Foraging is a practice as old as time. And even in urbanized areas, people still partake in this nature-loving hobby. But where exactly can you find magic mushrooms in the wild?
Shrooms grow in many climates and habitats, boasting around-the-world growth. We'll dive into the top five specific regions to find them in the following sections.
Magic Mushrooms' Preferred Climate and Habitat for Growth
Mushrooms are quite particular beings. They need three critical environmental factors to grow: lots of humidity, mild or warm temperatures, and indirect lighting to encourage fruiting.
But let's dive a little deeper into the climates and habitats that make shrooms thrive, as it'll give you a better idea of where you're likely to spot them in the wild.
Climate
Typically, magic mushrooms love tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
Caramel-cappedPsilocybes likeazurescensand cyanescens are wood-growing species. Therefore, they thrive in temperate or oceanic climates. Southeast Australia, Central Europe, and New Zealand all boast the perfect climate, giving these particular shrooms ample growth opportunities.
Grass-loving species, however, prefer subtropical regions found in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. The popularP. cubensis loves this climate, fruiting during summer days following heavy rains.
Habitat
Like the climate, different species require different habitats.
Those preferring grass will flourish in all kinds of grasses — dune grass, fescues, bunch grasses, perennial ryes, and bentgrass. But some species will grow in parks and lawns across urbanized areas.
Wood-loving shrooms tend to appear along the edges of roads and well-mulched gardens — anywhere with decomposing wood.
Where Do Magic Mushrooms Grow?
Mushrooms from thePsilocybe genus are found on every single continent apart from Antarctica. But expert foragers suggest Europe and the Americas are the most well-known locations.
These shrooms tend to favor subtropical, tropical, and temperate climates, meaning you'll likely find a lot of luck searching in Latin America.
Amazingly, some species have truly become global. Regardless of where you are, you will probably find Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata,andPanaeolus cyanescens.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the top five places where magic mushrooms grow:
#1 The Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is where the largest number of magic mushrooms grow. In fact, you've probably seen them out and about without even realizing it!
The most commonly found shroom in this area is thePsilocybe cyanescens, which you might know as the "Wavy Cap." Although, don't be surprised if you notice different ones too. The region presents the perfect climate for these trippy mushrooms.
#2 South and East Texas
Around south and east Texas, magic mushrooms tend to grow in cattle pastures.
Dewitt and Rusk, two counties in the state, are particularly rife with magic mushrooms. You will undoubtedly find a lot ofPsilocybe cubensis (i.e., the OG magic mushroom) while you're foraging.
#3 Central Florida
Central Florida probably isn't the first place that springs to mind when thinking about where psilocybin mushrooms grow. However, the humid climate offers great growing conditions for Psilocybe cubensis.
You will spot these shrooms in the Alachua and Highlands counties.
#4 Northern Ohio Through to Vermont
The corridor from the north of Ohio that runs through Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont is also rich in magic mushrooms.
Foragers have spotted high rates ofPsilocybe caerulipesthroughout Ashland County in Ohio, Warren County in Pennsylvania, Washington County in Vermont, and Cattaraugus County in New York.
That said, you can also find relatively high quantities of Psiolocybe ovoideocystidiatain the Allegheny and Lackawanna counties in Pennsylvania.
#5 Hyde Park, London, the United Kingdom
Magic mushrooms grow naturally across the whole of the United Kingdom, thanks to its abundance of naturally fertilized meadows, woodlands, and fields.
However, many foragers report finding many psilocybin mushrooms in Hyde Park in London. Some even state discovering them in Richmond Park and Primrose Hill in the same city!
Five main types of shrooms grow in the UK, including:
- Psilocybe semilanceata otherwise known as Liberty Caps or Libs
- Psilocybe cyanescens or Wavy Caps
- Psilocybe fimetaria
- Gymnopilus purpuratus
- Inocybe corydalina
The Top 25 Places Across the USA to Find Magic Mushrooms
So far, we've given you pretty broad regions. But you probably want to know specifics, right?
Well, luckily for you, we've got the top 25 places around the United States of America that are rife with psilocybin mushrooms:
- Pacific, Washington State
- Clatsop, Oregon
- Tillamook, Oregon
- Benton, Oregon
- Dewitt, Texas
- Thurston, Washington State
- Lewis, Washington State
- Humboldt, California
- Lincoln, Oregon
- Warren, Pennsylvania
- Grays Harbor, Washington State
- Ashland, Ohio
- Rusk, Texas
- Cattaraugus, New York
- Washington, Vermont
- San Mateo, California
- Lackawanna, Pennsylvania
- San Francisco, California
- Alameda, California
- Contra Costa, California
- Highlands, Florida
- Mendocino, California
- Alachua, Florida
- King, Washington State
- Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Use Citizen Science Projects to Find Shrooms Near You
Nowadays, loads of citizen science projects are publicly available and exist to track all known fungi. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Mushroom Observer, and iNaturalist are just three of the most well-known resources that track fungi for research reasons.
Using these sites is a great way to learn about the species growing naturally in your area. Although most places suggested are just rough guides — consider them hints rather than exact locations.
Want to Skip the Foraging?
As you know, foraging can be dangerous. After all, magic mushrooms can look almost identical to their highly poisonous cousins.
But you can still experience some psychedelic magic with properly strained and processed amanitagummies, cookies, capsules, and more from us!
References
https://doubleblindmag.com/mushrooms/about-magic-mushrooms/how-to-find-magic-mushrooms/
https://www.movebuddha.com/blog/mushroom-foraging-best-counties/
https://mushies.co.uk/blogs/news/5-types-of-psilocybin-mushrooms-that-grow-wild-in-the-uk
