Blue mushrooms are some of the most visually striking fungi in the world. While most mushrooms come in earthy colors like brown, white, or red, blue mushrooms stand out with their unusual hues. These colorful fungi can range from pale grayish-blue to vivid azure.
Blue mushrooms grow in many parts of the world, especially in forest habitats. They form symbiotic mycorrhizal relationships with tree roots, helping the trees absorb nutrients in exchange for carbohydrates from the trees.
While the unusual color may seem like a warning sign, not all blue mushrooms are poisonous. Some are edible and even choice edibles collected for the table When foraging for wild mushrooms, proper identification is essential to avoid toxic species
Here is an overview of some of the most common types of blue mushrooms found around the world:
Indigo Milk Cap
The indigo milk cap (Lactarius indigo) is one of the most iconic blue mushrooms True to its name, it has deep indigo blue coloring across the cap, gills, stem, and even its “milk” When damaged, the mushroom oozes indigo latex. This latex stains wounded areas greenish.
Indigo milk caps grow in eastern North America, East Asia, and Central America. They associate with both deciduous and coniferous trees. The mushrooms are edible with a mildly peppery taste.
Blue Cheese Polypore
As the name suggests, the blue cheese polypore (Cyanoboletus pulverulentus) resembles blue cheese in color and odor. It has a brownish-blue cap with a whitish margin. The underside is pale blue with tiny pores instead of gills.
These mushrooms grow on the ground clustered at the base of hardwood trees. They have a strong odor reminiscent of blue cheese. While edible, they are not recommended for consumption due to their overwhelming scent.
Elegant Blue Webcap
The elegant blue webcap (Cortinarius rotundisporus) lives up to its name with steel blue caps. It has yellow tones on the upper stem and bluish flesh that stains green when bruised.
Native to Australia, these webcaps grow among the leaf litter and mosses of Eucalyptus forests. They are not edible.
Blue Pinkgill
Found in New Zealand beech forests, the aptly named blue pinkgill (Entoloma hochstetteri) has vibrant royal blue caps and stems. It does not have any gills, instead bearing angular pores on the underside of the cap.
Considered poisonous, blue pinkgills appear on the forest floor in summer and autumn. They are relatively small, reaching 1-2 inches across at maturity.
Verdigris Agaric
The verdigris agaric (Stropharia aeruginosa) earns its common name from its blue-green caps. It has a greenish color resembling verdigris, the patina that forms on aged copper.
In addition to forests, these mushrooms can pop up in fields, lawns, or along roadsides. They have whitish gills that attach to the stem. While once thought edible, they are now considered potentially poisonous.
Peppery Roundhead
The peppery roundhead (Stropharia pseudocyanea) starts out with a grayish or brownish cap. As it matures, the cap becomes blue-green. It remains bell-shaped until flattening out in age.
True to its common name, the peppery roundhead tastes quite peppery. It grows in grassy areas and is poisonous. Consuming it leads to stomach upset.
Blue Polypore
Blue polypores (Neoalbatrellus caeruleoporus) showcase various shades of blue. The caps range from bright azure margins to dark blue centers. These large shelf mushrooms grow on conifer logs and stumps.
Mainly found in western North America, they are too tough and woody textured for eating. But they make a beautiful sight decorating fallen logs.
Identifying Blue Mushrooms
With over 180 species of blue mushrooms globally, identification can be tricky for amateur mycologists. When in doubt, expert input is advised. There are thousands of mushroom species and some toxic species have poisonous lookalikes.
Here are some tips for identifying blue mushrooms:
-
Note the habitat. Knowing the tree associations helps narrow potential species.
-
Observe the stature and shape of the mushroom. Does it have a convex, bell-shaped, or flattened cap?
-
Check the stem for colors and textures. Blue mushrooms often have blue stems.
-
Look at the gill attachment and spacing. Blue mushrooms usually have crowded gills.
-
See if the mushroom bruises or “bleeds” when damaged. Oozing latex is characteristic of some blue species.
-
Take note of any odors. Some blue mushrooms like the blue cheese polypore have a strong scent.
-
Try to observe the mushrooms over time. Young and old mushrooms can look quite different.
With caution and proper identification, mushroom seekers can enjoy these beautiful blue fungi. Just beware, as with any wild mushroom, it’s better to be safe than sorry when foraging. If in doubt, avoid eating any mushroom you cannot confidently identify as edible.
Locations[]
Given the rarity of Blue Mushrooms, expect to put forth some effort to obtain them. They can be found in the areas listed below.
Description[]
This mushroom is extremely rare. Normally found growing high up in the mountains. They are said to have strange effects upon those who consume them.
The Bluest Mushroom on the Planet! Indigo Milk Cap Identification and Foraging. Lacatarius Indigo
FAQ
What kind of mushrooms are blue?
Stropharia caerulea, commonly known as the blue roundhead, is a species of mushroom forming fungus in the family Strophariaceae. It is a somewhat common species found in Europe and North America, where it grows as a saprophyte in meadows, roadsides, hedgerows, gardens, and woodchip mulch.
Are blue mushrooms rare?
Compared to other colors found in nature, true blues are pretty rare—but the indigo milk cap (Lactarius indigo) has just that! This vibrant mushroom gets its color from a pigment that is a derivative of guaiazulene, a dark blue crystalline hydrocarbon.
Is stropharia caerulea hallucinogenic?
In the USA it has been claimed by some authorities that this is one of the mushrooms that can contain significant amounts of the toxic hallucinogens psilobin and psilocybin; however, research has shown that most Stropharia species do not contain detectable amounts of psilocybin (see ref. Kristinsson, below).