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    Velvet chanterelle

    Cantharellus friesii Quél. · Hydnaceae

    ✓ EdibleRisk of confusion: low

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Velvet chanterelle
    Photo: Len Worthington · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
    Velvet chanterelle
    Photo: Inger-Lise Fonneland · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    The velvet chanterelle is a small chanterelle coloured salmon pink to orange, with a velvety cap surface. It is edible, but rare.

    SeasonJuly to October
    Spore printwhitish
    FamilyHydnaceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 1 to 4 cm wide, orange with salmon-pink tones, and finely velvety.
    2. Underside. The underside has pale orange to pink ridges.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. The stem is orange, paler towards the base. There is no ring and no volva.
    4. Smell and taste. It has a fruity smell.
    5. Flesh and colour change. The flesh is whitish.

    Lookalikes

    Rare and protected in Germany; better leave it standing.

    Habitat & Season

    Acidic soils. From hill country to mountain regions.

    Host trees

    Beech, fir, spruce.

    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

    Specially protected under BArtSchV Annex 1 (Cantharellus spp.); small quantities for personal use are allowed.

    No species-specific rule known.

    Red List Germany: Threatened, extent unknown

    In the kitchen

    As for chanterelle. Cook thoroughly.

    Better to freeze. Endangered to an unknown extent; spare it.

    Frequently asked questions

    Velvet chanterelle: is it edible?

    Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom. Cook thoroughly. Rare and protected in Germany; better leave it standing.

    Velvet chanterelle: when and where does it grow?

    The season in central Europe runs from July to October. Tree partner and habitat: Beech, fir, spruce. Soil: Acidic soils. Altitude: From hill country to mountain regions.

    Velvet chanterelle: what are the lookalikes?

    The most important distinction is from False chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, inedible): It has true, thin gills. Other lookalikes: golden chanterelle.

    Related species

    Mushroom trainer: test yourself

    Sources

    Photo credits

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

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