Species library · Mushrooms

Foraging Wood Ear

Auricularia americana

Typically in season from June to November in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Wood Ear (Auricularia americana)

Photo: (c) pinonbistro, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by pinonbistro · iNaturalist

When Wood Ear is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak June to November. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Wood Ear is usually found in Woodland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: witches' butter, amber jelly roll, wood ear. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Wood Ear into the field

Open Wood Ear in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Wood Ear: common questions

When is Wood Ear in season?

Wood Ear is generally in season from June to November in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Wood Ear grow?

Wood Ear is usually found in Woodland.

Is Wood Ear safe to forage?

Similar species: witches' butter, amber jelly roll, wood ear. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits