Winter chanterelle Craterellus tubaeformis
edible
It has distinct ridges and a duller stem.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The yellow foot has a brown cap, an almost smooth, yellow-orange underside and a bright orange-yellow stem. It has a strong scent of mirabelle plums.
SeasonAugust to November
Spore printwhitish to salmon
FamilyHydnaceae
- Cap. The cap is 2 to 6 cm wide, funnel-shaped, brown to grey-brown on a yellow ground.
- Underside. The underside is almost smooth to faintly wrinkled, orange-yellow to pink; distinct ridges are absent.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is hollow and bright orange-yellow. There is no ring and no volva.
- Smell and taste. It smells strongly of mirabelle plums.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is thin.
Lookalikes
Vulnerable in Germany (Red List category 3); spare it.
Habitat & Season
Base-rich, fresh soils or extremely acidic, boggy sites. From hill country to mountain regions.
Host trees
Beech, fir, pine, spruce.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
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.
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
BArtSchV status for Craterellus (formerly Cantharellus).
No species-specific rule known.
Red List Germany: Vulnerable (category 3)
In the kitchen
Fried, or dried as a seasoning. Cook thoroughly.
Well suited. Endangered species; spare it.
- 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
Yellow foot: is it edible?
Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom. Cook thoroughly. Vulnerable in Germany (Red List category 3); spare it.
Yellow foot: when and where does it grow?
The season in central Europe runs from August to November. Tree partner and habitat: Beech, fir, pine, spruce. Soil: Base-rich, fresh soils or extremely acidic, boggy sites. Altitude: From hill country to mountain regions.
Yellow foot: what are the lookalikes?
The most important distinction is from Winter chanterelle (Craterellus tubaeformis, edible): It has distinct ridges and a duller stem.
Related species
- Winter chanterelle Craterellus tubaeformis
- Horn of plenty Craterellus cornucopioides
- Golden chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius
- Amethyst chanterelle Cantharellus amethysteus
- Velvet chanterelle Cantharellus friesii
- Wood hedgehog Hydnum repandum
Sources
- Starkriechender Trompetenpfifferling (Wikipedia DE)
- GBIF: Craterellus lutescens (Fr.) Fr.
- Index Fungorum Record 184644
- 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: Giftnotrufe in Deutschland, Europa und der Schweiz
- Gesundheitsportal Österreich: Vergiftung durch Pilze, VIZ 01 406 43 43
Photo credits
- Photo: Andreas Kunze · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Winter chanterelle: Photo: Andreas Kunze · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.