Winter · December 2026
Mushrooms in December
23 species of mushrooms in Europe — 10 edible, 1 poisonous. The list updates automatically from the MycoNote database.
December means velvet shank and silence. Most species have gone to rest, and the mycelium is waiting for spring. But the velvet shank doesn't stop: it fruits in any thaw, and in a warm December you can fill a whole basket. In mild winters, late honey fungus still turns up on sheltered slopes. December is the time to reread your season notes and plan routes for next spring.
Which mushrooms grow in December in Europe
7
Edible
3
Conditionally edible
1
Poisonous
0
Deadly poisonous
In December in Europe you can come across 23 species of mushrooms. Of these, 10 edible and conditionally edible species are good to pick. Be careful: among the active species, 1 are dangerous. Before you pick, check the lookalike comparisons.
Which mushrooms grow in December
In December Europe has 23 species of mushrooms in season: 10 edible and conditionally edible ones that are good to pick, and 1 dangerous ones. Most species have gone to rest, and the mycelium is waiting for spring The full list of December mushrooms with photos and descriptions is in the catalog below.
When should you go mushroom picking in December? In December there's just one reliable species: the velvet shank (Flammulina). After rain during a thaw, check willow and poplar stumps along rivers. The general rule: head out 5–10 days after a heavy rain, when daytime temperatures are 15–25°C (59–77°F). December is part of the winter mushroom season, so look there for the big picture of the season.
Poisonous mushrooms in December
In December there are 1 species of dangerous mushrooms in season. Many of them look like edible species — never put a mushroom in your basket if you have any doubt about it.
Compare mushrooms with their lookalikes →All poisonous mushrooms →
All mushrooms of December in Europe
Aleurodiscus amorphus
Inedible
Almond woodwax
Hygrophorus agathosmus
Edible
Amphinema byssoides
Inedible
Amyloporia sinuosa
Inedible
Anomoporia bombycina
Inedible
Artist's bracket
Ganoderma applanatum
Inedible_(d.j.b.)_02.webp)
Birch polypore
Fomitopsis betulina
Inedible
Goblet funnel
Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis
Edible
Hairy curtain crust
Stereum hirsutum
Inedible.webp)
Jelly ear
Auricularia auricula-judae
Edible
Orange peel fungus
Aleuria aurantia
Conditionally edible
Oyster mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatus
Edible
Phaeophyscia orbicularis
Inedible
Splitgill
Schizophyllum commune
Inedible
Summer truffle
Tuber aestivum
Edible
Tiger's eye
Coltricia perennis
Inedible
Tinder fungus
Fomes fomentarius
Inedible
Tree flute
Menegazzia terebrata
Inedible
Tripe fungus
Auricularia mesenterica
Conditionally edible
Velvet shank
Flammulina velutipes
Edible
Wolf lichen
Letharia vulpina
Poisonous
Wood blewit
Lepista nuda
Conditionally edible
Yellow brain
Tremella mesenterica
Edible
What to read about mushrooms in December
Where & when to forageA European mushroom calendar: what to pick each month
The mushroom season lasts almost all year; you just need to know when to go looking for what. Here's a Europea…
August 12, 2026·3 min-1.webp)
Where & when to forageWinter mushrooms of Europe you can pick in the frost
The mushroom season doesn't end with the snow. Here's which mushrooms grow in Europe in winter, where to look…
August 10, 2026·2 min
Where & when to forageWhen does mushroom season end in Europe?
The mushroom season doesn't stop abruptly — it fades in waves right up to the frosts. Here's when the mushroom…
August 9, 2026·2 min._Paddenstoel_op_els_01.webp)
Where & when to forageOyster mushrooms: when they appear and where to look
The oyster mushroom is a tasty wood-dwelling mushroom that grows in clusters on tree trunks in late autumn and…
July 19, 2026·2 min
Frequently asked questions about mushrooms in December
Which mushrooms grow in December in Europe?
In December Europe has 23 species of mushrooms in season: 7 edible, 3 conditionally edible and 1 poisonous. In December there's just one reliable species: the velvet shank (Flammulina). After rain during a thaw, check willow and poplar stumps along rivers.
When should you go mushroom picking in December?
In December there's just one reliable species: the velvet shank (Flammulina). After rain during a thaw, check willow and poplar stumps along rivers. Head out 5–10 days after a heavy rain, when daytime temperatures are 15–25°C (59–77°F).
Are there poisonous mushrooms in December?
Yes, in December there are 1 species of dangerous mushrooms in season. Check every mushroom before you pick it, and never put anything in your basket if you have doubts.
What is winter like for mushroom foragers in Europe?
Winter in Europe is the time of the velvet shank (Flammulina). It fruits during thaws on willow and poplar stumps. All the other species rest until spring.
Where to pick mushrooms in December in Europe?
The most reliable places are mountain forests and damp pine woods: they hold moisture longer. But mushrooms in December grow all over Europe — the key is to head out 5–10 days after a heavy rain.
How many mushroom species can you find in December?
According to MycoNote, in December Europe has 23 species of mushrooms in season. Of these, 10 are edible or conditionally edible and good to pick, and 1 are dangerous. The full list with photos and descriptions is further down this page.
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