John Miller
Black trumpet mushrooms, also known as the black chanterelle, horn of plenty, trumpet of death, or devil's horn, are a highly sought-after ingredient in the culinary world for their unique taste and aroma. They are edible and delicious, with a smoky, rich flavour and a pleasant, fruity aroma. Black trumpets are small (1-4 inches tall) and dark-coloured, making them hard to spot on the forest floor. They are found across North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia, typically growing in groups in mossy areas of deciduous woods, near trees such as oak and beech.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Horn of Plenty, Trumpet of Death, Devil's Horn, Poor Man's Truffle, Black Chanterelle |
| Scientific Names | C. fallax, C. foetidus, C. cinereus, C. cornucopioides, C. caeruleofuscus |
| Colour | Black, Grey, Brown, Tan |
| Shape | Trumpet, Funnel, Vase |
| Size | 1-4 inches tall |
| Texture | Smooth, Rough, Scaly |
| Smell | Apricot, Flowers |
| Taste | Smoky, Rich, Fruity |
| Habitat | Woods, Forests, Hillsides |
| Location | North America, Europe, East Asia, Australia |
| Season | Summer, Autumn, Winter |
| Trees | Oak, Beech, Maple, Tanbark-Oak |
| Plants | Moss, Sword Fern |
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What You'll Learn
Black trumpet mushrooms are edible and delicious
Black trumpet mushrooms have a unique aroma and flavour. They are prized for their culinary value and are highly sought-after by chefs due to their intense, dark, and sweet aroma of nearly overripe apricots and flowers. They also have a smoky, rich flavour. Despite their unremarkable appearance, they are considered a gourmet edible.
Black trumpet mushrooms grow from the ground, never from trees or wood. They are often found in groups in hardwood forests, especially near oak, beech, and maple trees, as well as in mossy areas. They are typically found on forested hillsides alongside moss and sword fern. They are closely related to chanterelles, which are often found nearby. They are found across North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia, typically in moist and shady areas.
Black trumpet mushrooms are one of the easiest wild mushrooms to identify, with no poisonous look-alikes. They are usually black, grey, or brown, but some species are nearly blue, and albino mutations are also possible. The black portion at the top of the mushroom indicates that it is mature and ready to be picked.
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They are found in woods in North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia
Black trumpet mushrooms are found in woods in North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia. They are one of the easiest wild mushrooms to identify, with no poisonous look-alikes. They are edible and highly sought after by chefs due to their unique aroma and flavour. They are also known as the black chanterelle, as they are closely related to chanterelles.
In North America, black trumpets are found in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, New England, and California. They grow from November to March in the Pacific Northwest, and in the winter in California. In New England, they fruit from mid-July to late August. They are found in deciduous woodlands, often composed of oak, beech, and maple. They are also found in Missouri, where they grow on forested, rocky, mossy hillsides.
In Europe, black trumpets are generally common, but they seem to be rare in some countries, such as the Netherlands. They appear from June to November, and in the United Kingdom, from August to November.
In Australia, black trumpets grow in rainforest gullies, often associated with Nothofagus sp., appearing from January to May.
Black trumpet mushrooms grow in groups, never from trees or wood. They are found in moist, shady areas, near small sources of water or wet, swampy areas with decaying and dead wood. They are often found in or near patches of thick green moss on the side of trails. They are also associated with tanbark-oak and are typically found on forested hillsides alongside moss and sword fern. They can grow both as mycorrhizal symbionts with hardwood deciduous trees and as saprobes, feeding off decaying organic matter.
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They grow in groups in moist, shady areas
Black trumpet mushrooms are closely related to chanterelles, which is why they are also known as the "black chanterelle". They are edible and highly sought after by chefs due to their incredible aroma and flavour, which can be used to flavour almost any dish. They are also prized for their culinary value and are a favourite of mushroom hunters.
Black trumpet mushrooms grow from the ground, never from trees or wood. They often appear in vast groupings of a few to many mushrooms. They are found in woods in North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia. In the American Pacific Northwest, it grows from November to March. In Europe, it is generally common, but seems to be rare in some countries such as the Netherlands. In Australia, they grow in rainforest gullies, often associated with Nothofagus sp., appearing from January to May.
Black trumpet mushrooms grow in moist, shady areas. They may be close to a small source of water or a wet/swampy area with decaying and dead wood. They are often found in mossy areas, in or near patches of thick green moss on the side of trails. They are also found on forested hillsides alongside moss and sword fern (Polystichum californicum). They do not fruit on wood, but near it, and they are typically found in mature hardwood, deciduous woodlands composed of oak, beech, and maple.
Black trumpet mushrooms can be identified by their dark grey to black colour, and their trumpet or funnel shape. They have a smooth spore surface with no discernable veins and a whitish to creamy spore print. They have forked ridges or folds that run from the underside of the cap down the stem, appearing as textured skin rather than hanging gills. The stem of a black trumpet mushroom is hollow, thin, and skinny, and the mushroom is small, usually between 1-4 inches tall.
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They have a smoky, rich flavour and a fruity aroma
Black trumpet mushrooms are edible and highly sought after by chefs due to their unique taste and aroma. They are also known as the black chanterelle, as they closely resemble the chanterelle mushroom in every way except colour. Chanterelles are golden, whereas black trumpets are, as the name suggests, black, dark brown, or shades of grey. Some species are nearly blue, and albino mutations are also possible.
Black trumpets have a smoky, rich flavour and a fruity aroma. One source describes the scent as a "dark and intensely sweet aroma of apricots that are nearly overripe". Another compares it to the scent of fresh apricots and flowers. The mushroom's flavour has also been likened to truffles.
Black trumpets are small, typically 1-4 inches tall, and tubular when young, becoming trumpet or funnel-shaped as they age. Their veiny, wrinkled appearance is due to false gills—forked ridges or folds that run from the underside of the cap down the stem. Unlike most mushrooms, black trumpets lack true gills and do not have an obvious cap or stem differentiation. Their stems are hollow, thin, and skinny.
Black trumpet mushrooms are found in woods in North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia. They grow in groups on forested hillsides, often in mossy or swampy areas with decaying and dead wood. They are commonly found near oak and beech trees but do not fruit on wood. They are typically found on the forest floor, blending in with leaf litter and appearing like black holes in the ground.
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They are also known as the black chanterelle
Black trumpet mushrooms are closely related to chanterelles, which is why they are also known as the "black chanterelle". They are edible and delicious, with a fruity and almost smoky flavour. They are also called the "poor man's truffle", due to their taste. Black trumpets are one of the easiest wild mushrooms to identify, with nearly no poisonous look-alikes. They are funnel or vase-shaped, with a wavy margin and no gills. They have forked ridges or folds that run from the underside of the cap down the stem, appearing as textured skin. The stem of a black trumpet is hollow, thin, and skinny, and the mushrooms are small, ranging from 1 to 4 inches tall. They are dark brown to black in colour, but can also be grey or tan. They are often found in washes, low spots, and depressions dominated by mosses, usually in hardwood forests, especially near oak and beech trees. They are typically found on forested hillsides alongside moss and sword fern. Black trumpets can be challenging to find due to their small size and dark colour, which makes them blend in with their surroundings. However, they are highly sought-after in the culinary world for their unique taste and aroma.
Black trumpets are found across North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia. In North America, they are commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, New England, and California. In Europe, they are generally common but may be rare in some countries like the Netherlands. Black trumpets typically grow in groups, often in mossy and shady areas near small sources of water or wet or swampy areas with decaying and dead wood. They are often found near other edible mushroom species, such as golden chanterelles, yellowfoot chanterelles, red chanterelles, and hedgehog mushrooms. These brightly coloured mushrooms can be helpful in locating the black trumpets, which may be obscured among dried and decaying leaves. In terms of timing, black trumpets in New England fruit from mid-July to late August, while in California, they are a winter mushroom, fruiting from November to March.
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Frequently asked questions
Black trumpet mushrooms are a type of fungus found in woods in North America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia. They are edible and highly sought after by chefs due to their unique aroma and flavour.
Black trumpet mushrooms are small (1-4 inches tall) and dark grey to black in colour. They are trumpet or funnel-shaped with a wavy margin and no gills. They often appear in groups and have a smooth spore surface with no discernible veins.
Black trumpet mushrooms grow in hardwood forests, especially near oak, beech, and maple trees. They are often found in mossy areas, washes, low spots, and depressions. They do not fruit on wood but near it, and they prefer moist, shady areas.
Yes, black trumpet mushrooms are edible and considered a gourmet ingredient. They have a smoky, rich flavour and a pleasant, fruity aroma. However, it is important to properly identify mushrooms before consuming them to avoid consuming poisonous look-alikes.
Black trumpet mushrooms are one of the easiest wild mushrooms to identify as there are no poisonous look-alikes. They are small and dark-coloured, which makes them hard to spot, but their distinctive shape and aroma can help with identification. They are also found near their brighter-coloured cousins, such as yellowfoot chanterelles.
