Species library · Mushrooms

Foraging Meadow Puffball

Lycoperdon pratense

Typically in season from July to November, peaking around July to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Grassland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Meadow Puffball (Lycoperdon pratense)

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

When Meadow Puffball is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak July to October. 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

Meadow Puffball is usually found in Grassland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

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

Take Meadow Puffball into the field

Open Meadow 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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Meadow Puffball: common questions

When is Meadow Puffball in season?

Meadow Puffball is generally in season from July to November, with its peak around July to October 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 Meadow Puffball grow?

Meadow Puffball is usually found in Grassland.

Is Meadow Puffball safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: Death cap (button stage), 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