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Mushrooms in Monterey County, California
Updated October 2026 · from open GBIF records
1,380mushroom records
336species recorded
Janbusiest month
1,380 records since 1895 (710 in the last 10 years)
Fruiting now
Based on past sightings (mostly since 2011; all years where recent records are few), not a forecast. Weather and place matter a lot, and a listing here says nothing about whether a mushroom is safe.
Usually recorded in January here:
California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens24 January records since 2011
Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria18 January records since 2011
Turkeytail Trametes versicolor7 January records since 2011
Death Cap Amanita phalloides6 January records since 2011
Poor Man's Slippery Jack Suillus fuscotomentosus5 January records since 2011
Galactic Milk Cap Lactarius xanthogalactus5 January records since 2011
Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans5 January records since 2011
Wood Blewit Lepista nuda5 January records since 2011
Western Amethyst Laccaria Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis5 January records since 2011
Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum4 January records since 2011
Western Jumbo Gym Gymnopilus ventricosus4 January records since 2011
Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus4 January records since 2011
Usually recorded in February here:
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens6 February records since 2011
- Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria5 February records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor4 February records since 2011
- Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans3 February records since 2011
- Death Cap Amanita phalloides3 February records since 2011
Barometer Earthstar Astraeus hygrometricus3 February records since 2011
Majestic Amanita Amanita augusta3 February records since 2011- Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus2 February records since 2011
Candy Cap Lactarius rubidus2 February records since 2011
Coral Tooth Hericium coralloides2 February records since 2011- Wood Blewit Lepista nuda2 February records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum2 February records since 2011
Usually recorded in March here:
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum8 March records since 2011
Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune7 March records since 2011
Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita Amanita velosa6 March records since 2011
Blushing Bride Amanita novinupta5 March records since 2011- Poor Man's Slippery Jack Suillus fuscotomentosus4 March records since 2011
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens4 March records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor4 March records since 2011
- Majestic Amanita Amanita augusta4 March records since 2011
- Wood Blewit Lepista nuda3 March records since 2011
Western American Destroying Angel Amanita ocreata3 March records since 2011
Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus3 March records since 2011
Bicoloured Deceiver Laccaria bicolor2 March records since 2011
Usually recorded in April here:
- Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita Amanita velosa7 April records since 2011
- Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus4 April records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune4 April records since 2011
Barrow's Bolete Boletus barrowsii4 April records since 2011- Birch Mazegill, Gilled Polypore Lenzites betulinus3 April records since 2011
- Death Cap Amanita phalloides2 April records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor2 April records since 2011
Usually recorded in May here:
- Death Cap Amanita phalloides8 May records since 2011
- Barrow's Bolete Boletus barrowsii5 May records since 2011
Golden Milk Cap Lactarius alnicola3 May records since 2011
Prince Agaricus augustus3 May records since 2011- Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita Amanita velosa2 May records since 2011
- Birch Mazegill, Gilled Polypore Lenzites betulinus2 May records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum2 May records since 2011
Western Giant Puffball Calvatia booniana2 May records since 2011
Usually recorded in June here:
Sandy Stilt Puffball Battarrea phalloides3 June records across all years- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor2 June records across all years
Artist's Conk Ganoderma brownii2 June records across all years- Barrow's Bolete Boletus barrowsii2 June records across all years
- Prince Agaricus augustus2 June records across all years
Usually recorded in July here:
- Death Cap Amanita phalloides2 July records since 2011
- Quasiphlebia canadensis2 July records since 2011
- Prince Agaricus augustus2 July records since 2011
- Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus2 July records since 2011
- Artist's Conk Ganoderma brownii2 July records since 2011
Usually recorded in August here:
Bearded Tooth Hericium erinaceus2 August records across all years- Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus2 August records across all years
- Daedalea xantha2 August records across all years
Usually recorded in September here:
Liver Bolete Suillellus amygdalinus4 September records across all years- Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus3 September records across all years
Xerocomellus truncatus2 September records across all years
Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii2 September records across all years- Artist's Conk Ganoderma brownii2 September records across all years
Usually recorded in October here:
- Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii5 October records across all years
Common Collybia Gymnopus dryophilus3 October records across all years- Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus3 October records across all years
- Sandy Stilt Puffball Battarrea phalloides2 October records across all years
- Prince Agaricus augustus2 October records across all years
Usually recorded in November here:
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens9 November records since 2011
- Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria7 November records since 2011
- Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans4 November records since 2011
- Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus3 November records since 2011
Cep Boletus edulis3 November records since 2011- Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii3 November records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum2 November records since 2011
Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus2 November records since 2011
Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare2 November records since 2011- Bearded Tooth Hericium erinaceus2 November records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor2 November records since 2011
Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus2 November records since 2011
Usually recorded in December here:
- Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria23 December records since 2011
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens19 December records since 2011
Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea14 December records since 2011- Western Jumbo Gym Gymnopilus ventricosus8 December records since 2011
- Cep Boletus edulis6 December records since 2011
- Wood Blewit Lepista nuda6 December records since 2011
Western Cauliflower Mushroom Sparassis radicata5 December records since 2011- Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus5 December records since 2011
Pine Spikes Chroogomphus vinicolor4 December records since 2011- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum4 December records since 2011
Scurfy Twiglet Tubaria furfuracea4 December records since 2011
Pungent Slippery Jack Suillus pungens4 December records since 2011
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Most-recorded species
| # | Species | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68 | |
| 2 | 60 | |
| 3 | 45 | |
| 4 | 29 | |
| 5 | 28 | |
| 6 | 27 | |
| 7 | 25 | |
| 8 | 21 | |
| 9 | 20 | |
| 10 | 19 | |
| 11 | 19 | |
| 12 | 18 | |
| 13 | 18 | |
| 14 | 16 | |
| 15 | 15 |
Being on this list doesn't mean a mushroom is common, easy to identify or safe. It only means it has been recorded here often.
Best months to look
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Sightings map
● Each dot is a place with at least one record (rounded to about 1 km). Locations can be approximate, and many are on private land. Numbered blue circles are recent sightings, shown only to a general area of about 10 km.
Recent sightings
The 10 most recent dated records in this county, newest first. Data as of October 26, 2026. Records can take weeks or more to reach GBIF, so the newest finds may not show yet. Places are given only as a public park or forest (from the USGS Protected Areas Database) or the nearest town, and the numbered circles on the map cover a general area, not an exact spot.
- 1Jul 3, 2026Prince Agaricus augustusin Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 2Jun 20, 2026Sandy Stilt Puffball Battarrea phalloidesnear Elkhorn, CA (location blurred by the observer) · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 3Jun 18, 2026Barrow's Bolete Boletus barrowsiinear Castroville, CA (location blurred by the observer) · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 4Jun 10, 2026Barrow's Bolete Boletus barrowsiinear Prunedale, CA (location blurred by the observer) · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 5Jun 6, 2026Western Giant Puffball Calvatia booniananear Marina, CA (location blurred by the observer) · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 6May 29, 2026Barrow's Bolete Boletus barrowsiinear Marina, CA (location blurred by the observer) · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 7May 27, 2026Death Cap Amanita phalloidesnear Marina, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 8May 27, 2026Golden Milk Cap Lactarius alnicolanear Seaside, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 9May 27, 2026Golden Milk Cap Lactarius alnicolanear Marina, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 10May 27, 2026Golden Milk Cap Lactarius alnicolanear Marina, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
Many sightings are on private land. Always get the landowner's permission, and follow the rules of parks and forests, which often limit or ban collecting.
Bring along
🍄
Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How we built this page
1,380 records of mushrooms, shelf fungi and polypores (class Agaricomycetes) that fall inside this county's Census boundary. Licenses: 902 CC0 and 478 CC BY 4.0. See about the data for the full citation.