Los Angeles, California

In season now

• California Pepper Tree (Schinus molle)

  Where: Parks, gardens, street trees throughout LA; Griffith Park, Elysian Park

  Ripe berries are pink-red, peppery, and dry; harvest by stripping clusters into a bag. Use fresh or dried as a peppercorn substitute in cooking.

  Look-alikes: Avoid confusing with toxic Poison Oak (three leaflets, no berries); pepper tree has feathery compound leaves and obvious berry clusters.

  Caution: Wash hands after handling; some people have mild allergic reactions to the resin.

• Figs (Ficus carica)

  Where: Abandoned orchards, gardens, and naturalized sites in foothills and canyons; common in Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and San Gabriel Valley

  Ripe figs are soft, drooping, and split slightly at the base; pick when fully colored (dark purple or green depending on variety). Eat fresh or dry.

  Look-alikes: No dangerous look-alikes; distinguish ripe from unripe by softness and color depth.

  Caution: Fig latex can irritate skin; wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after harvesting.

• Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

  Where: Native chaparral and oak woodlands in foothills; San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, Griffith Park

  Bright red berries appear now; traditionally used for jelly or dried. Berries are tart and require cooking and straining to remove seeds.

  Look-alikes: Similar to Photinia (red tip); toyon has finely serrated leaves and grows wild in chaparral, while Photinia is an ornamental shrub.

  Caution: Ensure you're on public land or have permission; toyon is native and protected in some areas.

• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

  Where: Disturbed areas, roadsides, and coastal bluffs; widespread throughout LA basin and foothills

  Harvest feathery fronds and seeds now; seeds are ready when they turn brown and dry. Use fronds fresh or dried in tea; seeds in cooking.

  Look-alikes: Poison Hemlock has purple blotches on stems and a musty smell; fennel is smooth, green, and smells distinctly of anise.

  Caution: Poison Hemlock is toxic and can cause severe burns; always confirm fennel's anise scent and smooth stems before harvesting.

• Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)

  Where: Shaded canyons and moist areas in foothills; Runyon Canyon, Bronson Canyon, San Gabriel foothills

  Young leaves and stems are tender and mild; eat raw in salads or lightly cooked. Harvest before plants bolt in heat.

  Look-alikes: No dangerous look-alikes; distinctive round leaves with a central hole are unmistakable.

  Caution: Miner's lettuce prefers cool, moist shade; it's declining as temperatures rise, so harvest sparingly.

• Wild Mustard (Brassica rapa subsp. campestris)

  Where: Disturbed ground, fields, and roadsides throughout LA; common in coastal sage scrub margins

  Young leaves and flower buds are edible and peppery; harvest before flowering or use unopened buds like broccoli rabe. Blanch or sauté.

  Look-alikes: Distinguish from toxic Poison Hemlock by smell (mustard is peppery, hemlock musty) and leaf shape (mustard leaves are coarser, less feathery).

  Caution: Poison Hemlock is present in LA; always confirm peppery mustard smell and coarse leaves.