Chanterelle mushrooms grow throughout the world, especially in North and Central America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. They prefer rich, moist soil and are commonly found in hardwood forests. These pretty mushrooms tend to spread in areas where they’re common, especially as water runoff carries their spores along.
Some think that these beautifully colored funnel-shaped fungi are abundant in the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon. Chanterelles are growing throughout the state of Oregon. They can be found on the Cascade Mountains and Coast Range, in the Willamette Valley and on the Pacific Coast.
The mushrooms are generally more abundant in second-growth forests from British Columbia to California. The Pacific golden chanterelle is easily identifiable and perfect for novices who are eager to harvest delicious wild mushrooms .
How do you identify chanterelle mushrooms?
The flesh of a chanterelle should be creamy white. They grow on a single stem that should be solid and not hollow. Another good identification trick is to give the freshly picked mushroom a sniff. It should smell mildly of apricots or other fruit, not strong or unpleasant at all.
Chanterelle mushrooms usually pop up in summer and fall. They grow ONLY near trees, not alone in fields. They also don’t grow in big clumps or on rotting wood. You can’t really grow them at home, so if you find a patch of them, return there year after year to pick more… they’ll be back. I check every week on the patch in our neighborhood.
Where can I find chanterelles?
Low creek and river bottoms are the perfect place to start your search. Unlike several other mushroom varieties, chanterelles sprout from the soil and not from living or dead timber. They tend to be prolific growers, so where you find one, you can often find several.
What are chanterelles?
Chanterelles are an iconic edible mushroom and can be found on the forest floor all over the Pacific Northwest. Their wavy, conical shape is unique and different from the archetypical round-capped mushroom.
The same goes for any wild edible. Even though chanterelles are among the safest mushrooms to identify, they still have doppelgangers and some can cause trouble. So, when in doubt, consult a good mushroom foraging guide to be absolutely sure of what you are picking.
Where do chanterelles grow in Oregon?
Chanterelles are growing throughout the state of Oregon. They can be found on the Cascade Mountains, Coast Range, in the Willamette Valley, and on the Pacific Coast. They are abundant in the Mt. Hood area, Willamette and Umpqua National Forest, Tillamook State Forest, and so on.
What is the state mushroom of Oregon?
In 1999, the Oregon Legislature declared the Pacific golden chanterelle as the official mushroom of the state of Oregon. This mushroom is unique to the Pacific Northwest and distinguished from the golden chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) species.