orange, red, or smelly growth is a stinkhorn.
A few distinctions can help you decide whether you need a closer identification.
| Backyard discovery | What it may look like | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Red stinkhorn | Upright red-orange stalk or horn, sometimes with dark slime | Often grows in mulch or decaying organic matter and may smell foul |
| Slime mold | Yellow, orange, pink, or cream-colored mass spread across mulch | Often looks like foam or a soft, irregular patch rather than an upright mushroom |
| Other mushrooms | Caps, clusters, cups, or irregular fruiting bodies in various |
There’s more to discover. Continue to the next page for the rest of this article.
