12 Common Mushrooms Found in Montana! (2025)
What kind of mushroom did I find in Montana?
If you spend time outside, you’ve probably asked this question at least once. Mushrooms are incredibly common in Montana, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Believe it or not, there are THOUSANDS of different types of mushrooms that live in Montana. Since it would be nearly impossible to write about them all, I focused on the most common types that are seen.
IMPORTANT: You should NEVER eat a mushroom you find. There are many poisonous types, and some species will kill you. So stay safe, and don’t eat any wild mushrooms unless you are with a mycologist (mushroom expert)!
12 COMMON MUSHROOMS in Montana:
#1. Fly Agaric
- Amanita muscaria
Identifying Characteristics:
- Caps are 8–20 cm (3–8 in) in diameter.
- The stalks are 5–20 cm (2–8 in) tall.
- These mushrooms have the typical looks of a “toadstool” with a bright white stalk and red, white-spotted cap.
I think this is the CUTEST mushroom in Montana! 🙂
Fly Agaric looks just like the mushrooms found in Mario video games.
These mushrooms are considered toadstools, which are usually poisonous to humans. Fly Agaric is no exception. This fungus can cause hallucinations, low blood pressure, nausea, loss of balance, and in rare cases, death. If you ingest it, you should seek medical treatment immediately.
Luckily, Fly Agaric is a very conspicuous fungus in its fully-grown form. However, young mushrooms can be mistaken for other edible types, so you should steer clear of eating any wild mushrooms.
#2. Shaggy Mane
- Coprinus comatus
Identifying Characteristics:
- The caps are 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) wide and 6–20 cm (2.3–8 in) tall.
- Their coloring is white when they first emerge, slowly turning black as their scales lift.
- These mushrooms grow directly from the ground as single caps or clusters.
It’s easy to see how Shaggy Mane Mushrooms in Montana got their name!
These tall, slender mushrooms have distinctive scales that make them look like they’re covered in shaggy hair. They often grow in suburban yards or fields straight from the ground.
Shaggy Manes definitely have some “yuck” factors. They’re called Ink Caps because their black gills liquefy and leak down the mushroom to release its spores. Additionally, the entire mushroom will “auto-decay,” digesting itself into a dark liquid within hours of being picked.
Shaggy Manes look very similar to poisonous mushrooms that are found in Montana. Leave these mushrooms where you found them, and never eat them!
#3. Witch’s Butter
- Tremella mesenterica
Identifying Characteristics:
- Fruiting bodies can be up to 7.5 cm (3 in) in diameter.
- The shape is irregular, gelatinous, and brain-like.
- This fungus is typically bright lemon-yellow.
This is one of the WEIRDEST mushrooms in Montana!
Witch’s Butter, which gets its name from its unusual shape and color, completely differs from what most people picture in a mushroom. It has an irregular, ridged appearance that looks like brains and a jelly-like texture that trembles and vibrates if disturbed. Additionally, its coloring is bright yellow, unlike most mushrooms that blend in with their environment.
If the appearance of Witch’s Butter wasn’t strange enough, it also has fascinating properties that set it apart. During dry weather, this fungus dries and shrivels into a leathery mass. Then, when it rains, it fully revives back into its original state!
Look for this strange fungus on dead tree limbs that are still attached to trees or recently fallen branches. It will grow on any deciduous tree but is most prevalent on red alder.
#4. Mica Cap
- Coprinellus micaceus
Identifying Characteristics:
- The bell-shaped caps are 1–2.5 cm (.5–1 in) in diameter when new and expand up to 5 cm (2 in) as they open.
- These mushrooms grow in dense clusters of bell-shaped caps with long, thin stems. The caps have grooves that run vertically, giving them the appearance of a head of straight hair.
- Their coloring is grayish brown.
This unassuming mushroom has a creepy talent – it can self-destruct! Mica Cap autodigests within a few hours of being picked, meaning its flesh turns from a spongy white structure into an inky black liquid. Yuck!
Mica Cap is usually found in clusters at the base of deciduous trees in mature forests. This mushroom’s less-than-appetizing qualities are just one reason I recommend never eating wild mushrooms. Additionally, there’s a high likelihood of ingesting a poisonous mushroom by mistake.
If you see Mica Cap in the wild, it’s best to take a picture of the fascinating clusters and then leave it be. After all, if you pick it, you’re likely to be covered in gross black goo!
#5. Common Puffball
- Lycoperdon perlatum
Identifying Characteristics:
- Mature specimens are 1.5-6 cm (0.6 to 2.3 in) wide by 3-10 cm (1-4 in) tall.
- Their coloring is white to off-white, with spines and warts that are varying shades of brown.
- The shape varies from pear-shaped to spherical with a wide stalk.
It’s easy to find Common Puffball Mushrooms in Montana.
These distinctive fungi grow in gardens, yards, roadsides, and forest clearings. They’re easy to find because of their large size and bright white coloring. Common Puffballs also have an unusual covering of spiky warts on their surface, setting them apart from other types of puffballs.
Even though these mushrooms are considered nonpoisonous, it’s important to use caution when handling wild mushrooms. You shouldn’t eat any mushroom that hasn’t been identified by an expert because of the risk of misidentification. For example, the Common Puffball can easily be confused with immature Amanita mushrooms, which are poisonous and sometimes even deadly.
In addition, spores contained in the Common Puffball’s warts are released with handling. These spores can cause severe lung inflammation, resulting in cough, wheezing, or trouble breathing. Dogs are particularly susceptible to this symptom, so be careful not to let your pet play near Common Puffballs.
#6. Dyer’s Polypore
- Phaeolus schweinitzii
Identifying Characteristics:
- Caps can grow up to 25 cm (10 in) across.
- Their coloring varies by specimen: yellow, green, orange, brown, and red are all common. Usually, concentric rings of different colors decorate the tops.
- This mushroom grows as a stack of irregular flat disks.
Look for this mushroom in Montana near conifer trees.
Even though it’s a tree pathogen, Dyer’s Polypore often looks like it’s sprouting right out of the ground. This is because it often grows from the root system of a tree instead of its bark. It sort of looks like a stack of badly made pancakes. 🙂
Dyer’s Polypore gets its name because this mushroom is an excellent source of natural dyes! Its coloring varies significantly by the specimen, and it can be used to create green, yellow, gold, or brown dyes.
Although it’s useful as a dye source, this mushroom should never be eaten. Use caution when handling these fungi to avoid eye and skin irritation.
#7. Orange Jelly Spot
- Dacrymyces chrysospermus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Complex groups of caps grow up to 6 cm (2.4 in) across.
- The coloring is vibrant orange-yellow.
- This fungus has an irregular, wavy shape and often looks like goop stuck to a tree.
Orange Jelly Spot isn’t technically a mushroom in Montana!
Even though it looks like a mushroom, this species is just a fungus. As you can see, it gets its name from its unusual shape and color, which completely differs from what most people picture in a mushroom. In fact, it looks more like a bright orange brain than anything else! Orange Jelly Spot also has a jelly-like, wobbly texture.
You can find this strange fungus on dead conifer trees like pine and spruce. It was originally discovered in New England but has a worldwide distribution! Most people probably go their whole lives without knowing this oddity exists, but if you keep an eye out in the woods, you’re likely to find it.
#8. Elegant Sunburst Lichen
- Rusavskia elegans
- It forms small colonies up to 2.5 inches across.
- The body is leaf-like and divided into small lobes.
- The color may be yellowish-orange, bright orange, or dark reddish-orange.
Elegant Sunburst Lichen is more than just a beauty to look at!
This was the first species scientists used for lichenometry, or using a lichen’s presumed growth rate to estimate the age of exposed rock faces. Archeologists, paleontologists, and geologists, in particular, use this method to estimate how old the specimens they find might be.
Elegant Sunburst Lichen is widespread, growing on rocks in humid and dry climates. Pay special attention to rocks that birds or rodents perch on because their droppings provide the lichen with the extra nitrogen it needs to thrive.
Its color may vary depending on where you find it. Elegant Sunburst Lichen is often a lighter yellowish-orange when growing in creeks. On rocks that are out of the water, it tends to be bright orange; in dry areas, it may darken to reddish-orange.
#9. Yellow Map Lichen
- Rhizocarpon geographicum
- Flat patches of this lichen grow adjacent to one another, creating a map-like effect.
- The surface is yellow to yellowish-green and bumpy.
- A black line of fungal hyphae borders the lichen.
Yellow Map Lichen may be the world’s longest-living lichen.
Scientists estimate some Yellow Map Lichens growing on East Baffin Island in Canada are 9,500 years old! Those in the Alaska Brooks Range may be even older; some individuals may be 10,000 to 11,500 years old.
Yellow Map Lichen grows on exposed rock surfaces in mountainous areas with clean air. It doesn’t tolerate air pollution, so it’s a good indicator of air quality.
This unassuming little species has played an important role in modern science. Researchers often use it in lichenometry to calculate the age of exposed rock surfaces based on the lichen’s growth.
Yellow Map Lichen has also been to space! Scientists sent it up in a capsule, exposing it to space conditions for ten days. Upon its return to Earth, the specimen displayed little sign of damage or change, proving it’s a tough species capable of withstanding harsh conditions.
#10. Wolf Lichen
- Letharia vulpina
- This lichen forms a small, highly branched, shrub-like structure.
- Its coloring is bright yellow or yellow-green.
This lichen grows on trees and branches in coniferous forests. Unlike some lichens that are essential food sources for wildlife like deer, Wolf lichens are toxic.
It gets its name from a dark history. Historically, people dried and powdered Wolf Lichen and sprinkled it on meat to poison wolves and foxes. People have also used Wolf Lichen in less harmful ways. Modern researchers have found that powdered Wolf Lichen can prevent slugs and snails from invading your garden. Lightly dusting dried Wolf Lichen can deter these pests. Some Native American groups also used Wolf Lichen medicinally or to create yellow dyes.
However, it’s probably best to leave Wolf Lichen where it is. Colonies of this beautiful species may live for thousands of years, but it’s dwindling in some areas as it is sensitive to air pollution.
#11. Northern Red Belt
- Fomitopsis mounceae
- The cap is fan-shaped and often shiny with bands of brown and red. The edge is white or pale yellow.
- The underside is white or yellow and covered with pores, and the flesh is woody and brown.
The Northern Red Belt is easy to find in Montana.
It usually grows on dead conifers, though it occasionally grows on hardwoods and sometimes parasitizes living trees. It’s an essential mushroom to the nutrient cycle in many North American forests. As it grows, it causes brown cubical rot, which helps decay the woody material.
These perennial mushrooms can be found at any time of year. When young and just emerging from a tree, they look like white bumps, as if someone stuck marshmallows to the tree!
They often darken as they age, and their surface grows bumpy and uneven. The older caps are sometimes more domed and hoof-shaped than flat and fan-like. Older mushrooms have been known to grow to 18 inches (45.72 cm) wide and 7 inches (17.78 cm) deep.
#12. Black Knot
- Apiosporina morbosa
- This fungus forms rough black growths on the twigs or branches of trees in the Prunus genus, such as cherry, plum, apricot, and chokecherry.
You may have spotted this unusual fungus without realizing what it was.
Black Knot resembles a clod of dirt or droppings on a twig or limb. This fungus was first detected in Pennsylvania in 1821 and, after spreading across North America, was a significant problem in plum and cherry orchards in the late 19th century.
The fungus first shows as olive green in the spring and spreads spores to infect nearby trees as they mature. The spores infect trees at wounds or shoots. Black Knot usually occurs on twigs and smaller limbs. It can disfigure trees and affect young trees’ health and productivity by causing foliage to wilt and shoots to die. Occasionally, Black Knot forms on the main tree and can kill a tree when it girdles the main trunk or large limbs.
Fortunately, orchardists can effectively manage Black Knot today by pruning affected limbs.
Learn about other awesome things in Montana!
- POISONOUS MUSHROOMS that grow in Montana
- VENOMOUS SPIDERS found in Montana
- Flowers that attract HUMMINGBIRDS in Montana
- The MOST Common INSECTS that live in Montana
Which type of mushroom is your favorite?
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