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Winter · January 2026

Mushrooms in January

16 species of mushrooms in Europe — 5 edible, 1 poisonous. The list updates automatically from the MycoNote database.

January is the quietest month in the forest. The mycelium sleeps under the frozen leaf litter, saving its strength. But even now there's an exception: the velvet shank (Flammulina velutipes) fruits on willow and poplar stumps during any thaw — orange caps on a snow-covered tree look almost unreal. If the temperature stays above zero for a few days, it's worth a walk through the floodplain woods along a river.

💡 Forager's tip: Look for velvet shank on willows and poplars along rivers during a thaw. It grows in clusters on both living and dead trunks.

Which mushrooms grow in January in Europe

4

Edible

1

Conditionally edible

1

Poisonous

0

Deadly poisonous

In January in Europe you can come across 16 species of mushrooms. Of these, 5 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 January

In January Europe has 16 species of mushrooms in season: 5 edible and conditionally edible ones that are good to pick, and 1 dangerous ones. The mycelium sleeps under the frozen leaf litter, saving its strength The full list of January mushrooms with photos and descriptions is in the catalog below.

When should you go mushroom picking in January? Look for velvet shank on willows and poplars along rivers during a thaw. It grows in clusters on both living and dead trunks. The general rule: head out 5–10 days after a heavy rain, when daytime temperatures are 15–25°C (59–77°F). January is part of the winter mushroom season, so look there for the big picture of the season.

Poisonous mushrooms in January

In January 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 January in Europe

What to read about mushrooms in January

Frequently asked questions about mushrooms in January

Which mushrooms grow in January in Europe?

In January Europe has 16 species of mushrooms in season: 4 edible, 1 conditionally edible and 1 poisonous. Look for velvet shank on willows and poplars along rivers during a thaw. It grows in clusters on both living and dead trunks.

When should you go mushroom picking in January?

Look for velvet shank on willows and poplars along rivers during a thaw. It grows in clusters on both living and dead trunks. Head out 5–10 days after a heavy rain, when daytime temperatures are 15–25°C (59–77°F).

Are there poisonous mushrooms in January?

Yes, in January 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 January in Europe?

The most reliable places are mountain forests and damp pine woods: they hold moisture longer. But mushrooms in January 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 January?

According to MycoNote, in January Europe has 16 species of mushrooms in season. Of these, 5 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.

Other months

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