Species library · Mushrooms

Foraging Desert Puffball

Calvatia booniana

Typically in season from July to September in the northern hemisphere. Found in Scrub & hedgerows, Grassland, Disturbed ground. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Desert Puffball (Calvatia booniana)

Photo: (c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · iNaturalist

When Desert Puffball is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak July to September. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Desert Puffball is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Grassland, Disturbed ground.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Deadly look-alikes: Death cap (button stage), Western destroying angel (button stage), Common earthball. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Desert Puffball into the field

Open Desert Puffball in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Desert Puffball: common questions

When is Desert Puffball in season?

Desert Puffball is generally in season from July to September in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Desert Puffball grow?

Desert Puffball is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Grassland, Disturbed ground.

Is Desert Puffball safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: Death cap (button stage), Western destroying angel (button stage), Common earthball. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits