What Is the Red, Smelly Thing Growing in My Backyard? The Surprising Truth About Stinkhorn Mushrooms

alien has appeared in the mulch!

But if the growth is a stinkhorn, there’s usually a simple explanation. It’s a fungus using decaying organic material to grow and reproduce, with its unpleasant odor helping attract insects that carry its spores elsewhere.

In many gardens, stinkhorns aren’t a threat to healthy plants and don’t require aggressive treatment. You can remove the visible mushroom if its smell or appearance bothers you, or allow it to disappear naturally.

Just remember that identifying a mushroom correctly matters. Not every strange growth is a stinkhorn,

There’s more to discover. Continue to the next page for the rest of this article.