We tend to associate fungi with autumn, when some of the most familiar mushrooms appear in the UK. But there are some wonderful fungi to be seen at this time of year, too.
Where can I see fungi in spring?
Your best bet is to find a park or woodland area with trees, old stumps and fallen branches around. Slow down and take the time to explore all the nooks and crannies to see what you might find. As you start noticing fungi around you, even a tree-lined street or a tree stump can reveal wonders!
Most of the fungi you’ll see at this time of year are saprobes, meaning they get nutrients from breaking down organic matter and dead wood. They play an important role in ecosystems by decomposing the dead or decaying matter and releasing vital minerals back into the environment, to be used by other organisms.
If you can, head outside a few days after the rain. Cool, wet weather provides the perfect conditions for fungal fruiting bodies to pop up (bring on the April showers!).
A note of caution
Never eat mushrooms you find in the wild. Fungi are extremely difficult to identify, and many are poisonous. Admire them, draw them, photograph them – whatever sparks your curiosity! But we always recommend leaving fungi undisturbed.
King Alfred’s Cakes (Daldinia concentrica)
The fungus's common name comes from a peculiar story that takes us back to the ninth century. As the story goes, King Alfred, taking refuge in a peasant’s home to escape the Vikings, neglected some cakes that were baking by the fire, allowing them to burn. In his shame, he scattered the burnt cakes into the woods.
King Alfred's cakes are also known for their fire lighting ability, used to light fires a long as 7,000 years ago.
Common throughout UK woodlands on the branches of beech and ash, King Alfred’s Cakes usually appear in summer to autumn but can persist for years, making them observable throughout the year.
St George’s mushroom (Calocybe gambosa)
Calocybe gambosa derives its common name from its typical appearance around St. George's Day (April 23rd) in the UK, although it can appear earlier.
This edible mushroom thrives in grasslands, meadows, parks, and woodland edges, often forming fairy rings. It has a distinctive aroma, reminiscent of damp flour.
What’s the difference between a mushroom and a fruiting body?
Most fungi produce a fruiting body – a structure that produces spores, helping the fungus reproduce.
A mushroom is a type of fruiting body, typically characterized by a cap, gills (or pores), and a stem. Not all fruiting bodies are mushrooms. Different types of fungus produce different fruiting bodies, from brackets, to gelatinous or jelly-like structures, puffballs and others.
Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor)
Turkeytail is a bracket fungus found throughout the UK and is one of our most common fungi. You can find it growing on decaying wood throughout the year, brightening up woodland with its layered shelves.
Turkeytail is widely studied for its potential medicinal uses, thought to have remarkable health benefits including anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties.
There are lots of other bracket fungi to be seen in the UK at this time of year, such as Dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosus), Hoof fungus (Fomes fomentarius), and Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina).
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Found any time of year, particularly after a change in weather, oyster mushrooms grow in tiers from dead or dying wood of broadleaf hardwood trees, particularly beech. They are white, tan or grey-blue in colour, with white or cream gills.
Pleurotus ostreatus can break down tough woods that are rich in cellulose and lignin, making this fungus a particularly important decomposer. This species can even be used to break down agricultural by-products and environmental pollutants.
Surprisingly, Pleurotus ostreatus is a carnivorous fungus. To obtain nitrogen, it releases a toxin to paralyze and feed on microscopic worms called nematodes.
A culinary staple across the world, oyster mushrooms rank among the top commercially grown mushrooms. They are also a popular food for wildlife, eaten by snails, rabbits, squirrels, or even wild boars.
Oyster mushrooms are also a good choice if you're thinking of cultivating mushrooms at home, because they are UK native and delicious!
Common Inkcap (Coprinopsis atramentaria)
Inkcap mushrooms start growing in the spring anywhere wood is buried, including woodlands, parks, and even beside pavements.
These mushrooms got their name from historic use as an ink. As the mushroom matures, parts of it turn into a black liquid through a process called deliquescence, where the mushroom gills and cap self-digest into a black, inky substance containing spores.
Other inkcap species to look out for include glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), and Shaggy inkcap (Coprinus comatus).
Green elf cup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens)
Green elf cups appear from spring to autumn on deadwood of broad-leaved trees such as oak. This fungus is easily identifiable, as the blue-green colour is rare in the fungi kingdom. The unique and tiny mushrooms are initially goblet shaped but flatten and change with age.
It is common to find deadwood that is stained green by the mycelium of elf cup fungus. Historically, this green-stained wood has been used in specialist art - in Britain it was used in decorative Tunbridge ware woodwork in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Other equally vibrant and colourful cup fungi include scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca) and ruby elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea), which both appear in early spring.
Candlesnuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon)
Candlesnuff fungus looks similar to a snuffed candle wick, hence its name. Also known as stag’s horn fungus or candlestick fungus, it fruits all year round on the deadwood of broadleaved trees and moss.
Candlesnuff fungus is inedible but is being researched for use in medicine, as it contains compounds with anti-viral and anti-cancer properties.
Also look out for its thinner cousin, beechmast candlesnuff (Xylaria carpophyla).
Common morel (Morchella esculenta)
Usually found under broadleaved trees including ash, oak and elm, these spongey-looking, honeycomb-like mushrooms appear in a short window from April - May.
Morels are a prized edible mushroom but must be cooked carefully as they are poisonous when raw. Not to be confused with the false morel, which looks similar but is very poisonous, even when cooked!
Common bonnet (Mycena galericulata)
The widespread common bonnet can be spotted year-round in woodland areas, although its variable appearance can make identification difficult. It has conical to bell shaped caps, about 2-6cm wide.
This fungus thrives on dead wood, forming clusters on stumps and fallen branches of both hardwood and softwood trees.
Jelly ear (Auricularia auricula-judae)
Jelly ear fungus thrives in damp areas on dead or dying wood - with a particular fondness for elder trees. Starting out as a cup shape, the mushrooms soon develop ear-like lobes. Also known as wood ear, this fungus species is fairly common across the UK and can be seen all year round.
Jelly ear is edible and is particularly popular in Asian cuisine. It has a unique gelatinous texture and a mild, earthy flavor.
Witches’ Butter (Exidia glandulosa)
Also called black witches' butter, Exidia glandulosa is recognised by its dark, rubbery fruiting bodies, typically around 3 cm across that grow singly or in small clusters. Witches’ butter can be seen across the UK growing primarily on the wood of oak. The fruiting bodies soften and distort with age, and are easiest to spot in wet weather.
It is easily confused with Exidia nigricans, a similar-looking fungus that is also sometimes called witches' butter.
Confusingly, the common name 'witches' butter' is also used for a third species of fungus: Tremella mesenterica, or yellow brain fungus. Yellow brain is a common woodland fungus that grows on dead wood. It is parasitic, feeding on other fungi of the Peniophora genus.
All three fungus species, unsurprisingly, have historic associations with witchcraft. In some European folklore, their appearances signaled the occurrence of witchery, while in others, burning them was thought to deter evil spirits.
Tremella mesenterica, witches’ butter or yellow brain fungus.
Fungi play an important role in our ecosystems, helping recycle nutrients and providing for wildlife. You can help encourage fungi to fruit by leaving dead and rotting wood alone in your garden or community space.
Learn more about why fungi matter
Download our spring fungus spotter sheet
Ready to head out on a fungus hunt? Download our poster guide to take with you. The perfect Easter activity!
Grow-Wild-Spring-Fungi-Hunt.pdf
Find out more about fungi
