Species library · Mushrooms

Foraging Scarlet Elfcup

Sarcoscypha austriaca

Typically in season from January to December in the northern hemisphere. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Scarlet Elfcup (Sarcoscypha austriaca)

Photo: (c) Björn Sothmann, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Björn Sothmann · iNaturalist

When Scarlet Elfcup is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. 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

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Scarlet elf cup, Jura elf cup, Orange peel fungus. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Scarlet Elfcup into the field

Open Scarlet Elfcup 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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Scarlet Elfcup: common questions

When is Scarlet Elfcup in season?

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

Is Scarlet Elfcup safe to forage?

Similar species: Scarlet elf cup, Jura elf cup, Orange peel fungus. 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