The red-yellow trumpet mushroom is a common edible mushroom and has a mild, delicious flavor. It is perfect for sauces and stews, but can also be fried directly or dried to be used all year round.
Planting site
It likes to grow on wetter ground such as marsh edges and in moss and lichens. It likes shady places and can grow in the most difficult environments for a mushroom picker. It’s not at all unusual to find a sea of red-yellow trumpet mushrooms in a dense area of shrubs and bushes.
Seasonal
Usually grows from August to October under the right conditions.
How do I recognize a Red Yellow Trumpet mushroom?
The most common characteristic of this species is that it is reddish yellow. The foot has a warm cheerful tone that alternates between red and yellow. The hat is dark reddish-brown to yellowish-brown on the top and has no distinct furrows under the hat. The underside of the hat is light yellow to orange and has no clear edge between the foot and the hat as, for example, a funnel chantarelle. There are photo examples at the bottom of the page.
Special instructions for picking red trumpet mushrooms
Red-yellow trumpet are picked one by one, it can be frustrating when these mushrooms grow in large clusters but it is important to avoid as much dirt as possible and to check that there is not a stray mushroom in the basket. Each mushroom should be root-cut, lightly brush the cap if there is dirt or needles in the ‘trumpet’, and feel the mushroom to make sure it is firm and in good condition. If the hat is very large and flaky like a wet leaf, it is old and will most likely lower the impression of your basket when you sell or not be bought at all. But if you are picking to eat, this is not a problem as long as the mushrooms are not rotten.
Red-yellow trumpet mushrooms & Lookalike mushrooms
Conical Amanita (Galerina marginata): This mushroom is very poisonous and can resemble the red-yellow trumpet mushroom to some extent. However, it has a more cone-shaped cap and a yellowish or brown color. In addition, it is often much smaller than red-yellow trumpet mushrooms and has a smoother hat surface.
Slimy waxcap (Gomphidius glutinosus): The slimy waxcap has a jelly-like, slimy surface and a bumpy cap that can resemble red-yellow trumpet mushrooms. However, it is not poisonous but has no food value. The slime mold has a less convex cap and a more gelatinous texture than red-yellow trumpet mushrooms.
Funnel chanterelle (Craterellus tubaeformis): Although the funnel chanterelle is a different edible mushroom, in some cases it can be confused with the red-yellow trumpet mushroom because of its similar shape. However, the funnel chanterelle is usually smaller, has a more rounded cap and is more solidly colored light gray or brownish, while the red-yellow trumpet mushroom has a more distinct red-yellow color and a more funnel-like shape.
What to look out for when walking in the forest
Just like in tall grass, ticks thrive in the forest. It’s a good idea to check your clothes regularly and take a good look if you feel any crawling. Tick bites are not necessarily dangerous, but you are encouraged to keep an eye on tick bites so that you do not get symptoms of, for example, Lyme disease or TBE.
On the left of the image, you can see a red-yellow funnel mushroom from underneath, while on the right is a Chanterelle.
