polluted sites
Correct identification is not enough. Roadsides, industrial areas, and contaminated ground can make a plant risky even when it has been identified correctly.
Protected areas are visible in the app
Protected areas are shown directly on the map so people can slow down, avoid sensitive places, and make better decisions before collecting anything.
People once knew the plants around them. That kind of knowledge should not feel unusual.
Wild Forager is meant to support slower, place-based plant learning.
About the project
Built in Leipzig. Shaped by place-based learning.
Wild Forager was created by a Colombian biologist working across food systems, data, and public learning.
It grew from a simple observation: many people can name packaged products more easily than the plants growing around them.
The project began as a way to help people notice edible wild plants again and take a careful first step into deeper learning through books, guided walks, and time outdoors.
The aim is simple: make plant knowledge feel closer, slower, and more grounded in place.
Francisco
Biologist · Leipzig
Design and illustrations: María José Madrigal
(@__madmeg).
Learn with others
Plant knowledge grows best through direct learning with others.
Wild Forager is built to support this kind of learning, not replace it. The app works best as a companion to direct learning in the field.
Berlin
Leipzig
Berlin
The Wild Path
Beginner-friendly foraging workshops in Berlin and Brandenburg with a strong focus on identification, ethics, and urban plant learning.
Visit project →
Berlin
Edible Alchemy
Wild plant walks and foraging workshops in Berlin, exploring edible plants from botanical identification to culinary and herbal practice.
Visit project →
Leipzig
Lautes Kraut
Wild herb walks and foraging tours around Leipzig, led in the field and grounded in direct local knowledge.
Visit project →
Leipzig
Fleuri Herbalista
Urban wild herb walks and workshops in Leipzig with a strong focus on botanical traits and culinary uses.
Visit project →Know a project that should be listed here? Write to hello@wildforager.org.
Support the project
Help keep Wild Forager independent
Wild Forager is an independent project for ecological literacy, responsible foraging, and open learning tools. The core app is free and meant to stay that way. Contributions help fund research, maintenance, and continued development without advertising.
Research and update plant profiles
Data maintenance, maps, new features
Server, hosting, infrastructure
Independent development without ads
Every contribution helps keep the project independent and moving forward.
Frequently asked questions
Important questions before you start
Wild Forager is designed as a careful learning tool. These answers clarify what the app is for, and what it is not.
Is Wild Forager suitable for beginners?
Yes, but as a learning tool. It is meant to support careful comparison, not promise quick certainty.
Does the app identify plants for me?
No. It helps compare traits, seasonality, habitat, and look-alike risks, but it does not replace independent confirmation.
Is Wild Forager intended only for Germany?
The editorial focus and curation are currently oriented toward Germany.
Is there an iPhone version?
Not yet. At the moment there is an Android beta and a web test version that runs directly in the browser.
How should I use the app safely?
Never collect or eat a plant based on the app alone. Always verify independently and, where possible, cross-check with experienced people or good reference books.
Disclaimer: Wild Forager is an educational tool. It must not be used as the sole basis for collecting or consuming plants. Always verify independently and, where possible, with experienced people. Use is at your own risk.