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

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

is not enough for identificationDecaying plant materialDiscolored, softened, or rotting organic matterMay smell unpleasant without being a mushroom

University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension explains that wood-chip mulch and compost can support several different fungi and fungus-like organisms, many of which are natural parts of the decomposition process. Source: UMass Amherst Extension

If you cannot confidently identify what you’ve found, take a photograph and consult a local university extension service, mycological society, or other qualified specialist.

Why did a red mushroom suddenly grow in my mulch?

The fungus may already have

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