Species library · Mushrooms

Foraging Fairy Ring Mushroom

Marasmius oreades

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

Fairy Ring Mushroom (Marasmius oreades)

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

When Fairy Ring Mushroom is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak May 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

Fairy Ring Mushroom is usually found in Grassland, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Fool's Funnel, Spring Fieldcap, Penny Top. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Fairy Ring Mushroom into the field

Open Fairy Ring Mushroom 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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Fairy Ring Mushroom: common questions

When is Fairy Ring Mushroom in season?

Fairy Ring Mushroom is generally in season from May to November, with its peak around May 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 Fairy Ring Mushroom grow?

Fairy Ring Mushroom is usually found in Grassland, Woodland edges.

Is Fairy Ring Mushroom safe to forage?

Similar species: Fool's Funnel, Spring Fieldcap, Penny Top. 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