Edible Mushrooms in PA – Western Pennsylvania Mushrooms

If you are looking for good eats, here are mushrooms we have found throughout western PA. Where possible, I tried getting multiple images from multiple angles.

Looking to identify Mushrooms in your area?

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mushrooms is a great resource. I would also recommend picking up the Field Guide on trees if you are looking to become an active forager as trees are a great indicator of what types of mushrooms you might find.

Buy on Amazon

Armillaria mellea

AKA: Honey Mushrooms

Butyriboletus Frostii

AKA: Candy Apple Bolete

Cantharellus

AKA: Chanterelle Mushrooms

Notice the gills have spots where they fork. This is an important identifier and distinguishes these from Jack O'lanterns.

Hericium Coralloides

AKA: Coral Tooth Fungus

A great Beginner's Guide

This book takes the questionable mushrooms out of the equation in foraging. I had a great day mushroom hunting with this book by my side. This book is not a definitive guide to foraging mushrooms. There are many more mushrooms that are choice edible, but this guide will help you stay safe and get into foraging!

Buy on Amazon

Clavicorona Pyxidata

Crowd-Tipped Coral

Cantharellus Minor

Laetiporus sulphureus – Chicken of the Woods

Learn More about Chicken of the Woods

Lycoperdon Pyriforme

AKA: Gem Studded Puffballs, Pear-Shaped Puffball Mushrooms

Close up sliced view of a Gemcap Puffball Mushroom

Top sliced view of a Gemcap Puffball Mushroom

Phylloporus Rhodoxanthus

AKA: Gilled Bolete

Pleurotus Ostreatus

AKA: Oyster Mushrooms

Learn more about Oyster Mushrooms.

Polyporus squamosus

AKA: Dryad's Saddle, Pheasant Back

Foraging for Wild Mushrooms in Pennsylvania: What You Need to Know

by Robb | February 27, 2025 | Foraging | 0 Comments

Learn where to legally forage wild mushrooms in Pennsylvania, how to avoid toxic look-alikes, and key safety tips. This guide covers laws, common edible mushrooms, and best practices to help you forage safely and responsibly.

How to make mushroom grain jar lids

by Robb | February 16, 2025 | Adventures in Mushroom Cultivation | 0 Comments

When growing mushrooms using grain jars, the lid setup plays a crucial role in maintaining sterility while allowing for proper gas exchange. Standard jar lids can be modified or replaced with specialized lids designed for mushroom cultivation.

Mushroom Growing Naming Convention

by Robb | September 7, 2021 | Adventures in Mushroom Cultivation | 1 Comment

As I continue to ramp up my mushroom growing endeavors, I am finding that I need to take better notes on my batches from the creation of the substrate to the inoculation and grow room. To help with this, I am coming up with a naming convention for my grow outs and thought I would share it with everyone.

7 Amazing Wild Mushrooms in PA

by Robb | September 7, 2021 | Foraging | 14 Comments

Pennsylvania is home to an incredible variety of wild mushrooms. Whether you’re a forager, a nature lover, or just curious about fungi, you’ll find plenty of interesting and useful mushrooms in the forests, fields, and even your own backyard. Here are seven amazing wild mushrooms that grow in PA, along with tips on how to identify them.

Laetiporus Sulphureus – Chicken of the Woods

by Robb | September 7, 2021 | Foraging | 1 Comment

Chicken of the Woods is an awesome mushroom that has the texture of chicken and can really take on the flavor of the dish you are preparing.

...

8 Comments

Charles on June 19, 2021 at 3:41 pm

I need all pictures of edible mushrooms in western Pennsylvania thank you
Reply
- Robb on July 12, 2021 at 8:01 am
  
  I don’t have pictures of ALL edible mushrooms. What are you looking to do?
  Reply
  - Rob macko on October 11, 2021 at 1:15 pm
    
    Identify
    Reply
    - Robb on October 29, 2021 at 8:57 am
      
      There are a few great books and groups on facebook you should consider joining.
      Specifically https://www.facebook.com/groups/MushID
      Reply
Terry Crawford on October 15, 2021 at 2:54 pm

What to identify enable mushrooms
Reply
- Robb on October 29, 2021 at 8:58 am
  
  I recommend joinging https://www.facebook.com/groups/MushID
  Reply
Katie King on July 28, 2022 at 4:11 pm

Hi! I’m an 85 yr. old chick writing a sequel to a book I published last year.it’s up on Amazon great reviews..takes place in Pittsburgh Pa. where I grew up, in sequel I plan a murder where a son deliberately kills his mother, she’s evil, so I need a perfectly good tasty mushroom in this case, used in German dish, schnitzel.need .the name of a common poison mushroom that can easily be mistaken for the good one that is edible..my ques..is there such a mushroom in Pa. that is easily confused? Can you help me? I’d really appreciate some help on this..nead forpart in story..thanks so much for any help you can offer.
Reply
- Robb on November 7, 2022 at 7:08 am
  
  Hi Katie, A death cap or a destroying angle would work well for you.
  He would probably want to mix it in with button caps or Shitake so it goes unnoticed. 🙂
  Hope that helps!
  Reply