Most Red Dead Redemption 2 plants restore a core, season a meal, or go into bait, tonics and horse remedies, and plenty do more than one job. The Herbalist challenges and Algernon Wasp's orchid requests both pull from them, so knowing where each one grows saves a lot of wandering.
How to use this collection
Region names the areas where a plant grows. Across the map means it turns up in many places, so the landmark under Habitat and landmark is the closest spot to start from. Herbalist or Exotics request names the Herbalist rank or Exotics request that uses the plant. A blank means no rank or request is tied to it, and the plant may still have its own use.
Plant section
Plants and herbs
Alaskan Ginseng
Forests and damp ground; east of O'Creagh's Run beside a rock wall.
- Region
- Ambarino, northern West Elizabeth, northern New Hanover
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use Ginseng in Potent Miracle Tonic and horse-care recipes.
American Ginseng
Forest edges and grassland; south of the railroad north of Shady Belle.
- Region
- West Elizabeth, New Hanover, Lemoyne
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use Ginseng in Potent Miracle Tonic and horse-care recipes.
Bay Bolete
Shaded trees west of Caliban's Seat, near the tree line.
- Region
- New Hanover, West Elizabeth
- Type
- mushroom
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Potent Herbivore Bait and Special Horse Reviver.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 4: feed mushrooms to your horse.
Blackberry
Berry bushes near the Dakota River and in fields west of Valentine.
- Region
- West Elizabeth, western New Hanover
- Type
- berry
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Predator Bait or Potent Predator Bait.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 2: pick and eat this berry.
Blackcurrant
Dry ground in Cholla Springs and Gaptooth Ridge, away from water.
- Region
- New Austin
- Type
- berry
- Use
- Use Currant in Horse Meal, Special Snake Oil, and Special Miracle Tonic.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 7: ingredient in Special Miracle Tonic.
Burdock Root
Near rivers and railroad tracks; along the Flat Iron Lake shore west of Rhodes.
- Region
- West Elizabeth, Lemoyne
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Use it in Potent or Special Bitters and Special Miracle Tonic.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 3: ingredient in the Potent Bitters Sage recipe; Herbalist 7: ingredient in Special Miracle Tonic.
Chanterelles
Grassy ground west of Eris Field, outside the forest.
- Region
- Lemoyne, eastern New Hanover
- Type
- mushroom
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Potent Herbivore Bait and Special Horse Reviver.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 4: feed mushrooms to your horse.
Common Bulrush
Beside rivers and lakes; on the western tip of the island northeast of Shady Belle.
- Region
- All regions
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Poisonous if eaten. Use it in horse medicine, horse stimulants, and Horse Ointment.
Creeping Thyme
Near rocks, riverbanks, and open grass; south of the southernmost railroad track in Lemoyne.
- Region
- Across the map
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Dead Eye Core; season meat with it for Dead Eye benefits.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 10: use it to season meat.
Desert Sage
Dry ground west of Gaptooth Ridge, near the coyote landmark.
- Region
- New Austin
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Stamina Core; use Sage in Bitters and other Sage recipes.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 3: counts as Sage for crafting.
English Mace
Open ground southeast of the four-way crossing east of O'Creagh's Run.
- Region
- New Austin, Ambarino
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Feed it to your horse for Stamina Core recovery; it can replace Milkweed in Special Health Cure.
Evergreen Huckleberry
Along the Kamassa River; two bushes south of the road north of Shady Belle.
- Region
- Lemoyne, New Hanover
- Type
- berry
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Predator Bait or Potent Predator Bait.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 2: pick and eat this berry.
Golden Currant
Along streams; northeast of Annesburg, near the road north of town.
- Region
- West Elizabeth, northeastern New Hanover
- Type
- berry
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Dead Eye Core; use Currant in Horse Meal, Special Snake Oil, and Special Miracle Tonic.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 7: ingredient in Special Miracle Tonic.
Hummingbird Sage
Shady forest floor; under trees in the small forest west of Scarlett Meadows.
- Region
- Lemoyne, West Elizabeth, New Hanover
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Use Sage in Potent Bitters, Special Bitters, and Potent Miracle Tonic.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 3: counts as Sage for crafting.
Indian Tobacco
Woodlands near Horseshoe Overlook and along the river.
- Region
- Ambarino, West Elizabeth, Lemoyne, New Hanover
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Dead Eye Core; use it in Potent Miracle Tonic, Potent Snake Oil, and Special Snake Oil.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 5: craft items with Indian Tobacco.
Milkweed
Riverbank northwest of the island northeast of Shady Belle.
- Region
- Lemoyne, New Hanover
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it instead of English Mace in Special Health Cure.
Oleander Sage
Bayou Nwa riverbanks; on the peninsula north of Shady Belle and south of the railroad.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Poisonous if eaten. Use it for Poison Arrows and Poison Throwing Knives.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 8: use it to craft poison weapons.
Oregano
Open ground near Horseshoe Overlook; also common across the map.
- Region
- Across the map
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Stamina Core; season meat with it for Stamina benefits.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 10: use it to season meat.
Parasol Mushroom
Woodland floor; also found near Horseshoe Overlook and in wooded Cholla Springs.
- Region
- Across the map
- Type
- mushroom
- Use
- Poisonous raw. Use it in Potent Herbivore Bait and Special Horse Reviver.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 4: feed mushrooms to your horse.
Prairie Poppy
Great Plains; southwest of Blackwater near the road.
- Region
- West Elizabeth
- Type
- flower
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Dead Eye Core; use it as an alternative ingredient in Special Snake Oil.
Ram's Head
Forest floor north of Brandywine Drop in northeastern New Hanover.
- Region
- West Elizabeth, Ambarino, northern New Hanover
- Type
- mushroom
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Potent Herbivore Bait and Special Horse Reviver.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 4: feed mushrooms to your horse.
Red Raspberry
Berry bushes near Horseshoe Overlook and Valentine; also found near Bolger Glade.
- Region
- Across the map
- Type
- berry
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Predator Bait or Potent Predator Bait.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 2: pick and eat this berry.
Red Sage
Near Fort Mercer in Rio Bravo.
- Region
- New Austin
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Use Sage in Potent Bitters, Special Bitters, and Potent Miracle Tonic.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 3: counts as Sage for crafting.
Vanilla Flower
Growing on trees near the western fence at Prinz & Co.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- flower
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Potent Herbivore Bait.
Violet Snowdrops
Cold ground near Hanging Dog Ranch in northwestern West Elizabeth.
- Region
- Ambarino, northern New Hanover, northwestern West Elizabeth
- Type
- flower
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Stamina Core; use it in Potent Herbivore Bait and Special Bitters.
Wild Carrot
Open fields; a small patch grows north of the Lannahechee River in southern Lemoyne.
- Region
- Across the map
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in horse stimulant and horse medicine recipes.
Wild Feverfew
Dry ground west of Armadillo, beyond the railroad.
- Region
- New Austin
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Stamina Core; use it in Bitters and Special Bitters.
Wild Mint
Near streams, marshes, and damp meadows; on the large island northeast of Shady Belle.
- Region
- Across the map
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; season meat with it for Health benefits.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 10: use it to season meat.
Wintergreen Berry
Woodland field southeast of the four-way crossing east of O'Creagh's Run.
- Region
- Northern New Hanover, Ambarino
- Type
- berry
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Predator Bait or Potent Predator Bait.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 2: pick and eat this berry.
Yarrow
Grassy field north of the Lannahechee River, near the Wild Carrot patch.
- Region
- New Hanover, Lemoyne
- Type
- herb
- Use
- Eat it to restore the Health Core; use it in Potent Health Cure, Special Health Cure, Special Miracle Tonic, and Horse Ointment.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Herbalist 1: pick Yarrow; Herbalist 7: ingredient in Special Miracle Tonic.
Plant section
Orchids
Every orchid feeds one of Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests, and its entry names which one. The chain, Duchesses and Other Animals, begins in Chapter 4 after The Gilded Cage; Red Dead Redemption 2 Exotics has the full request order.
Acuna's Star Orchid
On trees in eastern Bluewater Marsh, including the swamp around Canebreak Manor.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 3.
Cigar Orchid
On tree trunks in eastern Bluewater Marsh and Bayou Nwa.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 3.
Clamshell Orchid
On a tree along the southern shore of the island southeast of Shady Belle.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 5.
Dragon's Mouth Orchid
On wet ground near O'Creagh's Run and in Grizzlies East.
- Region
- Ambarino
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 5.
Ghost Orchid
In shaded Bayou Nwa; on the tree north of the small shack east of Shady Belle.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 3.
Lady of the Night Orchid
On trees near Prinz & Co. or the northern edge of Caliga Hall.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 1.
Lady Slipper Orchid
Near the northwest fence at Hanging Dog Ranch or in the mud at Monto's Rest.
- Region
- West Elizabeth
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 2.
Moccasin Flower Orchid
Around Butcher Creek, including west of the cemetery south of town.
- Region
- New Hanover
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 2.
Night Scented Orchid
On tree trunks in Bayou Nwa, south of Old Harry Fen or northeast of Catfish Jacksons.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 4.
Queen's Orchid
On the waterfront northeast of Lagras, near the tip of the peninsula.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 5.
Rat Tail Orchid
On tree trunks in Bluewater Marsh or Bayou Nwa, near the coast west of Bluewater Marsh.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 4.
Sparrow's Egg Orchid
Near streams in Roanoke Ridge, including the east bank of the Kamassa River.
- Region
- New Hanover
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 5.
Spider Orchid
In western Bayou Nwa, including the small lake north of Bayall Edge.
- Region
- Lemoyne
- Type
- orchid
- Use
- Collect it for Algernon Wasp's Exotics requests.
- Herbalist or Exotics request
- Duchesses and Other Animals: Exotics request 4.
Which Plants Each Herbalist Rank Needs
Some Herbalist ranks need named species. Others ask you to forage broadly or use plants in recipes.
- Rank 1: Pick Yarrow.
- Rank 2: Pick and eat each of these berries: Blackberry, Evergreen Huckleberry, Red Raspberry and Wintergreen Berry.
- Rank 3: Craft with Sage. Desert Sage, Hummingbird Sage and Red Sage count as Sage, and Burdock Root goes into Potent Bitters. Oleander Sage isn't part of this rank, even though it's a sage.
- Rank 4: Feed mushrooms to your horse: Bay Bolete, Chanterelles, Parasol Mushroom or Ram's Head.
- Rank 5: Craft items with Indian Tobacco.
- Rank 6: Pick different herb species. Use each plant's region and habitat clue to find them.
- Rank 7: Craft and use Special Miracle Tonics. The plant ingredients are Yarrow, Burdock Root, and either Blackcurrant or Golden Currant.
- Rank 8: Craft poison weapons with Oleander Sage.
- Rank 10: Season and cook each meat type with Creeping Thyme, Oregano or Wild Mint. All three grow across the map.
For the full rank order, see Red Dead Redemption 2 Challenges.
Total Completion Needs Fewer Species Than Herbalist 9
Total Completion only asks for a set of species from the Compendium, and any species can count toward it. Herbalist 9 is the demanding one: it wants one of every species, and orchids count toward it too.
Why Some Orchids Stop Spawning
Some orchids stop spawning once you've gathered nearly enough for a later Exotics request. They start spawning again when that request becomes active, so a paused orchid is a timing issue rather than a missed one. The cutoff differs by orchid and request, so there's no single number to aim for.
New Austin Plants and the Epilogue (Spoilers)
Spoiler: New Austin opens in the epilogue. Blackcurrant, Desert Sage, Red Sage and Wild Feverfew grow only there, so they wait until then. English Mace also grows in Ambarino, so you don't have to wait for that one. Missing them during the main story doesn't lock them away, because you can come back once New Austin opens.
FAQ
Are Blackcurrant and Golden Currant the same plant?
No. They're separate species with their own entries. Recipes just say Currant, so both work in those recipes, but neither one counts toward Herbalist 2.
Are there Guarma-only plants in the Story Mode Compendium?
No. The Story Mode plant Compendium has no Guarma-exclusive species.
Which plants are poisonous?
Common Bulrush and Oleander Sage are poisonous if eaten, and Parasol Mushroom is poisonous raw. Oleander Sage goes into poison weapons, Common Bulrush goes into horse medicine and stimulants, and Parasol Mushroom goes into bait and Special Horse Reviver.
Can I swap Milkweed and English Mace?
Yes. In Special Health Cure, either one works, so use whichever you have.