Jack-o'-lantern mushroom Omphalotus olearius
poisonous
It grows in clusters on wood and has true gills.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The amethyst chanterelle resembles the chanterelle but has fine violet scales on the cap. It grows on acidic soils in beech, fir and spruce woods.
SeasonJuly to August
Spore printpale cream to pink
FamilyHydnaceae
- Cap. The cap is 3 to 10 cm wide, yellow with fine violet to lilac-brown scales.
- Underside. The underside has yellow, forked ridges instead of gills.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is yellow and solid. There is no ring and no volva.
- Smell and taste. It has a fruity smell of apricot.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is whitish and turns slightly yellow to red.
Lookalikes
Protected like all chanterelles; only small quantities for personal use.
False chanterelle Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca
inedible
It has thin, true gills.
View on the mapGolden chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius
edible
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It has no violet scales.
View on the mapHabitat & Season
Acidic soils poor in bases and nutrients over silicate rock and sandstone. From hill country to mountain regions.
Host trees
Beech, fir, spruce.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Occasionally already in June or still in September.
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Chance near you
How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Only eat mushrooms you have identified with certainty, and always cook them thoroughly.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Specially protected under BArtSchV Annex 1 (Cantharellus spp.); small quantities for personal use are allowed.
Carinthia: chanterelles (Eierschwammerl) only from 15 June to 30 September.
Red List Germany: Least concern
In the kitchen
As for chanterelle. Cook thoroughly.
Better to freeze.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free and reliably identified specimens.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and prepare them the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Amethyst chanterelle: is it edible?
Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom. Cook thoroughly. Protected like all chanterelles; only small quantities for personal use.
Amethyst chanterelle: when and where does it grow?
The season in central Europe runs from July to August. Occasionally already in June or still in September. Tree partner and habitat: Beech, fir, spruce. Soil: Acidic soils poor in bases and nutrients over silicate rock and sandstone. Altitude: From hill country to mountain regions.
Amethyst chanterelle: what are the lookalikes?
The most important distinction is from Jack-o'-lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius, poisonous): It grows in clusters on wood and has true gills. Other lookalikes: golden chanterelle, false chanterelle.
Related species
- Golden chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius
- Velvet chanterelle Cantharellus friesii
- Winter chanterelle Craterellus tubaeformis
- Horn of plenty Craterellus cornucopioides
- Yellow foot Craterellus lutescens
- Wood hedgehog Hydnum repandum
Sources
- Violettschuppiger Pfifferling (Wikipedia DE)
- GBIF: Cantharellus amethysteus (Quél.) Sacc.
- Index Fungorum Record 154816
- Rote-Liste-Zentrum: Großpilze Deutschlands (Dämmrich et al. 2016)
- BArtSchV Anlage 1 (Pilze) und § 2
- BArtSchV § 2 Ausnahmen
- ÖMG: Pilzschutzbestimmungen in Österreich (Stand 29.01.2021)
- RIS: Forstgesetz 1975 § 174
- DGfM: Giftpilze und Pilzvergiftungen
- DGfM: Giftnotrufe in Deutschland, Europa und der Schweiz
- Gesundheitsportal Österreich: Vergiftung durch Pilze, VIZ 01 406 43 43
- Dunkler Ölbaumtrichterling (Wikipedia DE)
Photo credits
- Photo: Gerhard Koller (Mushroom Observer) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Jack-o'-lantern mushroom: Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- False chanterelle: Photo: Bubulcus, edited by Ak ccm · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Golden chanterelle: Photo: Puchatech K. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.