Hey friend,

How can a mushroom (psilocybin-containing) that grows wild be illegal?

Especially one with such profound therapeutic potential.

In reality, the most “dangerous” thing about psilocybin mushrooms isn’t the mushroom itself…

It’s their classification as a Schedule I narcotic (meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high likelihood of abuse) in the U.S. and much of the world.

Meanwhile, millions struggle with depression, addiction, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and more—conditions that psilocybin shows remarkable promise in treating.

Not just short-term relief, but deep, lasting transformation, sometimes from a single experience.

Legal barriers remain one of the greatest obstacles. But here’s the thing about natural medicine: it’s natural.

Depending on where you live, psilocybin mushrooms may already be growing in the soil around you.

Mother Earth doesn’t gatekeep her gifts. She never has.

All it takes is learning where to look and remembering what our ancestors once knew: how to gather, prepare, and work with natural medicines.

Foraging, then, becomes more than an act of discovery.

It’s an act of resistance.

An act of reclaiming health from a system that profits from sickness.

A system that fractures our well-being, then sells us the antidote…

Foraging for psilocybin mushrooms in the United States guide

Today’s guide looks at some of the most common psilocybin-containing mushrooms found across the United States.

To keep things (somewhat) concise, I’ll focus on the Psilocybe genus, which is both the most well-known and has the largest number of hallucinogenic species.

Later, I’ll release a PDF covering each species discussed today—and possibly more—while also exploring lesser-known genera like Panaeolus, Gymnopilus, Conocybe, and Pluteus, which contain species with enough psilocybin and psilocin to produce psychedelic effects.

Stay tuned...

For each Psilocybe species, you’ll find a breakdown of its:

• Overview – Common name and some notes
• Description – Key identifying features
• Habitat – The environments it thrives in
• Distribution – U.S. states where it’s been confirmed
• Season – Months of the year when it is typically available
• Potency – Hallucinogenic strength; levels of psilocybin and other psychoactive alkaloids (low, moderate, or high)

Although psilocybin mushrooms grow across much of the U.S., they’re most concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast, the South, and Hawaii.

Psilocybe

Psilocybe is the genus with the largest number of hallucinogenic, psilocybin-containing mushrooms (~144 species), the most well-known being Psilocybe cubensis.

Below, you will find the 10 most common ones.

1) Psilocybe azurescens

Overview: Psilocybe azurescens, commonly known as the Flying Saucer, is among the most potent psilocybin mushrooms, and can sometimes cause semi-paralysis (albeit non-harmful) for about an hour after ingestion.

Description: P. azurescens has a chestnut to caramel cap (3–10 cm) that bruises blue and fades to straw when dry. Its tall, slender stem (9–20 cm) is silky white to brownish with dense bluish mycelium at the base. Gills are brown with whitish edges, turning black when damaged, and the spore print is dark purplish-brown. It is odorless to starchy with an extremely bitter taste.

Habitat: Native to the U.S. West Coast, especially the Columbia River Delta in Oregon and Washington. It thrives in coastal dune grasses, sandy soils with woody debris, and on deciduous wood chips, often forming dense clusters.

Distribution: CA, NM, OH, OR, PA, VT, WA, WI

Season: September to January

Potency: Extremely high

2) Psilocybe baeocystis

Overview: Psilocybe baeocystis, commonly referred to as Bottle Cap, contains significant levels of baeocystin (alongside psilocybin and psilocin) a lesser-known but hallucinogenic compound, which may contribute to its distinct effects.

Description: P. baeocystis has a small conical to convex cap (1.5–5.5 cm) that is viscid when moist, hygrophanous (color becomes paler with loss of water), and bruises blue easily. The gills are close, grayish to cinnamon-brown, and the stipe is slender, fibrous, and also bruises blue. It has a strong farinaceous (similar to freshly-ground wheat flour) taste and odor, with a dark purplish-brown spore print.

Habitat: P. baeocystis grows solitary or in clusters on soil, bark, wood chips, peat moss, and decaying conifer mulch—sometimes in lawns, pastures, or garden beds under plants like rhododendrons and roses. It often appears alongside other Psilocybe species.

Distribution: AK, CA, CT, MA, NC, NH, OR, WA

Season: August through December

Potency: Moderate

3) Psilocybe caerulescens

Overview: Psilocybe caerulescens, known as the Landslide Mushroom ("derrumbe" in Spanish), is one of the entheogenic mushrooms most likely to have been used by the Aztecs and is currently used ritually by Mazatec shamans.

Description: P. caerulescens has a small to medium cap (3–7 cm), convex to slightly bell-shaped, with a viscid surface when moist and a tendency to bruise blue. Its stipe (stem) is hollow, whitish to reddish-brown, and flexible, while the gills darken from pale to purple-brown with age. The mushroom has a strong, farinaceous (flour-like) taste and smell that fades as it dries.

Habitat: P. caerulescens typically grows in clusters or groups, rarely alone, on disturbed (post-landslide), bare ground with woody debris. It favors sunny spots with muddy, orangish-brown soil.

Distribution: AL, FL, GA, LA, MI, NC, SC, TX

Season: June through October

Potency: Mild to moderate

4) Psilocybe caerulipes

Overview: Psilocybe caerulipes, commonly referred to as Blue Foot, due to the blue base (signaling psilocybin) of the stem.

Description: P. caerulipes has a farinaceous (freshly ground wheat flour-like) taste and mild to nearly absent farinaceous odor. The cap is small (1–3.5 cm), conical to convex, viscid when moist, cinnamon to caramel brown, and bruises blue. Gills are close, darkening from whitish to brown as spores mature. The stipe is 3–6 cm long, whitish to brown, fibrous, hollowing with age, bruises blue, and may show faint remnants of a partial veil. Spores are dark purple-brown.

Habitat: P. caerulipes grows solitary or in clusters in deciduous forests, often on hardwood debris, decaying logs, and leaf litter from birch, beech, and maple trees.

Distribution: CT, GA, KY, ME, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV

Season: Late May through December

Potency: Moderate

5) Psilocybe cubensis

Overview: Psilocybe cubensis, commonly called Cube, Golden Teacher, or Gold Cap, is the most widely recognized and used psilocybin mushroom, prized for its broad distribution and ease of cultivation. It was first described by American mycologist Franklin Sumner Earle in Cuba, which is reflected in its species name, cubensis, meaning “from Cuba.”

Description: The cap of P. cubensis is 1.6–8 cm, conical to convex when young and flattening with age, brown fading toward the margin, and stains blue when bruised. It has narrow grey gills that darken with age, a hollow white stem 4–15 cm long with a persistent membranous ring, no notable odor, a farinaceous (flour-like) taste with a metallic aftertaste, and dark purple-brown to purplish-black spores.

Habitat: P. cubensis is a pan-tropical mushroom found across the Americas, Southeast Asia, India, Australia, and some Pacific islands. It primarily grows on cow or horse dung, sugarcane mulch, and rich pasture soils, fruiting almost year-round in the northern hemisphere and seasonally in the southern hemisphere.

Distribution: AL, AR, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX

Season: February to December (northern hemisphere)

Potency: Moderate

6) Psilocybe cyanescens

Overview: Psilocybe cyanescens, known as Wavy Cap for its distinctive undulating appearance, is a highly potent psilocybin mushroom. It was first collected in 1910 by Elsie Wakefield and formally described in 1946.

Description: P. cyanescens has a caramel to chestnut-brown cap that fades to pale buff (a mix of yellowish-brown and creamy beige) when dry, typically 1.5–5 cm across and wavy at maturity. Its gills are light to dark brown, both cap and gills bruise blue when handled due to psilocin oxidation, and the mushroom has a farinaceous (flour-like) taste and odor. The spores are blackish-brown to purple.

Habitat: P. cyanescens primarily grows on lignin-rich substrates, such as wood chips, often in mulched plant beds in urban areas, and occasionally in natural settings. It fruits in clusters or gregariously—100,000 individual mushrooms were once found growing in a single patch at a racetrack in England—usually in the fall when temperatures drop (between 50–64 °F), and is mainly found in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.. However, its range has expanded globally through commercial mulch distribution.

Distribution: CA, MA, NY, OR, PA, WA

Season: Spring and fall

Potency: High

7) Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata

Overview: Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, commonly called the River Teacher, was first identified in Pennsylvania in 2003. Often mistaken for P. caerulipes, it differs by producing larger mushrooms, rhomboid spores, and fruiting earlier in the year.

Description: P. ovoideocystidiata has caps 1.5–8 cm wide, convex when young and often wavy at maturity, ranging in color from dark brown to light beige and bruising blue-green with age. Its gills shift from whitish to dark purple-brown, producing a dark purple-brown spore print. The stipe is 3–13 cm tall, whitish with yellowish, brownish, or bluish tones, sometimes with veil remnants forming a zone or annulus mid-stem. Both taste and odor are farinaceous (flour-like), sometimes with a spicy note.

Habitat: P. ovoideocystidiata is native to the Eastern United States—especially the Ohio River Valley—but also occurs on the West Coast from Southern California to British Columbia, with its range seemingly expanding. It grows on woody debris near rivers, streams, and in urban mulch, often in large groups or clusters, and favors shady environments. It is occasionally found growing alongside Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica).

Distribution: AR, CA, CT, DE, GA, IN, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WA, Washington D.C., WV

Season: Spring (from mid-April to late-June), especially after multiple days of steady rainfall; may occasionally fruit in the fall (as late as November)

Potency: Low to moderate

8) Psilocybe pelliculosa

Overview: Psilocybe pelliculosa, often called the "Conifer Psilocybe" because of its close association with conifer forests, was first described in 1937 by American mycologist Alexander H. Smith from a specimen near Tahkenitch Lake, Oregon. Originally placed in the genus Psathyrella, it was correctly reclassified into the Psilocybe genus by Rolf Singer in 1958.

Description: P. pelliculosa is a small mushroom with a conical to bell-shaped cap that lacks a central nipple. The sticky cap shifts from chestnut-brown when wet to tan when dry. It features narrow gills that darken with age, a thin 6–8 cm stem that bruises bluish-green, and a purplish-brown spore print.

Habitat: P. pelliculosa typically grows in clusters on moss, forest litter, and humus within coniferous forests, favoring disturbed spots like trails, forest paths, and abandoned logging roads near alders and firs. It is primarily found in the Pacific Northwest (California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington) and British Columbia, with occasional sightings in northern Europe.

Distribution: AZ, CA, ID, OR, WA

Season: Late summer to early winter (after cold, wet weather)

Potency: Low

9) Psilocybe semilanceata

Overview: Psilocybe semilanceata, commonly referred to as Liberty Cap due to its bell-shaped cap, is one of the most widely distributed psilocybin mushrooms in nature, spanning across the Northern Hemisphere and temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere.

Description: P. semilanceata has a small, conical to bell-shaped cap with a distinct nipple-like protrusion, ranging from pale yellow-brown when dry to chestnut brown when moist, often sticky due to a thin pellicle (skin/membrane). Its slender stem is yellowish-brown, and the crowded gills darken to purple-brown with age. The mushroom bruises blue when handled, has a farinaceous (flour-like) odor and taste, and produces deep reddish purple-brown spores.

Habitat: P. semilanceata typically fruits in grasslands—meadows, pastures, and lawns with rich, acidic soil—often in areas fertilized by livestock but not directly on dung. It is saprobic, feeding on decaying organic matter, and is sometimes associated with grasses and sedges.

Distribution: CA, ME, NH, NY, OR, VA, WA

Season: Spring to winter; mainly in the fall

Potency: High

10) Psilocybe stuntzii

Overview: Psilocybe stuntzii, commonly known as Blue Ringers, was named after mycologist Daniel Stuntz of the University of Washington. Caution is advised, as it closely resembles the toxic Galerina marginata, and several poisonings have occurred from misidentification.

Description: P. stuntzii has a small cap (0.5–3.5 cm) that begins cone-shaped and flattens as it matures. The surface is smooth, sticky when wet, shifts from dark brown to yellowish as it dries, and bruises bluish-green when handled. Its gills change from light brown to dark purple-brown with pale edges. The stem is slender (2–7.5 cm), whitish to light brown, sometimes twisted, with a delicate ring that also bruises blue-green. Both smell and taste are farinaceous (flour-like), and the spores are dark purple-brown.

Habitat: P. stuntzii grows scattered to gregariously (occurring close together but not fused) in wood chips, mulch, and freshly laid sod across the Pacific Northwest, especially around Seattle.

Distribution: CA, ME, MA, OR, RI, WA

Season: Late July through December

Potency: Low

What if you're not in the United States

Don’t worry, my friend. I may have just focused on psilocybin mushrooms in the U.S., but I know many are reading from all corners of the globe.

So, for a more detailed exploration of psychoactive mushroom species across the United States and worldwide, see:

• ​A Worldwide Geographical Distribution of the Neurotropic Fungi: An Analysis and Discussion by Gastón Guzmán, John Allen, and Jochen Gartz.
• The Shroomery list: Which psilocybin mushrooms grow wild in my area?​

Foraging tips and tools

Safety

NEVER consume a mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identity.

Do not rely on apps, online resources, or quick ‘safety tricks.’

Mushroom identification is a skill that takes time, practice, and guidance to master.

Always seek confirmation from an experienced mycologist before ingesting anything new.

If you feel unwell after eating mushrooms—especially if symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, pain, or other sudden changes arise—call Poison Control immediately at 1 (800) 222-1222. Better safe than sorry.

Plus, the mere act of foraging comes with its own risks. While psilocybin mushrooms can sometimes be found close to home (in your yard, neighborhood, local park, etc.), foraging often means heading into remote areas where getting lost, injured, or caught in bad weather is possible.

The list below outlines a comprehensive toolkit to help you stay safe and prepared while foraging.

Foraging checklist

• Wicker basket or plastic bucket with drain holes
• Knife
• Brush
• Whistle or air horn
• Compass
• Charged cell phone and GPS (Gaia GPS app is a good option that doesn't rely on cell service)
• Assorted small and large wax-coated paper bags (I get these from any supermarket bakery) or cloth bags
• Notebook and pen/pencil
• Camera
• Map of the area
• First aid kit
• Water, food, medicine, etc.
• Unexpected event gear such as an emergency survival kit, sleeping bag, lighter/flint/matches, flashlight, etc.

Guides

Here are some helpful resources that I have found when foraging for psilocybin and edible/culinary mushrooms.

Books/field guides – Some great books on the topic of foraging and identifying wild-growing psilocybin mushrooms include:

• Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats by Paul Stamets
• Psilocybin Mushrooms of the United States by Mary Beck
• Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World by Paul Stamets
• Mushrooms of Cascadia by Michael Beug
• Magic Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest by John Allen

Apps – A couple of apps that I have found really helpful along my foraging adventures are:

• ​iNaturalist helps forage psilocybin mushrooms because it provides verified photos, habitat information, and location data, making identification more accurate. Its community of experts offers guidance and safety checks, helping beginners learn to distinguish mushrooms from toxic lookalikes.
• ​Mushroom Observer is a community-driven platform where users upload mushroom photos and get help with identification. It’s especially useful for psilocybin mushrooms because it organizes observations by species and location, and contributions from mycologists help ensure accuracy.

The bottom line

While Big Pharma scrambles to patent psychedelics—co-opting, gatekeeping, and profiting off illness—Mother Nature has been offering the medicine all along.

Psilocybin mushrooms grow freely, side by side with countless other healing plants and fungi.

We may have lost much of our ancestral knowledge of gathering food and medicine from the land, but it’s not forgotten.

With practice and education, you can reclaim what Big Pharma, Big Food, and Big Government have tried to erase. Because when people can heal themselves, they can’t be controlled.

Psilocybin may be labeled a Schedule I narcotic, but both research and nature tell a different story.

The Earth doesn’t criminalize; she gives generously and without condition.

Foraging isn’t just finding mushrooms; it’s a way of reconnecting with ecosystems, with ancestry, with sovereignty. It’s an act of resistance in a system that thrives on keeping people sick for profit.

That said, foraging for mushrooms is also high-stakes. Toxic lookalikes exist, and even skilled foragers can mistake them.

Safety is everything: learn from experts, cross-check ID sources, and never consume unless you’re 100% certain.

Foraging is healing. It’s radical. It’s freedom. But it must be done wisely.

Happy foraging,

Onjae

P.S. If foraging for psilocybin mushrooms feels a little too daunting, I’ve put together a Psychedelic Sourcing Master List.

Inside, you’ll find my vetted global online vendors for psilocybin products (capsules, teas, chocolates, etc.) and trusted spore suppliers so you can grow your own with confidence in quality, safety, and purity.

The list also includes other plant medicine companies and products (mescaline, DMT, LSD, LSA, and beyond). You can access it here.