When is the best time to forage for mushrooms?

Autumn (September-November) is peak season with the greatest diversity. However, every season offers something — spring has morels, summer brings chanterelles and boletes, and even winter has oyster mushrooms and velvet shank.

What mushrooms grow in spring?

Spring is famous for morels (Morchella species), which appear when soil temperatures reach about 10°C. St George's Mushroom, Dryad's Saddle, and oyster mushrooms also fruit in spring.

Can you find mushrooms in winter?

Yes. Oyster mushrooms can fruit after frost, Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) fruits in cold weather even through snow, and Turkey Tail and other polypores are visible year-round on logs.

Foraging

A Seasonal Foraging Calendar

Know what to look for and when. A month-by-month overview of the mushroom year for temperate North American climates.

Spring (March–May)

Wild morel mushroom (Morchella esculenta) growing among green vegetation on the forest floor — Morel (Morchella esculenta) — the most celebrated spring mushroom, found in disturbed soil and old orchards. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public Domain

The mushroom year begins with morels — the most celebrated spring mushroom. Look for them in disturbed soil, old apple orchards, near dying elms, and in areas burned the previous year. Oyster mushrooms also fruit on dead wood in spring. Dryad's Saddle (Pheasant Back) appears on hardwood logs and stumps. As temperatures warm, early polypores begin appearing on fallen trees.

Summer (June–August)

Golden chanterelle mushrooms (Cantharellus cibarius) growing in moss and grass on the forest floor — Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) — golden, funnel-shaped with blunt forking ridges, appearing mid-summer after warm rains. Photo: Mars 2002, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Chanterelles begin appearing in mid-summer, often after warm rains, in hardwood and mixed forests. Boletes (including porcini in some regions) fruit under oaks and conifers. Chicken of the Woods makes its first appearance on hardwood trees. Amanitas (both deadly and edible species) emerge in wooded areas. Summer is also prime time for many small, often overlooked species in leaf litter and on dead wood.

Autumn (September–November)

Large Hen of the Woods mushroom (Grifola frondosa) with overlapping grey-brown fronds growing at the base of a tree — Hen of the Woods / Maitake (Grifola frondosa) — a prized autumn find at the base of old oaks, sometimes weighing over 20 kg. Photo: Henk Monster, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

The peak season for mushroom diversity. Hen of the Woods (Maitake) appears at the base of old oaks. Porcini and chanterelles continue. Honey mushrooms fruit in large clusters on dead wood. Giant puffballs appear in meadows and lawns. Lobster mushrooms glow orange in the forest. Lion's Mane grows on dead hardwood. Late autumn brings blewits and wood blewits in leaf litter. This is the season that rewards dedicated foragers most richly.

Winter (December–February)

Cluster of Velvet Shank mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes) growing on a mossy dead log — Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) — the wild relative of enoki, fruiting on dead hardwood even in freezing weather. Photo: Scott Darbey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The quietest season, but not entirely barren. Oyster mushrooms can fruit on dead wood even after frost. Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) — the wild relative of enoki — fruits on dead hardwood in cold weather, sometimes even through snow. Turkey Tail and other tough polypores are visible year-round on logs. Winter is an excellent time to study tree bark, fallen wood, and lichen — and to plan your spring foraging routes.

By the Orangutany Team

Always verify identifications with local experts before consuming wild mushrooms. No app or article is a substitute for hands-on experience and expert guidance.

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