This document provides information on useful edible and medicinal plants found in the Santa Ana Mountains, along with foraging guidelines. It lists 10 plant species native to the area, describing what parts can be eaten or used. For example, leaves of black sage and yucca can be eaten, acorns of coastal live oak are nutritious after processing, and rose hips and miner's lettuce leaves make good additions to salads. It also cautions readers to only collect small amounts, avoid potentially toxic plants, and get permission to forage on private lands. A calendar of guided nature tours and hikes led by naturalists in the Santa Ana Mountains is included.

1. USEFUL PLANTS OF THE SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS
ONLINE PHOTOS: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/flora/
1. Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) - Leaves can be eaten raw or sauteed, stewed, or
broiled with other ingredients, such as stuffing, vegetables, meats, and potatoes.
Edible seeds similar to chia or flax.
2. Yucca (Yucca whipplei) - Leaves have tough fibers for making rope or sandals with a
bitter skin that provides soap for cleaning. Stalk is full of glucose for eating or using
as a sweetener for other dishes. Flowers are edible raw. Root can be cooked like
squash.
3. Coastal Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) - Acorns can be dried and leached of tannic acid
to eat. Can be prepared as soup, bread, or whole nut. One the most nutritious foods
available.
4. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) - Leaves make great tasting tea for stomach
ailments.
5. CA Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica) - Fresh or dry leaves can be cooked with
pinto beans, pasta sauce, or sautes. Fruit flesh can be eaten like avocado. Pit can be
dry-roasted, shelled, and eaten.
6. Grasses (various species) - Fresh leaves (blades) can be chewed like gum, blended
into healthy drink, or made into tea. Fresh seeds can be eaten. Dry seeds can be
ground into flour for bread.
7. CA Wild Rose (Rosa californica) - Fruit (hips) can be eaten fresh or dried for tea
which is high in vitamin C. Hips can be processed into jam, jelly, marmalade, and
syrup. Flowers are edible and can be used to flavor ice cream.
8. Miners Lettuce (Claytonia sp.) - Fresh leaves can be collected for salad.
9. Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia littoralis) - Remove spines from pads (nopales),
marinate and/or cook to eat. Remove spines from fruit (tuna) and eat raw. Wild
10. Cucumber (Marah macrocarpus) - spiny fruit is toxic to eat, but can be used as
sturdy loofah sponge for cleaning dishes when dried.
FORAGING DO’S & DON’TS:
1. For native plants: you might need to ask permission to collect, a permit might be
necessary depending on the location.
2. Be aware of the policies/practice of the landowner. Find out if there is pesticide use,
fecal matter, dumping in the area you are foraging, this may contaminate your food.
3. 10% rule: DO NOT collect more than 10% of the plant so that it can still reproduce.
4. If you are unsure of the plant DO NOT eat it, it can actually be more harmful to eat an
unknown plant than animal.
5. If you are not eating the root of the plant, DO NOT take out the whole plant, prune it.
6. Always pick gently so that you do not damage the plant.
7. Be respectful of the plant, give thanks for feeding/helping you!
8. Be aware of where you are traveling, DO NOT let the foraging distract you from your
sense of direction.
9. If there is a sensitive habitat off-trail, DO NOT disturb it to collect.
10. Some plants can be toxic if eaten in large quantities, BE AWARE of which ones
do this.

2. PUBLIC PROGRAM CALENDAR
TOUR DETAILS: www.naturalist-for-you.org/calendar.htm
RSVP: 714-649-9084 or jrobinson@naturalist-for-you.org
Sun, April 21, 9am – 5pm - Harding Falls with SMRPD, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange
County, Difficulty=strenuous.
Thu, April 25, 7:30pm – 10:00pm - Full Moon Hike on Irvine Mesa Loop with SMRPD, Santa
Ana Mountains, Orange County, Difficulty=moderate to strenuous.
Fri, April 26, 6pm – 8pm - Mountain Music Jam up Black Star Canyon Road with SMRPD,
Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County
Fri, May 3, 7pm – 9pm - Owling up Silverado Canyon with SMRPD, Santa Ana Mountains,
Orange County, Difficulty=easy.
Sat, May 4, 8:30am – 10:30am - Beginning Birding in Black Star Canyon, Santa Ana
Mountains, Orange County, Difficulty=easy.
Fri, May 10, 7pm – 9pm - Owling in Black Star Canyon with SMRPD, Santa Ana Mountains,
Orange County, Difficulty=easy.
Sat, May 11, 10am – 4pm – Ascent to Yeager Mesa with SMRPD, Santa Ana Mountains,
Orange County, Difficulty=strenuous.
Fri, May 24, 6pm – 8pm - Mountain Music Jam up Black Star Canyon Road with SMRPD,
Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County.
Fri, June 7, 7pm – 9pm - Glowworm Gathering up Black Star Canyon with SMRPD, Santa
Ana Mountains, Orange County, Difficulty=easy.
Sat, June 8, 9am – 1pm - Coal Canyon Tour in partnership with Santiago Canyon College,
Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County, Difficulty=moderate.
Fri, June 21, 7pm – 9pm - Glowworm Gathering up Black Star Canyon with SMRPD, Santa
Ana Mountains, Orange County, Difficulty=easy.
Sun, July 14, 2pm – 7pm - Silverado Trail to Bedford Peak with SMRPD, Silverado Canyon,
Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County, Difficulty=strenuous.
Fri, July 26, 6pm – 8pm - Mountain Music Jam up Black Star Canyon Road with SMRPD,
Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County.
Fri, August 23, 6pm – 8pm - Mountain Music Jam up Black Star Canyon Road with SMRPD,
Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County.