Sarah Brown
Honey mushrooms, also known as Armillaria, are edible fungi that grow in clusters on dead or dying trees. They are parasitic and break down cellulose, which can kill living trees. Honey mushrooms have caps that start as small round buttons and grow to 2 to 6 inches in diameter when fully opened. Their colour ranges from honey-yellow to reddish-brown, and they may have tiny, dark scales or none at all. As the caps mature, they flatten, and the edges may flip upwards to reveal the gills. The gills are initially white but darken and develop rusty spots as the mushroom ages. Honey mushrooms are distinguishable from similar-looking species by their white spore print, which is visible as a white powdery frosting on the underside of the cap.
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What You'll Learn
Honey mushroom identification
Honey mushrooms are a generic term for a wide complex of wild mushrooms in the Armillaria family, usually A. mellea. They are edible but must be cooked before eating. They are a circumboreal species, usually found in temperate places, meaning not the tropics. They are a decomposing mushroom that eats wood and causes "white rot". They are always found in clusters and rarely fruit individually. They grow in cool and damp weather.
Honey mushrooms have caps that start as small round buttons and quickly grow to 2 to 6 inches in diameter when fully opened. Their colour typically ranges from honey-yellow to reddish-brown. Some species have very scaly caps when young, while others are bald or have minimal scales that dissipate with maturity. The caps flatten with maturity and the cap edges flip upwards to show off the gills. The edges may also split or become wavy depending on the age and weather conditions. The cap’s flesh is white and firm. The cap is yellowish brown and robust. The gills start off white and gradually darken, developing dark rusty spots at maturity. They are closely spaced, adnate (broadly attached to the stem), and sometimes slightly decurrent (running down the stem). The gills are initially covered by a pale yellow veil, which becomes a substantial ring on the stem as the cap grows.
The stem of honey mushrooms is chunky and large compared to the cap size, especially when young. It starts pale and darkens from flesh-coloured to brown and nearly black with age. Often, the stem has scales and a wooly or felty texture. It measures 2.4 to 6 inches tall. Stems are fibrous when young. They do not snap or break easily.
Honey mushrooms have white spores. They produce a white spore print, which is a key characteristic that helps distinguish them from potential lookalikes.
It is important to be very sure about the variety of mushroom before eating it, as there are some poisonous mushrooms that bear a passing resemblance to honey mushrooms, such as the sulfur tuft and the various pholiota species.
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Honey mushroom lookalikes
Honey mushrooms (Armillaria spp) are edible fungi that fruit in large clusters. They are typically found in temperate places, in cool and damp weather. They are usually found in the eastern half of North America, though they have been reported in northern California. They are also found in Europe, Russia, and China. They grow in small to enormous clusters at the base of trees or stumps, and are distinguishable by their honey-coloured caps, which range from 2 to 6 inches wide. The caps may be bald or have tiny, dark scales. The stem is fibrous and tough, and measures 2 to 6 inches tall. It is white to pale brown and covered in thin, grey fibres.
Honey mushrooms have several lookalikes, some of which are toxic. Here are some of the mushrooms that resemble honey mushrooms:
Deadly Galerina (Galerina marginata)
The Deadly Galerina is a toxic mushroom that looks like the honey mushroom. It has a brown spore print, in contrast to the white spore print of honey mushrooms. It is smaller, slender, and more delicate-looking than the honey mushroom. Its caps are brown and it has a ring around its stem, which may disappear as it matures.
Sulfur Tuft
The sulfur tuft has brownish-yellow caps and grows in dense, overlapping clusters on dead and decaying wood. It is smaller than the honey mushroom but can be confused with young honey mushrooms. The primary difference is the gill colour, which is never white. It starts out yellowish and turns greenish-yellow. It also has a ring around its stem, which often falls off, leaving a line around the upper stem.
Jack-o-Lantern Mushrooms
Jack-o-Lantern mushrooms have gills that are bioluminescent, meaning they glow in the dark.
Other Lookalikes
There are several Pholiota species, such as the shaggy scalycap, that grow at the same time and in the same manner as honey mushrooms.
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Honey mushroom harvesting
Honey mushrooms are edible and can be harvested in great quantity. However, it is important to be cautious and certain of your identification before consuming them, as some species of honey mushrooms can cause gastrointestinal distress.
Honey mushrooms are a circumboreal species, usually found in temperate places, meaning not the tropics. They are a decomposing mushroom that eats wood and causes "white rot". They are often found in clusters around tree stumps, decaying logs, and tree roots, particularly in hardwood forests. They are typically found in cool and damp weather, and the best time to harvest them is from September to January.
- It is recommended to harvest honey mushrooms when they are young and still have firm, white flesh. Mushrooms that are past their prime or have started to decay can be tough and unpalatable.
- When harvesting honey mushrooms, be gentle and use a sharp knife to cut the mushrooms at the base of the stalk. This helps to minimize damage to the mycelium, the underground network of fungal cells that allow the mushrooms to grow.
- Do not take more than you need, and leave smaller, immature mushrooms to continue growing and releasing spores.
- Only harvest honey mushrooms that are growing in a healthy environment. Avoid harvesting mushrooms near contaminated sites, such as industrial areas or heavily traveled roads.
- Before consuming any wild mushrooms, be sure to consult with an experienced forager or mycologist to confirm their identification.
- To promote a sustainable food system and protect the environment, practice responsible foraging by leaving some mushrooms behind to reproduce and following local guidelines and regulations.
- Honey mushrooms can be stored in the fridge for about a week. It is recommended to clean them before putting them in the fridge, and to keep dirt out of the gills as they can be difficult to clean.
Honey mushrooms can be cooked in various ways, such as stir-frying, sautéing, adding to soups or stews, or canning in jars for long-term storage. However, it is important to note that honey mushrooms must be cooked before consuming. Additionally, a certain percentage of people who eat honey mushrooms experience stomach upset, so it is recommended to go easy the first time you try them.
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Honey mushroom caps
Honey mushrooms are a circumboreal species, typically found in temperate regions. They are a decomposing mushroom that causes "white rot" and can be found on dead or dying trees. They are usually found in clusters, with their caps growing to 2 to 6 inches in diameter when fully opened. The caps start as small round buttons and are covered in little hair-like projections, which remain visible in the centre of the cap as the fungus grows. The caps are typically honey-yellow to reddish-brown in colour and may have tiny, dark scales or no scales at all. The flesh of the caps is white and firm, and the edges may flip upwards to reveal the gills underneath.
The gills of honey mushrooms start off white and gradually darken with maturity, developing dark rusty spots. They are closely spaced and attached to the stem, sometimes slightly running down it. The caps tend to overlap, and it is possible to observe natural spore prints on the underside of the cap. These spores are white and show up clearly on dark paper, helping to distinguish honey mushrooms from potential lookalikes.
When harvesting honey mushrooms, it is recommended to collect only the youngest buttons with closed caps, as they have a superior texture and are easier to digest. The stems can be fibrous and tough, so they are often discarded, although they can be used to make mushroom stock. It is important to keep dirt out of the gills as they can be challenging to clean.
Honey mushrooms are edible but must be cooked before consuming. They are described as flavourful and rich with a meaty texture, and frying them in butter is recommended to showcase their flavour. However, it is advised to try a small amount at first, as a certain percentage of people may experience a stomach upset after consuming them due to difficulty in digestion.
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Honey mushroom stems
Honey mushrooms, or Armillaria, are edible fungi that grow on trees and woody shrubs. They are typically found in temperate regions, such as Europe, Russia, China, and North America. These mushrooms are highly regarded in Eastern Europe, where they are considered a delicacy with a sweet, nutty flavour.
The stems of honey mushrooms are an important part of the fungus, both for identification and culinary purposes. When young, the stems are fibrous and white, and they darken with age, turning brown and even nearly black. The stems are also quite large compared to the cap size, especially when the mushroom is young. They can grow to be over a foot in length and are usually chunky. The stems have a wooly or felty texture and are covered in thin, grayish fibres.
When cooking honey mushroom stems, it is important to ensure that they are thoroughly cooked, as undercooked honey mushrooms can make some people sick. The stems can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as sautéing, frying, or adding them to a soup or stew. They can also be used to make mushroom stock, adding flavour to various dishes.
Overall, the stems of honey mushrooms are an important part of the fungus, both for identification in the wild and for culinary purposes. While they may be fibrous and tough, proper preparation and cooking techniques can make them a delicious addition to any meal.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, honey mushrooms do have gills. They start off white, then gradually darken and develop dark rusty spots at maturity.
Honey mushrooms are typically honey-yellow to reddish-brown in colour.
Honey mushrooms are usually found in temperate places, like Europe, Russia, China, and North America. They grow in clusters on dead or dying trees, particularly on deciduous trees.
Yes, honey mushrooms are edible but must be cooked before eating. It is recommended to only eat the caps, as the stems can be tough and harder to digest.
Honey mushrooms have a distinctive ring around the upper portion of the stem, although the ringless honey mushroom does not have this feature. They also have white spores, which can be observed as a white powdery frosting on mature mushrooms.
