Fall · September 8, 2026
Jacksonville, Florida
Now
28°C · Clear
Today
31° / 25°
Rain, 7 days
41 mm
Season
Fall · frost in ~106 d
Foraging around Jacksonville
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyFall Foraging in Jacksonville: September
In season now
Saw Palmetto berries
Where: Scrubby flatwoods, sandy roadsides, and palmetto thickets throughout Duval County.
Dark blue-black drupes appear in late summer; harvest when fully dark (not red). Berries are small, hard, and slightly bitter—traditionally used for tea or tincture.
Look-alikes: Cabbage palm berries are larger, orange-red, and ripen later; saw palmetto is smaller and darker.
Mulberry (white and red)
Where: Disturbed areas, field edges, and yards throughout Jacksonville; often near water.
Elongated aggregate berries ripen from red to dark purple-black in late summer; eat fresh or dry. Soft, sweet, and seedless when fully ripe.
Look-alikes: Blackberry and raspberry have similar shape but thorny canes; mulberry trees are thornless.
Sea Purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum)
Where: Salt marshes, brackish ditches, and coastal strand areas around Jacksonville.
Succulent, fleshy leaves and stems; slightly salty, crisp texture. Eat raw in salads or lightly cooked; high in salt, so rinse well.
Look-alikes: Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) lacks the fleshy, salt-tolerant habit and grows in upland gardens; sea purslane is strictly coastal.
Groundnut (Apios americana)
Where: Moist thickets, swamp margins, and ditches; less common but present in northern Duval County.
Tuberous rhizomes (marble to walnut-sized) grow on climbing vines; dig in fall after frost kills vines. Boil or roast; starchy, nutty flavor.
Look-alikes: Poison hemlock seedlings can grow nearby but have hollow, blotchy stems; groundnut vines are solid and twining.
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Where: Moist disturbed areas, field margins, and swamp edges; scattered throughout the region.
Dark purple-black berries in flat-topped clusters; harvest fully ripe only. Cook into syrup, jam, or tea; raw berries can cause stomach upset.
Look-alikes: Pokeweed berries are similar but grow in loose drooping clusters and are toxic; elderberry clusters are flat-topped and firm.
Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
Where: Scrubby flatwoods, pocosins, and disturbed sandy areas throughout Duval County.
Waxy, blue-gray berries ripen in late summer; traditionally used to make fragrant candles or infused into tea. Aromatic foliage.
Look-alikes: Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica) is rare in Florida; wax myrtle is the common waxy-berry shrub here.
Coming soon
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Native persimmons ripen October–November; orange fruit must be fully soft or astringent. Seek on sandy ridges and field edges.
Acorn (White Oak, Laurel Oak, Water Oak)
Fall acorns drop September–October; leach tannins in water, then roast and grind for flour. Oak species vary in tannin content.
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Rare in Jacksonville proper but present in northern Duval; custard-like fruit ripens September–October. Forage on rich bottomland margins.
Safety in this area
- Ticks are abundant in Florida scrub and marsh edges year-round; wear long sleeves and pants, tuck pants into socks, and check skin thoroughly after foraging.
- Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) grows as ground cover and vine in disturbed areas and swamp margins; learn the three-leaflet pattern and avoid contact.
- Private land dominates Jacksonville; always ask permission before foraging on residential or commercial property.
- Saltwater and brackish areas may accumulate heavy metals; avoid foraging near industrial sites, marinas, or heavily trafficked waterways.
Foraging information is educational. Confirm every identification with a regional field guide or expert before eating anything wild.
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