You should know about these Red Mushrooms in Georgia if you live here. Our list will help you stay clear of the poisonous ones.
Georgia has many different red mushrooms, growing on the ground or trees and having all kinds of shapes and sizes. We’ll help you distinguish these properly.
Red Mushrooms in Georgia
1. Scarlet Elf Cup
Botanical Name: Sarcoscypha coccinea
Scarlet Elf Cups are not commonly sought-after mushrooms to eat, but they are safe for consumption in small portions. They are small in size, have a cup-like head, and are found on forest floors.
2. Red-Belted Polypore
Botanical Name: Fomitopsis pinicola
Red-banded polypores, also called Brown Rot Fungus, might vary in shape and size, but they are hoof-shaped and grow on tree trunks. They are not poisonous but they are also not worth eating due to the bitter taste.
3. Chicken of the Woods
Botanical Name: Laetiporus sulphureus
Chicken of the Woods is probably the best red mushroom found in Georgia. It is bright red, can be eaten, and tastes just like chicken (flavor and texture). You’ll find these growing on dead or dying hardwood trees like oaks, maples, beeches, and hickories.
Tip: If you do find these, gather the young ones because mature ones are woody and unpleasant to eat.
4. Ruby Crown Coral
Botanical Name: Artomyces pyxidatus
Ruby Crown Coral mushrooms are bright red and have a coral-like shape. They are edible and prized because they look really pretty. You can eat these but only in small quantities. Plus, they’re not flavorful and have a rubbery texture.
5. Crimson Waxcap
Botanical Name: Hygrocybe punicea
Crimson Waxcap mushrooms have a deep red cap that fades to orange or yellow as you move toward the edges. Some people do claim that it is safe to eat, but there are many with conflicting reports, so you should not eat it.
6. Bloody Brittlegill
Botanical Name: Russula sanguinaria
The Bloody Brittlegill mushroom is so named because it has bloody red cups that may also be brown. These are inedible and grow on and around coniferous trees in Georgia.
7. Red Cage Fungus
Botanical Name: Clathrus ruber
The Red Cage Fungus has a lovely cage-like structure, but it gives off a foul smell that attracts flies and carrion beetles. These are not poisonous, but are not edible, too.
8. Vermilion Waxcap
Botanical Name: Hygrocybe miniata
You will also find Vermilion Waxcap mushrooms in Florida. These red-orange mushrooms are often scattered in moist areas like bogs. They are not edible, so don’t try them.
9. Fly Agaric Mushrooms
Botanical Name: Amanita muscaria
Fly Agarics are highly recognizable red top mushrooms in Georgia and are covered in white warts. They are full of hallucinogenic compounds, muscimol, and ibotenic acid.
10. Jack O’Lantern Mushroom
Botanical Name: Omphalotus olearius
Jack O’Lantern mushrooms have a red-orange cap and also give off an eerie glow. They are actually bioluminescent and grow on decaying hardwoods. The mushroom can cause gastrointestinal distress if consumed.
11. American Caesar’s Mushroom
Botanical Name: Amanita jacksonii
American Caesar’s Mushroom is a deciduous mushroom with a nutty flavor and firm texture. It has a bright red-orange cap and is found in Georgia between July and October near conifer and deciduous trees.
