From the rainforests of Latin America to landscaped office buildings in North America, magic mushrooms grow ubiquitously across the globe. Yet, knowing exactly where to find them remains a mystery for some.
If you’re curious about finding magic mushrooms in the wild but don’t know where to begin, read below to learn more about the habitats and distribution of different psilocybin-producing species and how to carefully and ethically collect them.
With over 200 known species, mushrooms containing psilocybin inhabit a variety of ecological niches in almost all continents across the globe. Since these mushrooms feed on organic matter, they’re commonly found in areas with rich soil and woody debris, such as woodlands, grasslands, and landscaped urban environments. This article will explain more about where magic mushrooms grow in the wild, the types of environments supporting their growth, and some advice on how to carefully and ethically forage them.
Finding Magic Mushrooms in the Wild
Humans may have sought psychoactive mushrooms in the wild for millennia. Yet, it’s only in recent times, with the increased interest in psychedelics, that more people have become interested in sourcing magic mushrooms in the wild.
Foraging–searching and collecting natural resources from their habitat–is a great way to connect with nature and obtain a free supply of mushrooms. It avoids risks associated with unregulated markets and can help someone connect to the “mushroom energy” in the lead-up to a psychedelic experience.
However, there are legal and ethical implications associated with foraging, which we’ve gone into more detail about below. In addition, the health risks of picking incorrectly identified mushrooms can be severe, so it’s essential if you are interested in foraging to go with an experienced other and do plenty of research beforehand.
The website iNaturalist contains information about different magic mushroom species, including where they grow and what they look like in the wild. Community forum sites like Reddit and Shroomery also have useful information from experienced foragers on locating and identifying different magic mushroom species.You can also explore our Magic Mushroom Guide for general information about them.
Where in the World Can I Find Magic Mushrooms?
Magic mushrooms grow all across the world, apart from Antarctica, and so there may be wild magic mushrooms growing not too far from you. Humans inadvertently spread mushrooms to new locations through activities like agriculture and trade, meaning magic mushrooms are increasingly becoming more and more widespread.
Latin America has the largest variety of magic mushroom species, with over 50 in Mexico alone. Canada and the US have the second largest variety, with 22 estimated species, followed by Australia and Europe. Psilocybe. semiliciata is the most widely distributed magic mushroom species, found growing in Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Some common psilocybe species found in tropical and subtropical climates–those closest to the equator–include:
- Paenoulus cyanesens (“Wavy Caps”)
- Psilocybe cubensis
- Psilocybe mexicana
- Psilocybe caerulescens
Species in temperate climates–those further away from the equator and generally colder–include:
- P. semilanceata
- Psilocybe azurescens (Flying Saucer mushrooms)
- Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata
- Psilocybe cyanescens
- P. alenii
Environmental Conditions
To understand the kinds of places you might find magic mushrooms, it’s good to be aware of the environmental conditions mushrooms need to grow and survive. Commonalities in environmental needs for most fungal species include:
- Organic substrates
- Ideal temperature and humidity
- Adequate oxygen
- Indirect sunlight
Nutritious growing medium
Most psilocybin-containing mushrooms are saprotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients from organic matter, such as dead plants, animal waste, and compost. Unlike humans, which first take in their food to be digested, saprotrophs digest the food around them. They secrete enzymes that break down large complex molecules in organic matter into things like amino acids and sugars, which can then be absorbed and used for energy and growth.
Magic mushrooms can be broadly categorized into two types of saprotrophs. Coprophiles are “dung-loving” species often found growing in manure and pasteurized fields, such as P. cubensis. Lignicolous mushrooms are “wood-inhabiting” species, often found growing in forests and mulch and wood chips in urban environments, such as P. cyanescens.
Temperature
The optimal temperature for magic mushroom growth varies depending on the species. For instance, P. cubensis favors warmer temperatures, between 22°C – 27°C, whereas Psilocybe semilanceata (liberty caps) favors between 10°C-15°C.
Mycelium requires an ideal temperature range to initiate mushroom fruiting, While warm temperatures speed the growing process, excessively high temperatures can be detrimental. The temperature must also remain relatively consistent for fungus to survive, as their proteins can stop working if the weather becomes too hot or cold.
Humidity
Magic mushrooms rely on turgor pressure–pressure caused by fluid–for growth and maintaining their shape. Since mushrooms absorb water from their surroundings, humidity is essential.
However, like temperature, environments that are too humid can have detrimental effects. Infectious microorganisms, such as mold and bacteria, also thrive in moist environments, so mushrooms are best found in environments where humidity is limited to around 90%.
Oxygen supply
Magic mushrooms create energy through respiration like humans, absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. As such, if there’s too little oxygen in an environment, mushrooms may not grow, or their growth may be stunted. If there’s too much oxygen, however, the mycelium can dry out and lose its function.
Shade
Magic mushrooms tend to occur in shady areas since too much sunlight can be harmful and cause them to dry out. However, since light is necessary for mushrooms to fruit, you’re very unlikely to find them in areas of complete darkness.
Seasonal changes
You may have heard people talk about “mushroom season,” referring to the specific seasonal growth patterns of different mushroom species. Like most fungi, magic mushrooms emerge during specific times of the year when environmental conditions are most favorable for their development. For instance, P. mexicana grows during rainy seasons in Mexico, when mycelium can absorb sufficient moisture from the soil. P. semilanceata is best found on sunny, cold autumn days–when there is sufficient light for fruiting–following a night of rainfall.
You can ask experienced foragers and refer to mushroom community forums to find out what times of year particular mushroom species are found.
Different Types of Habitat
Magic mushrooms are commonly found in five main types of habitat:
- Grasslands
- Dung deposits
- Landscaped areas
- Woodlands
- Riparian zones
Grasslands
Grasslands–particularly wet, swampy lowlands– tend to support the growth of thin and cone-shaped Psilocybe mushrooms, such as P. semilanceata, Psilocybe mexicana and Psilocybe stripticus.
P. semilanceata is one of the most foraged magic mushroom species worldwide. This species obtains nutrients from feeding on decaying rhizomes (“stems” of grass) and is abundant in grassy fields and meadows.
Psilocybe mushrooms tend to grow best in fields grazed by livestock such as cows and sheep. Animals can break up the soil, which increases the oxygen and moisture supply to mycelium, prompting its growth.
Dung deposits
Animal manure is rich in organic matter, which the mycelium uses for food and energy production. It also contains nutrients like nitrogen, which are essential for mushroom growth. Magic mushroom species commonly found in dung–or coprophiles—include P. cubensis, Psilocybe coprophila, and Panaelous cyanescens. The species Deconica coprophila has the nicknames “dung-loving psilocybe” and “dung deamon” because of its widespread occurrence in manure.
Gardens and landscaped urban environments
Lignicolous mushroom species thrive in dead woody material and can be commonly found in gardens, and urban areas landscaped using woodchips and mulch. These magic mushroom species are particularly prevalent in the Pacific Northwest.
Science journalist Daniel Merino described in a National Geographic article: “Strolling around any San Francisco neighborhood it’s not uncommon to see a dozen species of urban mushrooms growing in gardens and the landscaped areas of office buildings or apartment complexes. But for those in the know, three are of particular interest: the potently psychedelic Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe allenii, and Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata.”
Gardening practices like soil renewal, composting, and adding manure also increase environmental factors that favor mushroom growth and survival.
Woodlands
Magic mushrooms occur in many different woodlands, mainly across tropical and subtropical regions. Fallen leaves and decaying wood serve as excellent food sources for lignicolous mushrooms, and canopies keep the mushrooms protected from direct sunlight. Some species’ mycelium also forms networks with plant roots in the soil that facilitate nutrient exchange.
The mycologists Guzman, Allen, and Gartz write, “the majority of the neutrophic species of Psilocybe grow in subtropical, mesophytic cloud or deciduous humid forests” in their 1998 analysis of psychoactive mushrooms. Examples of woodland-inhabiting mushrooms include Psilocybe muliercula, in cloud forests in Mexico, Psilocybe serbica, in deciduous forests in Europe, and Psilocybe pelliculosa in coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest.
Riparian zones
Riparian zones are interfaces between land and streams. The high moisture and dense vegetation in these areas greatly favor the growth and survival of magic mushroom species such as Psilocybe quebecensis and P.azurescens.
Foraging Considerations
Misidentification
One of the most significant challenges foragers face is discerning the correct species. Many Psilocybe species are little brown mushrooms that share similar characteristics to various poisonous species. If ingested, these incorrectly identified mushrooms could have severe health consequences. For instance, Galerina marginata, a P. semilanceata look-alike, contains toxins that are harmful to the liver and can cause fatal intoxication.
It’s, therefore, vital to thoroughly inspect foraged mushrooms to see if they meet all the characteristic requirements for that species. As well as referring to websites like iNaturalist for visual images, there are some apps you can use to help identify different mushroom species. These include:
- Roger’s Mushroom App
- Book of Mushrooms
- Fungitron Mushrooms
- Mushrooms (android only)
Ethical considerations
Overharvesting mushrooms puts a species in danger of extinction. For example, Tibetan Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), a non-psychedelic mushroom species, is highly sought after for its medicinal properties and has become scarce in the wild because of increasing demand. Overharvesting can also affect local biodiversity because of the useful role of mushrooms in their ecosystem.
To prevent overharvesting, be mindful about not taking more mushrooms than you need. You can also tap the top of a mushroom’s cap once you’ve picked it to encourage more mushrooms to grow in the surrounding area.
Some use raking methods to expose mushrooms beneath long grass and dead plant matter. However, this method can damage mycelium under the soil and so is considered unethical.
Legal considerations
In many places across the globe, including Europe, Canada, and the USA, “magic mushrooms” are classified as Schedule 1 equivalent compounds. While they remain legal growing in their natural habitat, if you choose to keep them after harvesting, the “possession” of magic mushrooms is considered a criminal offense.
Nevertheless, numerous states in the US and various European countries have implemented decriminalization laws, meaning law enforcement places a lower priority on cases involving magic mushroom possession. Potential penalties for foraging and keeping mushrooms in these areas are, therefore, likely to be minor.
In Jamacia and the Bahamas, magic mushrooms can be foraged and brought into possession with no legal implications. Many Central and South American countries are the same, as long as the mushrooms are used for spiritual and traditional purposes.
Conclusion
Magic mushrooms grow in a diverse range of habitats across the globe but share commonalities in their environmental needs. By understanding factors important for growth, the type of habitats mushrooms tend to live in, and species-specific seasonal preferences, you’ll be better equipped to forage magic mushrooms. Just ensure you’re completely thorough in your identification, preferably foraging with experienced others, and consider ethical and legal implications.
Martha Allitt
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