Fungi

Hypomyces lactifluorum

Red-orange parasitic crust; dense, with a seafood aroma.

Aug 1 – Oct 31 · peak Sep–Sep

Laetiporus conifericola

Sulphur-and-orange shelves on dead conifers; shreddy, like white-meat chicken. One of the region's easiest finds.

Summer heat on dead conifer wood; low elevations first, climbing uphill into fall.

Jun 1 – Oct 31 · peak Jul–Sep

Cantharellus formosus

Oregon's state mushroom. Apricot aroma, firm texture, abundant across damp autumn forest floors.

A ≥1.5″ soak sets an 18-day clock to the flush.

Aug 15 – Jan 31 · peak Oct–Nov

Sparassis radicata

Massive ruffled head like egg noodles; at the base of old-growth conifers.

Aug 15 – Nov 15 · peak Sep–Oct

Sarcodon imbricatus

Brown overlapping scaly caps with teeth; bitter-savory, excellent dried.

Aug 15 – Oct 31 · peak Sep–Sep

Boletus edulis

Massive, dense, nutty. High-elevation Cascade firs and coastal Sitka spruce duff.

Warm rain on high-elevation firs.

Sep 1 – Nov 15 · peak Oct–Oct

Polyozellus multiplex

Purple-black clusters; rich and complex. Rare, high-elevation spruce-fir.

Sep 1 – Nov 15 · peak Sep–Oct

Armillaria solidipes

Forms the largest living organisms in eastern Oregon; sweet, firm caps.

Sep 1 – Nov 15 · peak Sep–Oct

Hericium abietis / erinaceus

Cascading white icicle teeth on dying conifer logs; crab-like texture.

Sep 1 – Dec 15 · peak Oct–Nov

Coprinus comatus

Tall scaly caps, spring and fall; cook immediately before they melt to ink.

Sep 1 – Nov 30

Tricholoma murrillianum

Cinnamon-pine aroma, prized export. Central Cascade sandy soils and coastal dunes.

Cool nights after the first fall rains.

Sep 15 – Nov 30 · peak Oct–Oct

Cantharellus subalbidus

Denser and larger than the golden; hidden under deep old-growth conifer duff.

Same rain-clock as the golden, a touch later.

Sep 15 – Dec 31 · peak Oct–Nov

Craterellus cornucopioides

Dark, smoky, elusive; camouflages in leaf litter. Prized dried.

Oct 1 – Jan 15 · peak Nov–Dec

Hydnum repandum

Teeth instead of gills; sweet, crisp, and notably frost-resistant.

Oct 1 – Feb 28 · peak Nov–Dec

Pleurotus ostreatus

Shelf clusters on alder and maple; mild, anise-tinged.

Oct 1 – May 31

Clitocybe nuda

Lavender hue; late fall in rich leaf litter and compost. Earthy.

Oct 15 – Dec 31 · peak Nov–Nov

Craterellus tubaeformis

Small hollow-stemmed chanterelle; flourishes in wet rotting conifer wood deep into winter.

Takes over where the golden leaves off.

Oct 15 – Feb 28 · peak Dec–Jan

Tuber gibbosum / Leucangium carthusianum

Underground tubers in dense young Douglas-fir stands; best found with trained dogs.

Winter ripening in fir duff; maturity, not a single event.

Nov 1 – Mar 31 · peak Jan–Feb

Morchella spp.

Spring crown jewel; flushes in mountain burn scars and river valleys as snow melts.

Soil hits ~50°F at burn scars as the snowline retreats.

Apr 1 – Jun 30 · peak May–May

Stropharia rugoso-annulata / Agrocybe praecox

Big, earthy woodchip colonizers prized by suburban foragers.

Apr 1 – Jun 30 · peak Apr–May