Yellow mushrooms are a fascinating group of fungi that contain over 150 different species. They can be found growing in lawns, gardens, forests, and even potted plants around the world. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about identifying, foraging, cultivation, and caring for these colorful fungi.
What Makes Mushrooms Yellow?
The vibrant yellow color of these mushrooms is produced by carotenoids, the same pigments that give carrots and bananas their hue. Carotenoids act as antioxidants in mushrooms and also help attract spore-spreading insects. The richness of the yellow color depends on the concentration of the pigment. Golden chanterelles have a deep yellow while sulfur tufts are a paler lemon shade.
Where To Find Yellow Mushrooms
Yellow mushrooms thrive in damp, shaded habitats with plenty of decomposing plant matter. Here are some of the top places to search for these colorful fungi
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Lawns – Look for golden waxcaps, yellow fieldcaps, and slime mold fungi growing in moist, shady areas.
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Forests – Scan the forest floor and rotting logs for golden chanterelles, chicken fat mushrooms, and sulphur tufts.
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Gardens – Flowerbeds with mulch offer ideal conditions for yellow patches and American blushers
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Potted Plants – The flowerpot parasol is notorious for sprouting in damp indoor plant soil.
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Orchards – Jack-o-lanterns and golden oysters prosper near rotting fruit tree logs.
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Wood Chip Piles – Species like the yellow pholiota mushroom thrive in moist wood chip mulch.
When Do Yellow Mushrooms Grow?
Yellow mushroom growth depends on location, temperature, and moisture:
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Temperate Zones – Most yellow mushrooms fruit in summer and early fall. Some species grow in spring after heavy rain.
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Tropical Zones – Warm, humid conditions allow year-round fruiting of yellow fungi.
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Indoor Plants – Potted plant yellow mushrooms can appear anytime when soil stays overly damp.
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Drought – Lack of rain suppresses above-ground yellow mushroom growth.
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Cold Winter – Below-freezing temperatures stop growth for all but a few cold-tolerant yellow species.
Identifying Yellow Mushroom Species
With over 150 types of yellow mushrooms worldwide, proper identification is crucial. Here are 10 common species and their key identification features:
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Golden Chanterelle – Trumpet-shaped caps, wavy edges, short gill-like ridges. Edible.
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Sulphur Tuft – Club-shaped caps with greenish hues. Toxic.
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Chicken Fat Mushroom – Reddish-brown streaks on bell-shaped caps. Choice edible.
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Golden Waxcap – Waxy, convex orange-yellow caps. Non-edible.
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Yellow Patches – Bright yellow cap with small dots; grows in rings. Toxic.
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Golden Oyster – Shell-shaped caps in dense clusters on logs. Choice edible.
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Jack-O-Lantern – Funnel-shaped caps with closely spaced gills. Toxic.
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Yellow Foot Chanterelle – Tiny bright yellow trumpet-like mushrooms. Good edible.
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Yellow Fieldcap – Bell-shaped yellow caps on clustered slender stems. Non-edible.
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Flowerpot Parasol – Slender yellow mushrooms in potted plants. Toxic.
Foraging for Yellow Mushrooms
Several species like golden chanterelles and chicken fat mushrooms are prized edible wild mushrooms. However, many toxic lookalikes exist. When foraging:
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Positively identify mushrooms using multiple field guides before harvesting.
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Pick only specimens that match edible species descriptions perfectly.
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Avoid old, worm-eaten, or discolored mushrooms.
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Don’t consume raw mushrooms; cook thoroughly first.
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Start by eating a small portion to check for allergic reactions before consuming more.
Growing Yellow Mushrooms
You can cultivate choice edible yellow mushrooms like king oysters on inoculated logs or yellow elm oysters in sterile sawdust kits. For best results:
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Choose mushroom grow kits suited for your skill level and climate.
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Follow kit instructions precisely for preparing substrates.
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Incubate kits in cool (55-75°F), dark, humid conditions.
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Mist kits daily; avoid over-saturating.
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Provide constant gentle airflow.
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Harvest mushrooms by twisting gently at the base when ready.
Caring for Yellow Mushrooms in Potted Plants
Unexpected yellow houseplant mushrooms like the flowerpot parasol can grow in overly moist potting soil. To control them:
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Remove and destroy mushrooms as they appear.
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Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
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Repot plants in fresh, sterile potting mix when multiple mushooms emerge.
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Improve drainage by adding perlite or orchid bark to potting soil.
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Increase light exposure and air circulation around plants.
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Avoid overwatering which allows fungus colonies to thrive.
The Takeaway
Yellow mushrooms are a diverse, cosmopolitan group containing toxic to highly desirable edible species. Proper identification is essential before consumption. With appropriate care, certain yellow mushrooms can be successfully cultivated at home. And in potted plants, these colorful fungi serve as useful indicators that conditions are too dark, wet, and organic for optimal indoor plant health.
Is the yellow parasol mushroom poisonous or edible?
Reports are conflicting on whether L. birnbaumii is toxic, but it definitely should NOT be eaten. Many Leucocoprinus species are severe sickeners, and symptoms can be dangerous.
What’s this yellow mushroom growing in my houseplant or garden
Nothing edible to share today, but I wanted to make a post about a mushroom that gets asked about all the time on Reddit and Instagram.
The question “What is this yellow mushroom growing in my house plant / planter / garden?” is one I see every day, and today Im here to answer it.
95% of the time you are looking at Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, sometimes called the yellow parasol mushroom, the painted dapperling, or the flowerpot parasol. Yes, its so common in flower pots that it actually has that in the common name. The other 5% of the time you might be looking at the closely related Leucocoprinus straminellus, which is generally a paler shade of yellow, or Leucocoprinus flavescensm which generally has a brown area in the center of the cap.
Both L. birnbaumii and straminellus are tropical or subtropical mushrooms, so finding them in nature in the continental US, Canada or northern Mexico is extremely rare, but extremely common in potting and gardening soil. This is most likely due to the common usage of tropical materials, like orchid bark, in purchased soils. These organic materials may be contaminated with L. birnbaumii spores which then grow mushrooms when conditions are warm enough.
For most North Americans this means late spring, summer or early fall, but if you have a greenhouse, the yellow parasol might pop up anytime.
| Bell shaped when young |
Yellow Mushrooms Around Potted Plants
FAQ
Are yellow mushrooms OK to eat?
The yellow houseplant mushroom is NOT edible and they may be toxic, so if you have curious kids or furry friends, you will want to get rid of them. The mushrooms that is, not the kids. As to how bad the mushrooms are if eaten, the jury’s out.
Are there any poisonous yellow mushrooms?
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics. Yellow parasol mushroom is easily recognizable by its small size, and bright lemon yellow oval or bell-shaped cap that fades to a white color with age. They reach a height of 1 to 3 inches tall.
Is a yellow parasol mushroom poisonous?
Toxicity. Leucocoprinus birnbaumii is a toxic mushroom. If eaten it can cause stomach upset as its toxic mechanism is a gastrointestinal irritant.
What are the bright yellow mushrooms psychedelic?
Gymnopilus luteus. Gymnopilus luteus, known as the yellow gymnopilus, is a widely distributed mushroom-forming fungus of the Eastern United States. It contains the hallucinogens psilocybin and psilocin.
How do you get rid of yellow mushrooms?
If you follow a recommended feeding schedule, that’s often printed on store-bought plant feed. Repotting is one highly efficient method of getting rid of yellow mushrooms and giving your plants a fresh start. Be careful with doing it too often, though. Repotting is only best done in early spring and at the end of it.
How do you know if a mushroom is yellow?
The yellow-staining mushroom can be recognised as it turns yellow when the cap or stem is bruised or cut. Bone said anyone who became ill after eating mushrooms “should seek urgent medical advice and, if possible, take samples of the whole mushroom for identification”.
How do I collect and sell yellow mushrooms?
If you intend to collect and sell yellow mushrooms, it’s crucial to secure a permit from the appropriate local authorities. Accurate Identification of a yellow mushroom involves careful observation of its size, color, location, odor, taste, and various physical attributes like cap, gills, scales, spores, and stem.