Saffron Milk-Cap
Lactarius deliciosus · Family Russulaceae · Updated October 2026
620US records
33states
Augbusiest month
620 US records since 1889 (136 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Feb 3, 2025 (about 21 months ago) near Del Monte Forest, Monterey County, CA, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from Colorado, California and Washington, and the busiest months are Aug, Sep and Oct. (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: Aug, Sep, Oct.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Clear Creek County, CO (45) · latest Aug 23, 2022
- Mendocino County, CA (28) · latest Dec 31, 2017
- Boulder County, CO (25) · latest Aug 12, 2023
- Humboldt County, CA (21) · latest Dec 12, 2023
- Summit County, CO (20) · latest Aug 10, 2022
- Albany County, WY (13) · latest Jul 30, 1967
- King County, WA (13) · latest Sep 24, 1978
- Grand County, CO (12) · latest Aug 6, 2022
- Summit County, UT (11) · latest Sep 7, 2019
- Sierra County, CA (11) · latest Oct 16, 1983
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.