Mushrooms in Cook County, Illinois
Updated October 2026 · from open GBIF records
5,702mushroom records
786species recorded
Augbusiest month
5,702 records since 1873 (1,710 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:
Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune4 January records since 2011
Bitter Oysterling Panellus stipticus3 January records since 2011
Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes2 January records since 2011
Hairy Bracket Trametes hirsuta2 January records since 2011
Turkeytail Trametes versicolor2 January records since 2011
Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa2 January records since 2011
Fluted Bird's Nest Cyathus striatus2 January records since 2011
Mock Oyster Mushroom Phyllotopsis nidulans2 January records since 2011- Poronidulus conchifer2 January records since 2011
Blushing Bracket Daedaleopsis confragosa2 January records since 2011
Usually recorded in February here:
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune5 February records since 2011
Pear-Shaped Puffball Apioperdon pyriforme3 February records since 2011
Ceramic Parchment Xylobolus frustulatus2 February records since 2011- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor2 February records since 2011
- Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa2 February records since 2011
- Poronidulus conchifer2 February records since 2011
- Bitter Oysterling Panellus stipticus2 February records since 2011
Usually recorded in March here:
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune7 March records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor4 March records since 2011
- Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes3 March records since 2011
- Bitter Oysterling Panellus stipticus3 March records since 2011
- Poronidulus conchifer2 March records since 2011
Northern Cinnabar Polypore Trametes cinnabarina2 March records since 2011
Artist's Bracket Ganoderma applanatum2 March records since 2011- Pear-Shaped Puffball Apioperdon pyriforme2 March records since 2011
- Hairy Bracket Trametes hirsuta2 March records since 2011
Deadly Galerina Galerina marginata2 March records since 2011
Milk-White Toothed Polypore Irpex lacteus2 March records since 2011- Ceramic Parchment Xylobolus frustulatus2 March records since 2011
Usually recorded in April here:
Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosus23 April records since 2011
Glistening Ink-Cap Coprinellus micaceus7 April records since 2011- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor6 April records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune5 April records since 2011
Winter Polypore Lentinus brumalis2 April records since 2011
Golden Bracket Fuscoporia gilva2 April records since 2011- Fungi Pallidohirschioporus biformis2 April records since 2011
- Pear-Shaped Puffball Apioperdon pyriforme2 April records since 2011
- Northern Cinnabar Polypore Trametes cinnabarina2 April records since 2011
- Artist's Bracket Ganoderma applanatum2 April records since 2011
Usually recorded in May here:
- Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosus38 May records since 2011
- Glistening Ink-Cap Coprinellus micaceus9 May records since 2011
Crown-Tipped Coral Artomyces pyxidatus8 May records since 2011
Tiger Sawgill Lentinus tigrinus7 May records since 2011
Protohydnum album5 May records since 2011
Golden Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus5 May records since 2011
Fairies' Bonnets Coprinellus disseminatus4 May records since 2011- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune4 May records since 2011
Alcohol Inky Cap Coprinopsis atramentaria3 May records since 2011
Deer Mushroom Pluteus cervinus3 May records since 2011
Feltscale Inky Cap Coprinopsis variegata3 May records since 2011
Lilac Oysterling Panus conchatus3 May records since 2011
Usually recorded in June here:
- Crown-Tipped Coral Artomyces pyxidatus14 June records since 2011
- Feltscale Inky Cap Coprinopsis variegata9 June records since 2011
- Protohydnum album8 June records since 2011
- Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosus7 June records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune6 June records since 2011
Pale Brittlestem Candolleomyces candolleanus5 June records since 2011- Fairies' Bonnets Coprinellus disseminatus5 June records since 2011
- Golden Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus5 June records since 2011
Chicken Of The Woods Laetiporus sulphureus5 June records since 2011
Flat Crep Crepidotus applanatus4 June records since 2011
Eastern American Platterful Mushroom Megacollybia rodmanii4 June records since 2011- Tiger Sawgill Lentinus tigrinus4 June records since 2011
Usually recorded in July here:
- Protohydnum album26 July records since 2011
- Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosus10 July records since 2011
Reddening Lepiota Leucoagaricus americanus10 July records since 2011
Blushing Rosette Abortiporus biennis10 July records since 2011
Green Cheese Polypore Niveoporofomes spraguei9 July records since 2011- Chicken Of The Woods Laetiporus sulphureus9 July records since 2011
Jack O Lantern Omphalotus illudens8 July records since 2011- Crown-Tipped Coral Artomyces pyxidatus8 July records since 2011
- Pale Brittlestem Candolleomyces candolleanus7 July records since 2011
Ash Tree Bolete Boletinellus merulioides7 July records since 2011- Golden Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus7 July records since 2011
Chicago Chanterelle Cantharellus chicagoensis6 July records since 2011
Usually recorded in August here:
- Reddening Lepiota Leucoagaricus americanus17 August records since 2011
- Protohydnum album14 August records since 2011
- Jack O Lantern Omphalotus illudens12 August records since 2011
- Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosus11 August records since 2011
- Crown-Tipped Coral Artomyces pyxidatus11 August records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor10 August records since 2011
- Green Cheese Polypore Niveoporofomes spraguei10 August records since 2011
- Blushing Rosette Abortiporus biennis9 August records since 2011
Oak Bracket Pseudoinonotus dryadeus9 August records since 2011- Chicken Of The Woods Laetiporus sulphureus9 August records since 2011
- Fairies' Bonnets Coprinellus disseminatus9 August records since 2011
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune9 August records since 2011
Usually recorded in September here:
- Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosus31 September records since 2011
- Chicken Of The Woods Laetiporus sulphureus14 September records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor12 September records since 2011
- Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa10 September records since 2011
- Protohydnum album8 September records since 2011
False Parasol Chlorophyllum molybdites6 September records since 2011
Hen Of The Woods Grifola frondosa6 September records since 2011- Pear-Shaped Puffball Apioperdon pyriforme6 September records since 2011
- Reddening Lepiota Leucoagaricus americanus6 September records since 2011
Bleeding Fairy Helmet Mycena haematopus6 September records since 2011
Ganoderma resinaceum5 September records since 2011- Jack O Lantern Omphalotus illudens5 September records since 2011
Usually recorded in October here:
- Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosus12 October records since 2011
- Ganoderma resinaceum10 October records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor9 October records since 2011
Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus9 October records since 2011- Pear-Shaped Puffball Apioperdon pyriforme8 October records since 2011
- Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa8 October records since 2011
- Bleeding Fairy Helmet Mycena haematopus7 October records since 2011
- Hen Of The Woods Grifola frondosa6 October records since 2011
- Fairies' Bonnets Coprinellus disseminatus6 October records since 2011
- Chicken Of The Woods Laetiporus sulphureus5 October records since 2011
- Crown-Tipped Coral Artomyces pyxidatus5 October records since 2011
Late Fall Polypore Ischnoderma resinosum5 October records since 2011
Usually recorded in November here:
- Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa7 November records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor5 November records since 2011
- Poronidulus conchifer3 November records since 2011
- Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes3 November records since 2011
Spreading Phlebia Phlebia radiata3 November records since 2011- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune3 November records since 2011
- Ganoderma resinaceum2 November records since 2011
Bay Polypore Picipes badius2 November records since 2011- Pear-Shaped Puffball Apioperdon pyriforme2 November records since 2011
Elm Leech Hypsizygus ulmarius2 November records since 2011- Deadly Galerina Galerina marginata2 November records since 2011
Coprinopsis romagnesiana2 November records since 2011
Usually recorded in December here:
- Common Porecrust, Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune8 December records since 2011
- Turkeytail Trametes versicolor7 December records since 2011
Crowded Parchment Stereum complicatum6 December records since 2011- Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes6 December records since 2011
- Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa5 December records since 2011
- Milk-White Toothed Polypore Irpex lacteus4 December records since 2011
- Hairy Bracket Trametes hirsuta3 December records since 2011
- Deadly Galerina Galerina marginata3 December records since 2011
Black Witch's Butter Exidia glandulosa3 December records since 2011
Crystal Brain Fungus Myxarium nucleatum2 December records since 2011
Ochre Bracket Trametes ochracea2 December records since 2011
Crowded Cuplet Merismodes fasciculata2 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 | 147 | |
| 2 | 115 | |
| 3 | 84 | |
| 4 | 77 | |
| 5 | 71 | |
| 6 | 67 | |
| 7 | 65 | |
| 8 | 61 | |
| 9 | 56 | |
| 10 | 53 | |
| 11 | 52 | |
| 12 | 50 | |
| 13 | 49 | |
| 14 | 47 | |
| 15 | 46 |
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: Aug, Jul, Sep.
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 5, 2026Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosusnear Palos Park, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 2Oct 5, 2026Bay Polypore Picipes badiusnear Palos Park, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 3
Oct 4, 2026Giant Puffball Calvatia giganteanear Morton Grove, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record - 4Oct 4, 2026Bleeding Fairy Helmet Mycena haematopusnear Chicago, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 5Oct 3, 2026Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosanear Chicago, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 6
Oct 3, 2026Brown-Toothed Crust Fungus Hydnoporia olivaceanear Chicago, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record - 7Oct 3, 2026Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosusnear Des Plaines, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 8
- 9Oct 2, 2026Bleeding Fairy Helmet Mycena haematopusnear Riverside, IL · iNaturalist photo, research grade · original record
- 10Sep 26, 2026Dryad's Saddle Cerioporus squamosusnear Chicago, IL · 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
5,702 records of mushrooms, shelf fungi and polypores (class Agaricomycetes) that fall inside this county's Census boundary. Licenses: 4,149 CC0 and 1,553 CC BY 4.0. See about the data for the full citation.