Species library · Mushrooms

Foraging Horse's Hoof Fungus

Fomes fomentarius

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

Horse's Hoof Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)

Photo: (c) Jamie Griffiths, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jamie Griffiths · iNaturalist

When Horse's Hoof Fungus is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. 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

Horse's Hoof Fungus is usually found in Woodland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Red-belted conk, Willow bracket, Artist's conk. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Horse's Hoof Fungus into the field

Open Horse's Hoof Fungus 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.

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Horse's Hoof Fungus: common questions

When is Horse's Hoof Fungus in season?

Horse's Hoof Fungus is generally in season from January to December 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 Horse's Hoof Fungus grow?

Horse's Hoof Fungus is usually found in Woodland.

Is Horse's Hoof Fungus safe to forage?

Similar species: Red-belted conk, Willow bracket, Artist's conk. 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