Summer Rains Bring Summer Mushrooms

 

Seattle-area mushroomers may be preparing for an excellent late-summer mushroom season this year. Cooler temperatures and above-average rain will prompt fruitings of many species found in our region’s late summer months, including choice edible species like king boletes and chanterelles. There is more to love about mushrooms than just these popular choice edibles. There are likely over 1000 other summer species found in our area, many of which still don’t have names.

The Seattle area had an accumulation of nearly 1.5in in Aug 2024. This ranks 5th for total August rain since 2000, and the most since 2015.

August rain in Seattle from 2000-2024. Aug 2024 ranks 5th since 2000.

As we move towards fall, rain should continue to increase and mushroom-fruiting will continue to improve through October or even November when the mountains begin to freeze. Fortunately, the low-elevation areas experience a long tail-end of the season with reasonable abundance into January.

Now is an excellent time to get out to look for mushrooms. Here are some of the most popular edible summer species.

Chanterelle

King Bolete / Porcini / Cep

Bear’s Head

The Prince

Lobster

Pro Membership

Get the data serious foragers use to find more mushrooms

Free members get soil temps, precipitation, and ecoregion data. Pro unlocks the layers that help you narrow down exactly where to look.

  • Historical burn perimeters — find morel habitat fast
  • Timber harvest boundaries across OR & WA
  • Detailed foraging area summaries with conditions
  • Offline maps in the Forayz iOS app

Similar Posts

  • |

    A new morels home page

    I created a page dedicated to PNW morels which might make understanding our local morels a little easier. My understanding of morel species, descriptions, habitat and other important information continues to grow and there are certainly things I can improve here. Please send me a note if you have any suggestions on ways that I…

  • |

    Research on Medicinal Mushrooms

    Here is a well-written and thoroughly cited article discussing research on the medicinal benefits of various mushrooms and the ailments they are reported to address https://namyco.org/scientific_research_and_medici.php Pro Membership Get the data serious foragers use to find more mushrooms Free members get soil temps, precipitation, and ecoregion data. Pro unlocks the layers that help you narrow…

  • Boletes – May 27 2021

    Pro Membership Get the data serious foragers use to find more mushrooms Free members get soil temps, precipitation, and ecoregion data. Pro unlocks the layers that help you narrow down exactly where to look. Historical burn perimeters — find morel habitat fast Timber harvest boundaries across OR & WA Detailed foraging area summaries with conditions…

  • Candy Caps

    Candy Cap Mushrooms Candy Cap mushrooms are mushrooms in the milk cap genus Lactarius. They are small, orange mushrooms that can be found on or near rotting wood, and soil. There are multiple species that have the characteristic maple scent when dried. Lactarius rubidus is known from Baja to BC. New Lesson: Candy Caps Free Key…