What Mushrooms Grow on Trees Trunks in Alabama?
Finding mushrooms that grow on tree trunks in Alabama was not as easy as I thought. Some are edible, others are poisonous, and plenty of them don’t show appear often.
That’s why I created a list of the 10 Mushrooms that Grow on Tree Trunks in Alabama!
This ultimate guide will give you the types of mushrooms that grow on tree trunks in Alabama, how to identify them, and even where to find them in Alabama.
Read THIS Before Identifying Mushrooms that Grow on Tree Trunks in Alabama
Knowing the type of mushroom growing in Alabama can be the difference between a fascinating hobby that can result in a nutritious and edible food source and a deadly toxin. Always make sure to work with your local city and gardening club before eating mushrooms found on tree trunks.
It is important to pay close attention to the following when picking or eliminating mushrooms in Alabama:
- The size, including the cap, gills, scales, spores, and stem.
- The color, including the cap, gills, scales, spores, and stem.
- Location, both in the United States and in your yard
- Odor and even taste
And if you want to learn more about mushrooms that grow on tree trunks in Alabama watch the below video!
10 Mushrooms that Grow on Tree Trunks in Alabama
#1. Ringless Honey Mushroom (Armillaria Tabescens)
Specifications:
- The Ringless Honey Mushroom has a golden, honey-colored cap, white spores, narrow to broad pinkish/brown gills, and thick, cluster stalks.
- This type of mushroom grows on tree trunks from late summer to early winter throughout the United States, including Alabama.
- It is important to kill these mushrooms when you see them as they will attack and kill tree trunks by depleting them of water and nutrients. They are considered parasitic fungi.
- While this mushroom can be consumed when cooked, it is generally not recommended due to potential allergic reactions by some.
- An interesting fact is that the ringless honey mushroom actually grows underneath the ground, rather than on top of it. The best way to get rid of this mushroom is from its roots beneath the ground!
#2. Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris)
Specifications:
- The Field Mushroom has a white and pink cap, dark chocolate spores, narrow to broad white stalks that are brown, and deep pink and brown gills.
- This type of mushroom grows on tree trunks from late summer to early winter throughout the world, including Alabama, Ireland, and Wales. It is also one of the most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world by humans, cows, and goats.
- You can leave these mushrooms in your yard. They grow on dead vegetation and will not kill tree trunks, live plants, etc.
- This mushroom can be consumed when cooked. It is incredibly nutritious, but should only be consumed in moderation. It should be noted not to pick it since it may have been sprayed with pesticide or herbicide.
- The Meadow Mushrooms sometimes can be confused for Field Mushrooms due to their white gills and spores, but should not be foraged or eaten!
#3. Fly Agaric Mushrooms (Amanita muscaria)
Specifications:
- The Fly Agaric Mushroom has a deep red and orange cap, white spores, narrow white stalks, and white to pale yellow gills.
- This type of mushroom grows on tree trunks from late summer to late fall throughout the world, including United States, Ireland, and Britain. This mushroom should not be consumed. If you do consume it, it should be raw and will cause hallucinations.
- You should kill these mushrooms unless you want them to be a natural pesticide or herbicide. This mushroom is wild in Alabama and will grow on hardwood, including spruce, birch, and pine tree trunks.
- This mushroom should not be consumed. If you decide to eat the mushroom, it should be consumed raw. When consumed, you should expect hallucinations, drowsiness, etc.
- The Fly Agaric Mushroom is the type of mushroom you will typically see and read about in fairy tales and will even see in fairy gardens across the world.
#4. Morels Mushrooms (Morchella esculenta)
Specifications:
- The Morel Mushroom has a yellow and brown flesh orange cap, white spores, thick white or pale cream stalks, and brown gills.
- This type of mushroom grows on tree trunks from spring to early fall in the United States. While it can also be found in Ireland and Great Britain, it is much rarer. The Morel Mushroom is one of the most common types of wild mushrooms in Alabama that can be found and eaten.
- You can leave the Morel Mushroom and even pick them up. This mushroom is considered symbiotic with its environment and can be found under tree trunks and sometimes on tree trunks. They are considered a beneficial partner with tree trunks and insects won’t harm them either!
- This mushroom should be consumed! This is considered when of the most sought-after mushrooms in Alabama but should be noted that in large quantities it may cause a stomach ache.
- Did you know that the Morel Mushroom is one of the few mushrooms you can grow in your very own home? While Morel Mushrooms can grow anywhere (depending on the type), most can be found on tree trunks.
#5. Shaggy Mane Mushroom (Coprinus comatus)
Specifications:
- The Shaggy Mane Mushroom has a white creamy cap, white spores, thin and tall stalks, and white gills.
- This type of mushroom grows on tree trunks in the spring in the United States, Ireland, Britain, and Southern Europe. Humans and animals will find this mushroom to be very delicious.
- The Shaggy Mane Mushroom can be found on grassy land and open woodlands.
- This mushroom is delicious! But you should take extra care when preparing and it is not recommended to be eaten. Most people will have strange reactions when eating the shaggy mane mushroom.
- While this mushroom is edible and enjoyed by many, it is considered a parasitic mushroom that should be destroyed or foraged when seen.
#6. Jack O Lantern Mushroom (Omphalotus olearius)
Specifications:
- The Jack O Lantern Mushroom has an Orange and Yellow cap, white spores, thick, orange and dark yellow stalks, and dark orange gills.
- This type of mushroom grows on tree trunks from early fall to winter in the United States, Ireland, Britain, and Southern Europe. No one or no animal will typically consume this type of mushroom.
- The Jack O Lantern Mushroom can be found in Alabama, the United States, and throughout Southern Europe. You will find it under tree trunks in shaded areas, but should not be foraged.
- This mushroom should not be consumed! It can cause stomach pain for several days and while not fatal it is incredibly toxic.
- There are other types of similar mushroom species to the Jack O Lantern Mushroom that will grow in Europe. Regardless of the specific type, they have similar characteristics and should be treated the same way.
#7. Milkcap Mushroom (Lactarius subdulcis)
Specifications:
- The Milkcap Mushroom has a creamy white cap, white and brown spores, small and thin white cream stems, and white and brown gills.
- This type of mushroom grows on tree trunks from summer to winter in the United States, Ireland, and Britain. While you can eat this mushroom it is not recommended as it will taste acidic and bitter.
- The Milkcap Mushroom can be found in yards in Alabama and the United States. You will find them under hardwood tree trunks.
- This mushroom can be consumed! While initially, this may taste sweet, you’ll notice a strong bitter and acidic taste when consumed in quantity and may even cause an upset stomach.
- When the Milkcap Mushroom gills and cap are cut you’ll notice a creamy-white liquid that gives the mushrooms its “sweet” taste.
#8. Deadly Galerina Mushroom (Galerina marginata)
Specifications:
- The Funeral Bell Mushroom has a honey yellow and brown cap, brown spores, tall and thick brown stems, cream gills.
- This type of mushroom grows on wood from summer to fall in the United States, Ireland, and Britain. No one or no animal will typically consume this type of mushroom as it is considered a deadly mushroom.
- The Funeral Bell Mushroom can be found in Alabama and the United States. You will find them in Stumps, Dead Tree Trunks, Broken Branches, and sometimes even dead leaves in the fall.
- This mushroom should not be consumed! It contains the same deadly toxins as the Destroying Angel mushroom and can result in organ failure and death within a day.
- It should be noted that even though the Funeral Bell Mushroom typically grows in the summer and fall in Alabama, it some parts of the United States it can grow any time of the year!
#9. Puffball Mushroom (Lycoperdon perlatum)
Specifications:
- The Puffball Mushroom has a white and cream cap, white spores, tall and thick white stems, and cream gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from summer to early winter in the United States, Ireland, and Britain. While this isn’t the most popular type of mushroom to be eaten, it is edible and delicious.
- The Puffball Mushroom can be found in Alabama and the United States. You will find them in woodlands, leaves, and even sandy areas.
- This mushroom can be consumed when cooked properly! You should forage them early in their life and while they are hard and rubbery when cut properly and cooked it is delicious.
- The Puffball Mushroom gets its name based on how it looks like a giant puffball when rain hits it or an animal or person rubs up against it!
#10. Wood Blewit (Lepista nuda)
Specifications:
- The Wood Blewit Mushroom has a purple and cream cap, gray spores, tall and thick gray stems, and purple and cream gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from summer to winter in the United States, Ireland, and Britain. You can eat this mushroom when properly cooked, but it is recommended in small portions as it often disagrees with people.
- The Wood Blewit Mushroom can be found in mixed woodland yards in Alabama and the United States. You will find them on tree trunks and in compost.
- This mushroom can be consumed when cooked in small portions. The cap is the tastiest and can even be found in supermarkets.
- While other mushrooms have quickly been foraged and disappeared in Alabama, the wood blewit mushroom continues to be plentiful and can be found throughout yards and forests.
Common Factors of Mushrooms Growing on Tree Trunks in Alabama
As a reminder, the below factors are common for mushrooms growing on tree trunks in Alabama
- Most are parasitic to humans and should not be consumed.
- These mushrooms can be found throughout your yard, but most commonly on tree trunks in your yard.
- Each mushroom on this list has a common fungus relative that it can be mistaken for. Leverage this guide to have the best chance of identifying common yard mushrooms in Alabama.
- Most mushrooms on this list will only grow a maximum height of 6 inches tall and 3 or 4 inches wide.
- A majority of the mushrooms on this list will have no smell to them.
And remember that you should pay attention to this guide, other local experts, and your local mushroom clubs before foraging. This can be the difference between a nutritious and delicious mushroom and a harmful and even deadly fungus.
If you want to learn about other mushrooms, chickens, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and bees check out thegardeningdad and search for the plant you want to grow in the upper right-hand corner.
