Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Bristly Oxtongue

Helminthotheca echioides

Typically in season from March to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Grassland, Scrub & hedgerows. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Bristly Oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides)

Photo: (c) Jerry Lanfear, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jerry Lanfear · iNaturalist

When Bristly Oxtongue is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak March 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

Bristly Oxtongue is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland, Scrub & hedgerows.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: Viper's bugloss, Hawkweed oxtongue, Common sowthistle. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Bristly Oxtongue into the field

Open Bristly Oxtongue 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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Bristly Oxtongue: common questions

When is Bristly Oxtongue in season?

Bristly Oxtongue is generally in season from March 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 Bristly Oxtongue grow?

Bristly Oxtongue is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland, Scrub & hedgerows.

Is Bristly Oxtongue safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: Viper's bugloss, Hawkweed oxtongue, Common sowthistle. 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