North American Mushrooms
North America spans deserts, boreal forest, and temperate coast, so its mushrooms are as varied as its trees. That range includes prized edibles and some genuinely dangerous species.
Agarikon
Laricifomes officinalisAgarikon is a long-lived chalky conk of old conifers, especially larch, with a pale pore surface and crumbly…
Angel Wing
Pleurocybella porrigensAngel wing is a thin, white, nearly stemless fan growing in overlapping groups on decayed conifer wood. Its…
Autumn Skullcap
Galerina marginataAutumn skullcap is a small rusty-spored mushroom on decaying wood that can contain amatoxins at levels…
Booted Amanita
Amanita multisquamosaBooted amanita is a pale eastern North American Amanita with a darker cap center, white veil patches, a…
Brown Roll-Rim
Paxillus involutusBrown roll-rim is a poisonous mushroom group with two different clinical concerns. Gastrointestinal illness…
Chanterelle
Cantharellus cibariusA chanterelle is worth learning because its best edible traits are also its safety checks. Look for blunt…
Deadly Galerina
Galerina marginataA small brown mushroom on wood can carry the same toxin as a death cap. The check that matters is the spore…
Destroying Angel
Amanita bisporigeraA destroying angel is white from cap to spore print, which is exactly why it gets picked. Check for free…
Eastern Flat-Top Agaricus
Agaricus placomycesEastern flat-top Agaricus is a woodland mushroom with a white cap covered in gray-brown scales…
False Morel
Gyromitra esculentaGyromitra esculenta is a poisonous spring cup fungus with a chestnut, brain-like cap and a pale stem. A…
Green-Spored Parasol
Chlorophyllum molybditesGreen-spored parasol is a large poisonous lawn mushroom whose gills change from white to gray-green as spores…
Jack O'Lantern
Omphalotus illudensA Jack O'Lantern is the orange mushroom you learn so you can reject it fast. The field pattern is true sharp…
Morel
Morchella esculentaA morel is a spring edible with a strict safety routine. The lengthwise hollow test comes before cleaning…
Oyster Mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatusOyster mushrooms are one of the best beginner edibles because the growth pattern is so practical. Look for…
Black Morel
Morchella angusticepsMorchella angusticeps is the classic eastern North American black morel. Its conical cap has mostly vertical…
Common Inkcap
Coprinopsis atramentariaCommon inkcap is a gray, clustered mushroom that digests its own gills into black liquid. Its defining safety…
Gray Morel
Morchella esculentoidesOn this page, gray morel means the young gray form of the eastern yellow morel Morchella esculentoides. Color…
Half-Free Morel
Morchella punctipesThe eastern half-free morel, Morchella punctipes, has a small pitted cap joined partway down a long hollow…
Lion's Mane
Hericium erinaceusLion's Mane is the white tooth fungus that looks like a shaggy pom-pom on hardwood. It is easy to recognize…
Western Destroying Angel
Amanita ocreataWestern destroying angel is California's native white amatoxin-producing *Amanita*. Its free white gills…
A wide and varied range
From the Pacific Northwest to the eastern hardwoods, North America carries a deep list of wild edibles, including chanterelles, morels, and oysters.
A spreading danger
The death cap, native to Europe, has established across parts of North America, especially near introduced oaks. Its spread is a reason to treat every pale gilled mushroom with care.
Warning
Foraging rules and species differ by state and province. Learn your local flora and its dangerous lookalikes before you pick.
Forage locally
The safest approach is regional. Join a local mycological society and learn the handful of species that are common and safe where you actually live.