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Mushrooms in San Diego County, California
Updated October 2026 · from open GBIF records
1,366mushroom records
272species recorded
Janbusiest month
1,366 records since 1888 (1,188 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 olivascens41 January records since 2011
Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum14 January records since 2011
Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus11 January records since 2011
Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune10 January records since 2011
Wood Blewit Lepista nuda9 January records since 2011
Desert Shaggymane Podaxis pistillaris8 January records since 2011
Golden Milk Cap Lactarius alnicola8 January records since 2011
Chip Cherries Leratiomyces ceres7 January records since 2011
Yellow-Gilled Gymnopilus Gymnopilus luteofolius7 January records since 2011
Field Bird's Nest Cyathus olla5 January records since 2011
Giraffe Spots Peniophora albobadia5 January records since 2011
Mountain Brownie Deconica montana4 January records since 2011
Usually recorded in February here:
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens23 February records since 2011
- Golden Milk Cap Lactarius alnicola12 February records since 2011
- Chip Cherries Leratiomyces ceres10 February records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum9 February records since 2011
Rosy Navel Contumyces rosellus7 February records since 2011- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune7 February records since 2011
- Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus6 February records since 2011
Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita Amanita velosa6 February records since 2011
Oak-Loving Bolete Xerocomellus dryophilus5 February records since 2011
Desert Inkcap Montagnea arenaria5 February records since 2011- Desert Shaggymane Podaxis pistillaris4 February records since 2011
Common Fieldcap Agrocybe pediades3 February records since 2011
Usually recorded in March here:
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens15 March records since 2011
- Desert Inkcap Montagnea arenaria11 March records since 2011
- Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita Amanita velosa9 March records since 2011
Western American Destroying Angel Amanita ocreata8 March records since 2011- Common Fieldcap Agrocybe pediades7 March records since 2011
- Desert Shaggymane Podaxis pistillaris7 March records since 2011
- Rosy Navel Contumyces rosellus7 March records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum5 March records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune5 March records since 2011
- Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus5 March records since 2011
Blushing Bride Amanita novinupta4 March records since 2011
Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans4 March records since 2011
Usually recorded in April here:
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum12 April records since 2011
- Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita Amanita velosa12 April records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune10 April records since 2011
Protected Ringless Amanita Amanita protecta4 April records since 2011- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens4 April records since 2011
Dune Stinkhorn Phallus hadriani3 April records since 2011- Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus3 April records since 2011
- Desert Inkcap Montagnea arenaria3 April records since 2011
Turkeytail Trametes versicolor3 April records since 2011- Common Fieldcap Agrocybe pediades3 April records since 2011
Lantern Stinkhorn Lysurus mokusin3 April records since 2011- Mountain Brownie Deconica montana2 April records since 2011
Usually recorded in May here:
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum5 May records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor5 May records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune4 May records since 2011
- Bittersweet Orange Ringless Amanita Amanita velosa3 May records since 2011
- Lantern Stinkhorn Lysurus mokusin2 May records since 2011
Pale Brittlestem Candolleomyces candolleanus2 May records since 2011
Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus2 May records since 2011
Yellow Stainer Agaricus xanthodermus2 May records since 2011
Usually recorded in June here:
False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybdites9 June records since 2011- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum4 June records since 2011
Sandy Stilt Puffball Battarrea phalloides4 June records since 2011
Milky Conecap Conocybe apala3 June records since 2011
Brown Hay Cap Panaeolina foenisecii2 June records since 2011- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune2 June records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor2 June records since 2011
Hare'Sfoot Inkcap Coprinopsis lagopus2 June records since 2011
Usually recorded in July here:
- False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybdites8 July records since 2011
Ganoderma polychromum4 July records since 2011- Milky Conecap Conocybe apala4 July records since 2011
- Hyphodermella rosae2 July records since 2011
- Fomitiporia polymorpha2 July records since 2011
Plantpot Dapperling Leucocoprinus birnbaumii2 July records since 2011
Usually recorded in August here:
- False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybdites13 August records since 2011
Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii6 August records since 2011- Ganoderma polychromum4 August records since 2011
- Plantpot Dapperling Leucocoprinus birnbaumii4 August records since 2011
Inonotus munzii2 August records since 2011
Lepiota lilacea2 August records since 2011
Simocybe serrulata2 August records since 2011- Milky Conecap Conocybe apala2 August records since 2011
Pisolithus tinctorius2 August records since 2011
Usually recorded in September here:
- Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii19 September records since 2011
- False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybdites14 September records since 2011
- Plantpot Dapperling Leucocoprinus birnbaumii3 September records since 2011
- Ganoderma polychromum2 September records since 2011
- Pisolithus tinctorius2 September records since 2011
Usually recorded in October here:
- Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii29 October records since 2011
- Ganoderma polychromum4 October records since 2011
- False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybdites4 October records since 2011
- Plantpot Dapperling Leucocoprinus birnbaumii3 October records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum3 October records since 2011
Cryptic Globe Fungus Cryptoporus volvatus2 October records since 2011
Usually recorded in November here:
- Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii9 November records since 2011
- Desert Shaggymane Podaxis pistillaris5 November records since 2011
- Chip Cherries Leratiomyces ceres3 November records since 2011
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens3 November records since 2011
- Dune Stinkhorn Phallus hadriani3 November records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune2 November records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum2 November records since 2011
Winter Russula Russula cremoricolor2 November records since 2011- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor2 November records since 2011
Common Collybia Gymnopus dryophilus2 November records since 2011
Usually recorded in December here:
- California Jack O' Lantern Omphalotus olivascens10 December records since 2011
- Desert Shaggymane Podaxis pistillaris5 December records since 2011
- Desert Inkcap Montagnea arenaria4 December records since 2011
- Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum4 December records since 2011
Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea4 December records since 2011- Chip Cherries Leratiomyces ceres4 December records since 2011
- Common Fieldcap Agrocybe pediades3 December records since 2011
- Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus3 December records since 2011
- Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsonii3 December records since 2011
- Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus2 December records since 2011
- Sandy Stilt Puffball Battarrea phalloides2 December records since 2011
Pea-Shaped Bird's Nest Nidularia deformis2 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 | 99 | |
| 2 | 70 | |
| 3 | 64 | |
| 4 | 50 | |
| 5 | 40 | |
| 6 | 34 | |
| 7 | 32 | |
| 8 | 30 | |
| 9 | 28 | |
| 10 | 26 | |
| 11 | 25 | |
| 12 | 21 | |
| 13 | 20 | |
| 14 | 18 | |
| 15 | 17 |
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, Mar, Feb.
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.
- 1Oct 3, 2026Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsoniinear Descanso, CA (location blurred by the observer) · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 2Sep 29, 2026Plantpot Dapperling Leucocoprinus birnbaumiinear San Diego, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 3Sep 14, 2026False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybditesnear San Diego, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 4Sep 1, 2026Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsoniiin Buddy Todd Memorial Park, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 5Aug 25, 2026False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybditesnear San Diego, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 6Aug 24, 2026False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybditesnear San Diego, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 7Aug 21, 2026Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsoniiin Presidio Community Park, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 8Aug 15, 2026Pisolithus tinctoriusnear Oceanside, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 9Aug 15, 2026Pisolithus tinctoriusnear Oceanside, CA · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 10Aug 8, 2026Western Chicken-Of-The-Woods Laetiporus gilbertsoniiin Balboa Park, 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
1,366 records of mushrooms, shelf fungi and polypores (class Agaricomycetes) that fall inside this county's Census boundary. Licenses: 448 CC0 and 918 CC BY 4.0. See about the data for the full citation.