Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Vancouver

1. Shaggy mane

The shaggy mane mushroom is commonly found in North American and European grasslands. Some peoples foraged for its young egg-shaped caps, but it has more recently been found to be a bioaccumulator of heavy metals, meaning it pulls toxic metals up from the soil where it grows. As a result, shaggy manes should not be eaten. The mushrooms usually appear in clusters or “fairy rings.”

2. Toothed jelly fungus

This whimsically-named mushroom has a global distribution and a unique appearance. Toothed jelly fungus has a white, translucent - almost spectral - coloration and sports little downward pointing "teeth" on the underside of its cap. Although its toothed underside may scream "hedgehog mushroom", it is actually a member of a separate genus (Pseudohydnum, as opposed to Hydnum).

3. Yellowfoot

Found in temperate forests, wetlands, and bogs across the northern hemisphere, the yellowfoot is a highly sought after member of the chanterelle family. Considered a choice edible, it boasts a lovely, complex flavor (though it is somewhat less fruity and sweet then some of its more popular cousins). Yellowfoots are sometimes called "winter mushrooms", as they tend to be very late-season fruiters.

4. Violet webcap

This absolutely striking mushroom looks like something out of a fairy tale. The entire fruitbody of the violet webcap - cap, stalk, and gills - ranges in color from a light lavender to a very deep purple. The species' caps are bulbous and pockmarked, often appearing velvety. Though a feast for the eyes, this species is usually considered inedible.

5. Questionable stropharia

The questionable stropharia is an odd-looking species that thrives in rich, wet soils along the western coast of North America. The species sports a shiny, yellow-brown cap with a white partial veil that looks almost as though it is dripping off the cap. "Questionable" is a fair title for this species, about which there are conflicting reports on edibility. Most experts recommend staying on the safe side and avoiding eating this mushroom.

6. Western elfin saddle

The western elfin saddle (Helvella vespertina) has a striking, brain-shaped cap that becomes even more fissured as it ages. They appear and flourish amidst the leaf litter on forest floors in the western United States. The shape of the cap makes it a wonderful hiding place for insects, especially millipedes.

7. Cauliflower mushroom

Instantly recognizable and highly sought-after, cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa) forms a distinct-looking fruitbody that can be found across temperate North America and Europe. The species resembles cauliflower in both color and overall shape, although instead of bearing florets, its appendages look more like wavy, partially-cooked pasta.

8. Crested coral

Crested coral(Clavulina coralloides) is a distinctive coral mushroom that is widespread in coniferous and hardwood forests, acting as a decomposer of dead and decaying timber. Endemic to the temperate zones of North America and Europe, it sprouts from late summer to winter.

9. Common puffball

These puffy mushrooms grow in small groups on the forest floor. Once they're mature, common puffballs turn yellow and "puff out" smoke-like spore clouds when disturbed. Be very careful when identifying these mushrooms, as their young, immature form looks very similar to the lethal Deathcap.

10. Orange peel fungus

The aptly-titled orange peel fungus (Aleuria aurantia) forms fruitbodies that strongly resemble peeled-off rinds of oranges. The species has an irregular folded shape and boasts a bright orange hue. Orange peel fungus usually grows directly out of soil and can be found across temperate regions of North America, Europe, and a few parts of Chile.

11. Pacific golden chanterelle

The pacific golden chanterelle (Cantharellus formosus) is an incredibly dense and meaty mushroom with a cap that resembles a rosette pattern instead of stereotypical dome-shaped caps. The color is an almost iridescent yellow color but may range from warm gold to salmon pink, depending on sun exposure. Highly flavorful, the pacific golden chanterelle has been named the state mushroom of Oregon because of its value and flavor.

12. Western amethyst laccaria

The western amethyst laccaria is a beautiful species that is a very close cousin of Laccaria amethysteo. Like Laccaria amethysteo, the western amethyst laccaria boasts a cap and stalk that are of lavender or purple. Unlike Laccaria amethysteo, Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis' range spreads across western North America, and is associated with conifers, rather than hardwoods. The species is considered edible, but not choice.

13. Conifer tuft

As its common name implies, the conifer tuft grows on dead conifers, either singly or in groups. It can be found around the northern hemisphere in the autumn season. Take care to distinguish this species from the highly toxic Sulphur Tuft. Inspect the gills closely; those of the conifer tuft are pale grey, and never green.

14. Lung oyster

Developing all around the northern hemisphere, lung oyster mushrooms grow in overlapping shelf-like clusters on deciduous branches, trunks, and fallen logs in the wild. They are easy to cultivate on other substrates, like spent coffee grounds and sawdust, for commercial production. They are generally considered safe to eat, although some people may develop allergies.

15. Pear-shaped puffball

The mushrooms of this species grow in such tight clusters that they may cover fallen trees and stumps almost entirely in a brownish, puffy coat. Pear-shaped puffballs appear all around the northern hemisphere on decaying hardwoods from fall through winter.

16. Common laccaria

Common laccaria may sound like a malevolent name for a mushroom, but fret not! This species is so-called because its appearance is highly variable, with individual caps taking on a whole host of colors, from whitish to pinkish to dark brown.

17. Common stinkhorn

The common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) grows incredibly quickly, sometimes nearing 30 cm in a single afternoon. Their caps are pitted in a way which makes them reminiscent of morels. However, there's little mistaking the common stinkhorn for a morel; the former, in addition to sporting a much longer stalk, has a clear and pungent odor.

18. The prince

This attractive mushroom grows around the world in open woodlands and parks, especially near conifers. The prince has a scent reminiscent of bitter almonds. Its firm, thick caps grow quite large, but often become quickly infested by maggots. Allergic reactions have been reported to this mushroom so it is best treated as a "look, but do not touch" species.

19. Olive shaggy parasol

This species is very similar to the Shaggy Parasol, only differentiated by its olive color and smaller spores. Olive shaggy parasol is found wild across Europe and the American Pacific Northwest. This toxic mushroom can cause stomach upset, and it looks similar to the extremely toxic False Parasol which can cause death.

20. King bolete

Extremely popular in many cuisines, this edible wild mushroom grows around the world near the roots of forest trees. In some regions, king bolete mushrooms are collected in great enough volumes that their sale can support entire families during the harvest season. King boletes are reported to be high in fiber, vitamins B and C, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and several antioxidants.

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