Menu
Anatolia · month by month

What to gather when: a medicinal plant calendar

The gathering season of Anatolian plants in the catalog, starting with this month. High-risk, protected and legally restricted plants are left out.

November (this month)

  • Bearberry · Leaves are picked in late summer and autumn.
  • Dandelion · Leaves in spring, roots in autumn.
  • Licorice · Roots are dug in autumn or spring.
  • Madder · Roots are dug in the autumn of the second or third year.
  • Marshmallow · Roots in autumn, flowers July–August.
  • Myrtle · Leaves in early summer, berries November–December.
  • Pomegranate · Fruit ripens September–November.
  • Rose hip · Fruits are picked September–November, once softened by the first frosts.
  • Saffron · Flowers are hand-picked early in the morning in October–November.
  • Sea buckthorn · Berries are picked September–November, after the first frosts.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • Valerian · Roots are dug in autumn, September–October.

December

  • Bitter orange · Flowers March–April; fruit ripens December–February.
  • Myrtle · Leaves in early summer, berries November–December.

January

  • Bitter orange · Flowers March–April; fruit ripens December–February.

February

  • Bitter orange · Flowers March–April; fruit ripens December–February.

March

  • Artichoke · Heads are cut March–May, before they open.
  • Bitter orange · Flowers March–April; fruit ripens December–February.
  • Borage · Leaves in spring; flowers April–June.
  • Common mallow · Leaves March–May, flowers May–September.
  • Corn poppy · Flowers April–June; petals are picked in the morning after the dew and dried in shade. Leaves March–April.
  • Dandelion · Leaves in spring, roots in autumn.
  • Fennel · Leaves in spring, seeds August–September.
  • French lavender · Flowers March–May; spikes are cut before fully open.
  • Greek sage · Leaves are picked before flowering, in spring and early summer.
  • Licorice · Roots are dug in autumn or spring.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • White willow · Bark is stripped in spring, when the sap rises, from branches 2–3 years old.

April

  • Artichoke · Heads are cut March–May, before they open.
  • Bitter orange · Flowers March–April; fruit ripens December–February.
  • Borage · Leaves in spring; flowers April–June.
  • Common mallow · Leaves March–May, flowers May–September.
  • Corn poppy · Flowers April–June; petals are picked in the morning after the dew and dried in shade. Leaves March–April.
  • Dandelion · Leaves in spring, roots in autumn.
  • Fennel · Leaves in spring, seeds August–September.
  • French lavender · Flowers March–May; spikes are cut before fully open.
  • Greek sage · Leaves are picked before flowering, in spring and early summer.
  • Hawthorn · Flowers April–May, fruit September–October.
  • Horse chestnut · Flowers April–May; seeds drop September–October.
  • Licorice · Roots are dug in autumn or spring.
  • Mahaleb cherry · Flowers April–May; fruit is picked June–July when black and the stones dried.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • White willow · Bark is stripped in spring, when the sap rises, from branches 2–3 years old.

May

  • Artichoke · Heads are cut March–May, before they open.
  • Borage · Leaves in spring; flowers April–June.
  • Caper · Buds are picked early in the morning before they open, May–August.
  • Chamomile · Picked May–July when the flowers are fully open.
  • Common mallow · Leaves March–May, flowers May–September.
  • Corn poppy · Flowers April–June; petals are picked in the morning after the dew and dried in shade. Leaves March–April.
  • Dandelion · Leaves in spring, roots in autumn.
  • Elder · Flowers May–June, berries August–September.
  • Fennel · Leaves in spring, seeds August–September.
  • French lavender · Flowers March–May; spikes are cut before fully open.
  • Greek sage · Leaves are picked before flowering, in spring and early summer.
  • Hawthorn · Flowers April–May, fruit September–October.
  • Horse chestnut · Flowers April–May; seeds drop September–October.
  • Licorice · Roots are dug in autumn or spring.
  • Mahaleb cherry · Flowers April–May; fruit is picked June–July when black and the stones dried.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • Tea · Rize has three flushes between May and October.
  • Thyme and oregano · Picked in flower, May–July.
  • White willow · Bark is stripped in spring, when the sap rises, from branches 2–3 years old.

June

  • Basil · Leaves are most aromatic June–September, just before flowering.
  • Bearberry · Leaves are picked in late summer and autumn.
  • Borage · Leaves in spring; flowers April–June.
  • Caper · Buds are picked early in the morning before they open, May–August.
  • Chamomile · Picked May–July when the flowers are fully open.
  • Common mallow · Leaves March–May, flowers May–September.
  • Corn poppy · Flowers April–June; petals are picked in the morning after the dew and dried in shade. Leaves March–April.
  • Cumin · Seeds are harvested June–July.
  • Elder · Flowers May–June, berries August–September.
  • Fig · Fruit ripens August–September; leaves can be picked all summer.
  • Garlic · Lifted in June–July when the leaves yellow.
  • Greek sage · Leaves are picked before flowering, in spring and early summer.
  • Lavender · Picked in late June–July, just before the flowers fully open.
  • Lemon balm · Picked before flowering, June–August.
  • Linden · Flowers are picked in June and early July when fully open.
  • Mahaleb cherry · Flowers April–May; fruit is picked June–July when black and the stones dried.
  • Mint · Picked just before flowering, June–August.
  • Mountain tea · Flowering stems are cut June–August, when the flowers are fully open.
  • Mullein · Flowers are picked June–August, as soon as they open in the morning.
  • Myrtle · Leaves in early summer, berries November–December.
  • St John’s wort · Picked in flower in June–July, around midsummer.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • Tea · Rize has three flushes between May and October.
  • Thyme and oregano · Picked in flower, May–July.
  • Walnut · Green walnuts for jam in June, before the shell hardens; leaves June–July; nuts September–October.
  • Yarrow · Picked in flower, June–August.

July

  • Anise · Seeds are harvested July–August, when the umbels turn yellow.
  • Basil · Leaves are most aromatic June–September, just before flowering.
  • Bearberry · Leaves are picked in late summer and autumn.
  • Black seed · Seeds are harvested in July–August when the capsules dry.
  • Buckthorn · Berries are picked green, July–August.
  • Caper · Buds are picked early in the morning before they open, May–August.
  • Chamomile · Picked May–July when the flowers are fully open.
  • Common mallow · Leaves March–May, flowers May–September.
  • Cumin · Seeds are harvested June–July.
  • Fenugreek · Seeds are harvested July–August when the pods dry.
  • Fig · Fruit ripens August–September; leaves can be picked all summer.
  • Flaxseed · Seeds are harvested July–August.
  • Garlic · Lifted in June–July when the leaves yellow.
  • Greek sage · Leaves are picked before flowering, in spring and early summer.
  • Lavender · Picked in late June–July, just before the flowers fully open.
  • Lemon balm · Picked before flowering, June–August.
  • Linden · Flowers are picked in June and early July when fully open.
  • Mahaleb cherry · Flowers April–May; fruit is picked June–July when black and the stones dried.
  • Marshmallow · Roots in autumn, flowers July–August.
  • Mastic tree · Resin is collected July–October by scoring the trunk.
  • Milk thistle · Seeds are collected July–August, when the heads dry and fluff out.
  • Mint · Picked just before flowering, June–August.
  • Mountain tea · Flowering stems are cut June–August, when the flowers are fully open.
  • Mullein · Flowers are picked June–August, as soon as they open in the morning.
  • Myrtle · Leaves in early summer, berries November–December.
  • St John’s wort · Picked in flower in June–July, around midsummer.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • Tea · Rize has three flushes between May and October.
  • Thyme and oregano · Picked in flower, May–July.
  • Walnut · Green walnuts for jam in June, before the shell hardens; leaves June–July; nuts September–October.
  • Wormwood · Picked in flower, July–September.
  • Yarrow · Picked in flower, June–August.

August

  • Anise · Seeds are harvested July–August, when the umbels turn yellow.
  • Basil · Leaves are most aromatic June–September, just before flowering.
  • Bearberry · Leaves are picked in late summer and autumn.
  • Bitter melon · Fruit is picked August–October when it turns orange.
  • Black seed · Seeds are harvested in July–August when the capsules dry.
  • Buckthorn · Berries are picked green, July–August.
  • Caper · Buds are picked early in the morning before they open, May–August.
  • Carob · Pods are picked August–September when they turn brown.
  • Common mallow · Leaves March–May, flowers May–September.
  • Cornelian cherry · Fruit is picked August–September when deep red.
  • Elder · Flowers May–June, berries August–September.
  • Fennel · Leaves in spring, seeds August–September.
  • Fenugreek · Seeds are harvested July–August when the pods dry.
  • Fig · Fruit ripens August–September; leaves can be picked all summer.
  • Flaxseed · Seeds are harvested July–August.
  • Greek sage · Leaves are picked before flowering, in spring and early summer.
  • Lemon balm · Picked before flowering, June–August.
  • Marshmallow · Roots in autumn, flowers July–August.
  • Mastic tree · Resin is collected July–October by scoring the trunk.
  • Milk thistle · Seeds are collected July–August, when the heads dry and fluff out.
  • Mint · Picked just before flowering, June–August.
  • Mountain tea · Flowering stems are cut June–August, when the flowers are fully open.
  • Mullein · Flowers are picked June–August, as soon as they open in the morning.
  • Myrtle · Leaves in early summer, berries November–December.
  • St John’s wort · Picked in flower in June–July, around midsummer.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • Sumac · Berry clusters are picked August–September when red.
  • Tea · Rize has three flushes between May and October.
  • Wormwood · Picked in flower, July–September.
  • Yarrow · Picked in flower, June–August.

September

  • Basil · Leaves are most aromatic June–September, just before flowering.
  • Bearberry · Leaves are picked in late summer and autumn.
  • Bitter melon · Fruit is picked August–October when it turns orange.
  • Carob · Pods are picked August–September when they turn brown.
  • Chaste tree · Fruit is picked September–October.
  • Common mallow · Leaves March–May, flowers May–September.
  • Cornelian cherry · Fruit is picked August–September when deep red.
  • Dandelion · Leaves in spring, roots in autumn.
  • Elder · Flowers May–June, berries August–September.
  • Fennel · Leaves in spring, seeds August–September.
  • Fig · Fruit ripens August–September; leaves can be picked all summer.
  • Hawthorn · Flowers April–May, fruit September–October.
  • Horse chestnut · Flowers April–May; seeds drop September–October.
  • Licorice · Roots are dug in autumn or spring.
  • Madder · Roots are dug in the autumn of the second or third year.
  • Marshmallow · Roots in autumn, flowers July–August.
  • Mastic tree · Resin is collected July–October by scoring the trunk.
  • Pomegranate · Fruit ripens September–November.
  • Rose hip · Fruits are picked September–November, once softened by the first frosts.
  • Sea buckthorn · Berries are picked September–November, after the first frosts.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • Sumac · Berry clusters are picked August–September when red.
  • Tea · Rize has three flushes between May and October.
  • Valerian · Roots are dug in autumn, September–October.
  • Walnut · Green walnuts for jam in June, before the shell hardens; leaves June–July; nuts September–October.
  • Wormwood · Picked in flower, July–September.

October

  • Bearberry · Leaves are picked in late summer and autumn.
  • Bitter melon · Fruit is picked August–October when it turns orange.
  • Chaste tree · Fruit is picked September–October.
  • Dandelion · Leaves in spring, roots in autumn.
  • Hawthorn · Flowers April–May, fruit September–October.
  • Horse chestnut · Flowers April–May; seeds drop September–October.
  • Licorice · Roots are dug in autumn or spring.
  • Madder · Roots are dug in the autumn of the second or third year.
  • Marshmallow · Roots in autumn, flowers July–August.
  • Mastic tree · Resin is collected July–October by scoring the trunk.
  • Pomegranate · Fruit ripens September–November.
  • Rose hip · Fruits are picked September–November, once softened by the first frosts.
  • Saffron · Flowers are hand-picked early in the morning in October–November.
  • Sea buckthorn · Berries are picked September–November, after the first frosts.
  • Stinging nettle · Young leaves March–May, seeds in late summer, roots in autumn.
  • Tea · Rize has three flushes between May and October.
  • Valerian · Roots are dug in autumn, September–October.
  • Walnut · Green walnuts for jam in June, before the shell hardens; leaves June–July; nuts September–October.