Season clock
Typical first flush Apr 10. Typical last flush Dec 1.
Humid subtropical. Fruiting after any soaking rain May–November.
United States · season open
United States — Southeast & Gulf
Long season, high diversity, high snake-and-tick load. Chanterelles in summer heat. Lions and chickens love southern oaks.
Piedmont oaks
Oak-pine · 100–400 m
Southern Blue Ridge
Cove forest · 400–1,600 m
Gulf coastal plain
Pine, live oak · 0–80 m
Ozark / Ouachita
Oak-hickory ridges · 200–700 m
Permits
National forests vary. Wildlife management areas often restrict. Heat safety is part of the permit you give yourself.
Selling
Same US food-code story. Keep a cold chain — summer mushrooms sour in an hour.
Species on this ground
Golden Chanterelle
May 15 → Sep 20
Cantharellus formosus / C. cibarius complex
Cinnabar and golden both run. Peak: Jun–Jul.
Chicken of the Woods
Apr 10 → Nov 1
Laetiporus sulphureus / L. conifericola
Oak wounds. Peak: May + Sep.
Black Trumpet
Jun 15 → Sep 15
Craterellus cornucopioides / C. fallax
After tropical remnants. Peak: Jul–Aug.
Lion's Mane
Sep 1 → Dec 1
Hericium erinaceus
Long southern fall. Peak: Oct.