Western Giant Puffball
Calvatia booniana · Family Lycoperdaceae · Updated October 2026
137US records
14states
Junbusiest month
137 US records since 1895 (97 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Aug 30, 2026 (about 8 weeks ago) near Dana Point, Orange County, CA, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from California, Colorado and Utah, and the busiest months are Jun, May and Aug. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ 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.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Jun, May, Aug.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Marin County, CA (8) · latest Apr 2, 2025
- Pitkin County, CO (5) · latest Jul 27, 2021
- Boulder County, CO (5) · latest Aug 22, 2022
- Owyhee County, ID (4) · latest Aug 31, 2024
- Houghton County, MI (4) · latest Oct 6, 2008
- Larimer County, CO (4) · latest Jun 7, 2026
- Contra Costa County, CA (4) · latest May 2, 2026
- San Mateo County, CA (4) · latest May 3, 2024
- Salt Lake County, UT (4) · latest Jun 26, 2023
- Alameda County, CA (4) · latest Apr 19, 2026
More on this species from GBIF.
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.