Spring · May 2026
Mushrooms in May
71 species of mushrooms in Europe — 46 edible, 6 poisonous. The list updates automatically from the MycoNote database.
May is a turning point: spring flows into summer, and the mushrooms answer with their first real flush. The first chanterelles appear in the pine forests — golden-orange, fragrant, almost fruity. Slippery jacks and birch boletes get going in the oak groves. By the end of the month, if May has been wet, you can find the first porcini. The May forest smells of fresh leaves and damp earth — a perfect time to head out.
Which mushrooms grow in May in Europe
31
Edible
15
Conditionally edible
5
Poisonous
1
Deadly poisonous
In May in Europe you can come across 71 species of mushrooms. Of these, 46 edible and conditionally edible species are good to pick. Be careful: among the active species, 6 are dangerous, including 1 deadly poisonous ones. Before you pick, check the lookalike comparisons.
Which mushrooms grow in May
In May Europe has 71 species of mushrooms in season: 46 edible and conditionally edible ones that are good to pick, and 6 dangerous ones. The first chanterelles appear in the pine forests — golden-orange, fragrant, almost fruity The full list of May mushrooms with photos and descriptions is in the catalog below.
When should you go mushroom picking in May? May is the start of chanterelle season. Look for them in pine forests on sandy soil. Check the rain forecast: after a week without rain, it's better to wait. The general rule: head out 5–10 days after a heavy rain, when daytime temperatures are 15–25°C (59–77°F). May is part of the spring mushroom season, so look there for the big picture of the season.
Poisonous mushrooms in May
In May there are 6 species of dangerous mushrooms in season, including 1 deadly poisonous ones. Many of them look like edible species — never put a mushroom in your basket if you have any doubt about it.
Deadly poisonous mushrooms active in May: Deadly fibrecap. All of them have edible lookalikes — check every find.
Compare mushrooms with their lookalikes →All poisonous mushrooms →
All mushrooms of May in Europe
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Agaricus comtulus
Edible
Agaricus subperonatus
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Agaricus tabularis
Edible
Aleurodiscus amorphus
Inedible
Amphinema byssoides
Inedible
Amylocorticium cebennense
Inedible
Amyloporia sinuosa
Inedible
Anomoporia bombycina
Inedible
Artist's bracket
Ganoderma applanatum
Inedible
Black morel
Morchella conica
Conditionally edible
Branching oyster
Pleurotus cornucopiae
Edible
Button mushroom
Agaricus bisporus
Edible
Chicken of the woods
Laetiporus sulphureus
Edible
Common bonnet
Mycena galericulata
Inedible
Common ink cap
Coprinopsis atramentaria
Conditionally edible
Common morel
Morchella esculenta
Conditionally edible
Common stinkhorn
Phallus impudicus
Edible
Deadly fibrecap
Inocybe erubescens
Deadly poisonous
Deer shield
Pluteus cervinus
Edible
Devil's urn
Urnula craterium
Inedible
Discina ancilis
Conditionally edible
Dryad's saddle
Cerioporus squamosus
Edible
Dune stinkhorn
Phallus hadriani
Edible
Early false morel
Verpa bohemica
Conditionally edible
What to read about mushrooms in May
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Frequently asked questions about mushrooms in May
Which mushrooms grow in May in Europe?
In May Europe has 71 species of mushrooms in season: 31 edible, 15 conditionally edible and 6 poisonous. May is the start of chanterelle season. Look for them in pine forests on sandy soil. Check the rain forecast: after a week without rain, it's better to wait.
When should you go mushroom picking in May?
May is the start of chanterelle season. Look for them in pine forests on sandy soil. Check the rain forecast: after a week without rain, it's better to wait. Head out 5–10 days after a heavy rain, when daytime temperatures are 15–25°C (59–77°F).
Are there poisonous mushrooms in May?
Yes, in May there are 6 species of dangerous mushrooms in season, including 1 deadly poisonous ones. Check every mushroom before you pick it, and never put anything in your basket if you have doubts.
What is spring like for mushroom foragers in Europe?
Spring is the time of the first mushrooms after winter. Morels, Tricholoma species, and the first chanterelles at the end of May. Temperatures are unsteady — keep an eye on the forecast.
Where to pick mushrooms in May in Europe?
The most reliable places are mountain forests and damp pine woods: they hold moisture longer. But mushrooms in May 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 May?
According to MycoNote, in May Europe has 71 species of mushrooms in season. Of these, 46 are edible or conditionally edible and good to pick, and 6 are dangerous. The full list with photos and descriptions is further down this page.
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