This guide gives the season window of each species separately; the months are for Britain and Ireland unless a section says otherwise. First Nature gives the morel as fruiting from March to early June. At the other end of the year, the velvet shank fruits from autumn through winter into early spring. Below you’ll find the species in between, examples of rain, year and region, and the death cap with the features that set it apart.
The morel (Morchella esculenta) fruits from March to early June in Britain and Ireland. It is mainly found in chalky woodland and occasionally on disturbed soil in gardens. The German Mycological Society (DGfM) lists all morel species (Morchella spp.) under the neurological Morchella syndrome. Morels can be confused with the false morel (Gyromitra esculenta), whose cap has a brain-like rather than a pitted surface. The DGfM lists the false morel under the gyromitrin syndrome.
St George’s mushroom (Calocybe gambosa) appears from April to June in Britain and Ireland. In Germany it rarely appears before the beginning of May, and there it is known as Maipilz, “May mushroom”. Its mealy smell, like wet flour, sets it apart from other pale spring species. First Nature adds that other white fungi later in the year also smell mealy.
St George’s mushroom can be confused with the fibrecap Inocybe erubescens, which can appear at woodland edges towards the end of spring. Its gills are pale pink rather than white and turn red when bruised. The DGfM lists Inocybe erubescens under the muscarine syndrome.
The chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) fruits from June to October in Britain and Ireland, and even into November in mild autumns. In most years none appear before late June or early July. Its underside has wrinkled veins rather than true gills, and these veins set it apart from lookalikes such as the false chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca).
The cep or porcini (Boletus edulis) fruits from June to October in Britain and Ireland. When cut or bruised, its pores and tubes do not change colour.
The cauliflower fungus (Sparassis crispa) fruits from July to October in Britain and Ireland. Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) fruits in summer and autumn in Britain and Ireland.
The parasol (Macrolepiota procera) fruits from July to November in Britain and Ireland, and later in southern Europe. It grows on roadside verges, in neglected pasture and on grassy seaside cliffs. A large double-edged ring stays on its stem but often becomes movable.
The bay bolete (Imleria badia) fruits from August to November in Britain and Ireland. First Nature names late summer and autumn as its main season.
The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) fruits in summer, autumn and early winter in Britain and Ireland. In parts of southern Europe it can sometimes be found through to January or February.
The velvet shank (Flammulina velutipes) is fairly common in Britain and Ireland from autumn through winter into early spring.
What else you can still find in the cold months is in our winter foraging guide, linked below.
First Nature’s experience is that young ceps are often at their best a few days after summer rain. Wait a week to ten days, and more of the ceps you find are likely to contain maggots. The Woodland Trust describes the collared earthstar (Geastrum triplex) as tending to fruit after rain, between July and November.
According to First Nature, in 2011 there were still plenty of fresh young chanterelles in mid October as far north as Scotland’s Caledonian Forest, while in more typical seasons they are over by the end of September.
In southern Europe chanterelles are often found from October right through to the following March. St George’s mushroom appears about a month earlier in southern Europe and as late as June and July in Scandinavia.
First Nature gives the death cap (Amanita phalloides) a season of July to November in Britain and Ireland. It forms partnerships with broadleaf trees, especially oaks, and occasionally with conifers.
Its gills are pure white at first. It usually keeps a fragile, hanging ring into maturity. The swollen stem base sits in a large white, sack-like volva that is often tinged green inside. Its spore print is white.
First Nature warns that a young death cap can be confused with Agaricus mushrooms such as the wood mushroom, which grows in the same habitat. At the button stage it can also be mistaken for puffballs. Cut lengthwise, the volva shows at once.
The German Mycological Society (DGfM) lists the death cap under the amatoxin syndrome. Typical are violent vomiting and diarrhoea, then an apparent improvement while liver damage begins, up to liver failure, blood clotting disorders and kidney failure. Symptoms usually start 8 to 12 hours after the meal, with a range of 4 to 36 hours. According to the DGfM, amatoxins are heat-stable and survive cooking.
Always dig out the whole mushroom including the stem base, never rely on a single matching feature, and have every find checked by a mushroom expert. The DGfM warns that even a long cooking time does not destroy all mushroom toxins. In Germany you can find certified mushroom experts near you on the DGfM map.
Get medical advice immediately if you think someone has been poisoned. Symptoms can take a few hours or days to start, so don’t wait for them.
In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if someone may have swallowed something harmful. If you’re not sure whether it is harmful, call NHS 111. In the US, call a poison center at 1 800 222 1222. If the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or can’t be woken, Poison Control says to call 911. The BVL lists the poison centres in Germany and Austria, for example Giftnotruf Berlin on 030 192 40. In Austria the poison information centre is on +43 140 643 43. In Switzerland, Tox Info Suisse runs the emergency number 145.
Fruits from July to November in Britain and Ireland. White gills at first, a fragile hanging ring and a sack-like volva at the stem base. The DGfM lists it under the amatoxin syndrome.
Its cap has a brain-like rather than a pitted surface. The DGfM lists it under the gyromitrin syndrome.
The wrinkled veins of the true chanterelle set it apart from this lookalike.
A season calendar is a search aid, not an identification aid. Finding a mushroom in the right month says nothing about its species. Identify every find individually, keep the whole fruitbody including the stem base, and have it checked by a mushroom expert. If in doubt, leave it.
It depends on the species. In Britain and Ireland the morel fruits from March to early June, the cep from June to October, the parasol from July to November, and the velvet shank from autumn through winter into early spring.
The morel fruits from March in Britain and Ireland. St George’s mushroom appears from April there, but in Germany rarely before the beginning of May.
First Nature finds young ceps often at their best a few days after summer rain. After a week to ten days, more of them are likely to contain maggots.
Not at the same time for every species. The oyster mushroom fruits into early winter in Britain and Ireland, and the velvet shank from autumn through winter into early spring.
First Nature gives it July to November in Britain and Ireland. Its gills are white at first, and its stem base sits in a sack-like volva. Have every find checked by a mushroom expert.
Get medical advice immediately; symptoms can take hours or days to start. In the UK call 999 or go to A&E. In the US call 1 800 222 1222. The BVL lists the poison centres in Germany and Austria, in Austria the number is +43 140 643 43, in Switzerland 145.
Forage shows you the species in your region and pings you when the season starts.
All information without guarantee. This text is orientation on season and habitat, not an identification guide, and it makes no claim about whether any specific plant or mushroom is edible. Many species have toxic, some deadly, lookalikes. Never eat or use anything that has not been identified with certainty by an expert, such as a qualified mushroom inspector. We accept no liability for any harm arising from the use of this information. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center or emergency services right away. Mind conservation law and property rights.
