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    Green-cracking russula

    Russula virescens (Schaeff.) Fr. · Russulaceae

    Also: Quilted green russula, Green brittlegill

    ✓ EdibleRisk of confusion: high

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Green-cracking russula
    Photo: Bubbah63 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
    Green-cracking russula
    Photo: Bubbah63 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    The green-cracking russula is a mild-tasting russula with a verdigris-green cap skin that cracks into patches. It is one of the few russulas that even beginners can identify safely, and a prized edible mushroom.

    SeasonJuly to October
    Spore printwhite
    FamilyRussulaceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 5 to 12 cm wide, verdigris to grey green, matt, and cracked into small patches.
    2. Underside. The gills are white to cream and brittle.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. The stem is white and firm. There is no ring or volva.
    4. Smell and taste. It has no striking smell and tastes mild and nutty. Taste it only after ruling out a deadly Amanita.
    5. Flesh and colour change. The flesh is white and firm.

    Lookalikes

    Collect green brittlegills only after ruling out the death cap with certainty: dig up the stem base.

    Habitat & Season

    Acidic soils. Mainly lower elevations.

    Host trees

    Beech, oak, hornbeam.

    Season

    possible good main season

    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.

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    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.

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    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

    United Kingdom

    Poison centre:

    NHS 111 (England)111

    Emergency: 999 · 112

    Ireland

    Poison centre:

    National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166

    Emergency: 112 · 999

    Germany

    Poison centre:

    Giftnotruf Berlin030 19240Giftinformationszentrum München089 19240GIZ-Nord Göttingen0551 19240

    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

    Not specially protected.

    No species-specific rule known.

    Red List Germany: Least concern

    In the kitchen

    Fried or grilled. Cook thoroughly.

    Possible.

    Frequently asked questions

    Green-cracking russula: is it edible?

    Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom. Cook thoroughly. Collect green brittlegills only after ruling out the death cap with certainty: dig up the stem base.

    Green-cracking russula: when and where does it grow?

    In central Europe the season runs from July to October. Tree partners and habitat: Beech, oak, hornbeam. Soil: Acidic soils. Elevation: Mainly lower elevations.

    Green-cracking russula: what are the lookalikes?

    The most important distinction is from Death cap (Amanita phalloides, deadly poisonous): It has a smooth, radially fibrous cap skin, a ring and a sac-like volva. Other lookalikes: Tacky green russula.

    Related species

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    Sources

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    No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.

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