Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Bend

1. 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.

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. 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.”

4. 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.

5. 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.

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. Floccularia Albolanaripes

Associated with conifers of the Rocky Mountains, the floccularia Albolanaripes can be found prominently during fall rains from fall to winter. It has a vibrant yellow orange-brown cap when young, developing into a drab yellowish-brown in its maturity.

8. 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.

9. Fat jack

The fat jack is a member of the bolete family that can be found growing underneath Douglas Firs along the western coast of North America. The species' light yellow pore surface turns to brown when damaged or rubbed. Fat jacks also tend to have mild and pleasant, sometimes lemony, odors.

10. 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.

11. Blewit

The blewit mushroom grows in fallen leaves in autumn and winter, sometimes appearing in ‘fairy ring’ circles. It can be used to make a green dye when chopped and boiled in an iron pot. The scientific name, Lepista nuda, derives from Latin words meaning “bare goblet,” a reference to the shape and texture of the mushroom.

12. Black-footed polypore

This inedible fungus grows on fallen wood and stumps of deciduous trees. Black-footed polypores have the ability to remain through the winter, as they rot very slowly after releasing their spores. They are thus appreciated for providing a bit of visual interest in winter landscapes.

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. 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.

15. 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.

16. White dapperling

White dapperling mushrooms grow in scattered groups across open fields in the northern hemisphere. They can occasionally cause toxic reactions in humans, and their similarity to extremely poisonous lookalikes like Deathcap and Destroying Angel make them hazardous to handle.

17. Wrinkled coral

The wrinkled coral (Clavulina rugosa) is distinctive, even among coral fungi. Whereas most species of coral fungi have smooth, single-stalked tendrils, the wrinkled coral has irregular branching tendrils, giving it a particularly otherworldly appearance. Its fruitbodies grow singly or in groups and can be found in wet, temperate forests across the world.

18. 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.

19. White chanterelle

The white chanterelle differs from other chanterelles by its extremely pale, almost white fruitbody. Due to its well-developed false gills, it can be confused with members of the Clitocybe genus at first glance. But, like all chantarelles and unlike the Clitocybe species, it's almost never attacked by maggots!

20. Spring fieldcap

The spring fieldcap (Agrocybe praecox) appears in spring and early summer, in scattered groups or in tufts across the edges of woodland paths. They may be a common sight in urban areas with wood chip mulch or compost piles. The species' scientific name comes from the same Latin root as the word "precocious," giving another clue regarding the early appearance one can expect from these little mushrooms.

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