Popular Edible Mushrooms for Beginners

Popular Edible Mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest

The most commonly foraged edible mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest are popular because of their relative ease of identification, low likelihood of eating a toxic lookalike, quality of flavor and texture, and abundance. There are well over 1000 species in just our region but only a small number of these are commonly foraged. Even experts may only choose to eat only 5-10 species.

Here is a list of some of the most popular edible mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. Many of these are quite common from California through British Columbia and into Alaska. Open the mushroom page for more details including links to some possible lookalikes.

Hedgehog

Hydnum spp

Morel

Morchella spp

Chanterelle

Cantharellus spp

Lion’s Manes

Hericium

King Bolete

Boletus edulis group

Lobster

Hypomyces lactifluorum on Russula

Cauliflower

Sparassis

Chicken of the Woods

Laetiporus