Red | Fly agaric

The star of the show is quite possibly the fabulous fly agaric. This species produces the iconic toadstool of fairytale and legend with its glistening red cap and white freckles, usually found growing beneath birch, spruce and pine trees in woodland. Find them at Snelsmore Common near Newbury which is a treasure trove for mushrooms at this time of year.

Orange | Orange peel 

It’s not hard to see how this fungi gets its name. If you see what looks like discarded orange peel on bare soil or amongst grass, take a closer look and you might discover a striking fungus. This photo was taken last autumn at Warburg Nature Reserve, where an incredible 900 species of fungi grow.

Yellow | Lemon disco

Another fungus with a characterful name, the small discs of lemon disco can be found on the dead and decaying wood – such as on stumps and fallen branches - of deciduous trees. Like other fungi species, it helps to decompose the wood and recycle nutrients back into the woodland habitat.

Green | Parrot waxcap

The parrot waxcap can be recognised by its beautiful emerald green colour, though the colour fades as it ages, sometimes taking yellow, orange, pink or grey hues. It has a coating of slime that gives it a glistening appearance. It grows in low-nutrient grasslands in a range of places, from meadows to lawns and churchyards. You may spot this at Greenham Common, or the nearby Bowdown Woods.

Blue | Verdigris agaric

Look for this blue beauty in broadleaved and coniferous woodland, heathland and pastures. The cap is flecked with white scales initially and turns yellowish when these are lost. Another special species to look out for at Warburg Nature Reserve.

Indigo | Indigo pinkgill

This attractive fungus often grows amongst moss in grassland, heathland and open woodland. The ‘indigo’ in its common name is clear, but to discover its ‘pinkgill’ you’ll need to take a look underneath. Its gills – where it produces and releases spores – begin as white with a blue tinge, before transitioning to a salmon colour.

Purple | Amethyst deceiver

A fairly small toadstool, the amethyst deceiver is bright purple in colour. It can be seen growing in broadleaved and coniferous woodlands among the leaf litter. However, like other fungi on our list, it isn’t always a consistent colour. During dry spells, and as the amethyst deceiver gets older, its cap and stem become much paler in colour and can even turn white. Search for it among woodland reserves such as Rushbeds Wood near Bicester, or Sydlings Copse to the east of Oxford.

Honourable mentions

Magpie inkcap

While not a vibrant fungus, the unmistakeable magpie inkcap has a striking pattern. The black-and-white mushroom cap is typically elevated on a tall stalk. If you discover it too late, you’ll find that it has ‘melted’! 

In a process called deliquescence or auto-digestion, the mushroom liquefies itself through the release of various enzymes that interact with moisture (if it’s too dry, the mushroom will simply shrivel). It’s thought this helps them release spores.

Green elf cup

If you were to find a dead branch in the woods stained a beautiful turquoise colour, you can be certain to have found the striking green elf cup. Although the stained wood is a relatively frequent find, it's far less common to witness the fungus actually fruiting, so you should be particularly chuffed if these little cups also happen to be present! Keep a look out for these at Moor Copse, a tranquil woodland astride the River Pang in Berkshire.

Common eyelash fungus

While the name suggests a condition that requires a trip to the pharmacist, the common eyelash fungus gets its common name from the tiny black hairs which border its red-orange cup. Its diminutive size means it can be easily overlooked, but it can be found on wet wood and humous-rich damp soil, often by streams or in wet places.

Discover the best reserves for fungi

Please make sure you leave all fungi where you find them for others to enjoy. Fungi picking or foraging is not permitted on our nature reserves.