7 Amazing Wild Mushrooms in PA

Pennsylvania is home to a wide variety of wild mushrooms harvestable throughout the year. Here are my 8 favorite mushrooms to forage for.
Self-healing mushroom grain jar caps
Boletus Edulis - King Bolet

Boletus edulis. Called “king bolete,” these have a thick stalk and a nut-like cap. They are found near the roots of trees.

 

Laetiporus sulphureus. Called “chicken of the woods,” this fungus grows as a parasite on dead wood. The creamy yellow/orange mushroom forms a cascading series of shelves resembling a lava flow, and yes, it tastes like chicken.

 

shaggy mane

Coprinus comatus. Known as “shaggy mane,” these are abundant in the fall. They have a large cap that looks somewhat like an artillery shell. These should be eaten shortly after picking or the cap will deteriorate into a gooey mass. This mushroom is found in grassy fields.

 

Giant Puffball

Langermannia gigantea. Known to kids far and wide as a “giant puffball,” this fungus must be eaten fresh, when its flesh is white. They are found in fields.

 

horn of plenty mushroom

Craterellus cornucopiodes. The “horn of plenty” is black and looks rather unappetizing, but its trumpet-like shape is recognizable, and the mushroom is quite tasty.

 

Oyster Mushrooms in the Spring

Pleurotus ostreatus. Called “oyster mushrooms,” these fungi look fragile and flare from the stem. They have a slightly meaty taste.

Oyster Mushrooms in the Spring

Cantharellus. Chanterelle Mushrooms are beautiful orange mushrooms with a white inside. These are a choice mushroom.

Morel Mushroom

Morechella esculenta. The morel, which resembles a pine cone or Christmas tree-shaped sponge on a stalk, is commonly found in the spring in wooded areas.

14 Comments

  1. Carol Vaughn

    Can I legally get these in Pa?

    Reply
    • Robb

      You sure can. You can find them by foraging, and you can find some of them in country markets.

      Reply
      • Josh

        Yes, mushrooms are allowed to be picked from any public land but, plants are much more tightly regulated.

        Reply
      • Stacey pellas

        I have mushrooms growing on a old log in my back yard how do I know is they are good to eat or bad to eat ?????

        Reply
    • Judi

      What about Turkey Tail Mushrooms?

      Reply
  2. Joseph J Padinske

    Pennsylvania here. I found a VERY BRIGHT Orange mushroom growing on dead ( non pine) logs. I harvested chicken shrooms and then spotted the orange ones. I can’t find any pics of them. Closest is a Poisonous Jack o L lantern but i can’t be sure. ANY help would be appreciated on identifying this beauty. It’s roughly 2.5 to 3 inch across .

    Reply
    • Robb

      It’s hard to say without a picture. If its bright orange Jacks would be a good guess.

      Reply
    • jade

      chicken of the woods is a poly pore, with spongy like pits on the underside. Jack-o-lantern mushrooms have gills; they also tend to be shiny/wetter and can glow in the dark.

      Reply
  3. S Butler

    Retired and would like pictures of edible mushrooms in Somerset co pa. Familiar with edible plants but have only eaten chicken of the woods

    Reply
    • Robb

      I live down in Ligonier. 🙂
      You can find all these mushrooms growing in Somerset!

      Reply
  4. Bill Biers

    Do quarines grow in penn

    Reply
  5. Jacob flounder

    I was under the impression that mushrooms with white gills meant they were toxic. Is that not always the case?

    Reply
    • Robb

      No, Oysters are the perfect example.
      But if you are unsure about the mushroom, do not eat it.

      Reply
  6. Sheila Shevitz

    I am interested in hunting for edible mushrooms in northwestern Pennsylvania. However, I fear collecting poisonous mushrooms. What advice can you give me or what book would serve me best?

    Reply

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