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Fairy Ring Champignons

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Fairy Ring Champignons

Edible

Autumn

Spring

Summer

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Fairy Ring Champignon, Marasmius oreades

A great tasting gourmet mushroom and although small can usually be found in large numbers.

Mushroom Type
Common Names	Fairy Ring Champignons (EN), Fairy Ring Mushrooms, Elf Rings, Scotch Bonnets, Madarch Cylch (CY), Twardzioszek Przydrożny (PL), Mezei Szegfűgomba (HU)
Scientific Name	Marasmius oreades
Season Start	Apr
Season End	Nov
Average Mushroom height (CM)	8
Average Cap width (CM)	5

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Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.

Cap

Convex/conical opening flat with a wide umbo. Pale tan coloured usually with a slightly darker umbo.

Gills

Gills white turning pale tan/cream. Not crowded. The gills are free of the stem, this is an important identification feature.

Stem

Off-white to pale tan. Thin, fibrous and tough, no skirt.

Flesh

White to off white and thin.

Habitat

Usually in rings or semi rings of varying diametres, depending on the age of the parent fungi under ground. Found in short grass on lawns, roadside verges, parks and pasture.

Possible Confusion

Clitocybe rivulosa/dealbata which grows in similar habitats and in similar rings towards the middle and end of the Fairy Ring season. The main difference between the two is that the gills of C. rivulosa run down the stem (decurrent) and those of the Fairy Ring are not attached to the stem. Also the edge of the cap of C. rivulosa mainly stays in-turned even when the mushroom has opened out. The colours are different with the C. rivulosa being lighter to white with concentric rings sometimes visable on the cap while the Fairy Ring is more light tan often with a slightly darker, wide umbo in the centre of the cap. Care should be taken when identifying this mushroom.

Spore Print

White. Ellipsoid.

Taste / Smell

Excellent, mushroomy.

Frequency

Common.

Other Facts

Very common in late spring early summer but towards the end of the season they generally become too infested with maggots.
Easy to spot as the grass grows taller and greener in the ring. The ring is produced because the mycelium feed the grass with water and nutrients and get sugars back in return.
The best mushroom to dry, they will dry without slicing just left on some paper for a few days. When rehydrated they change back to when the mushroom was fresh.

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27 responses to “Fairy Ring Champignons”

James White

June 19, 2019

Hi I believe I have found some. Can I send a pic?

1. Poppy Ives
  
  June 20, 2019
  
  Hi James, you can send us some pictures using our contact form on the contact us page or you can email them to [email protected]
  
Maria

September 29, 2019

This was a very helpful photo compilation. I believe I’ve got a large growth of them. I’m hoping this is what they are. I’ll email photos.

Lee Harvey

October 10, 2019

I’ve found what looks like Fairy Ring Champignons in my garden. Loads of them have sprung up. My only concern on identification is that in every respect they look like the ones you have illustrated and discussed in your video, except that the gills are similar but thinner and more densely packed. And the flesh of the stems is not white but pretty much the same tan colour as the gills and outer edge of the cap.
Does this sound like a different muchroom to you. Won’t try eating any until I’m certain they are edible.
Thanks

1. Eric Biggane
  
  December 18, 2019
  
  Hi Lee, I can’t make IDs from descriptions but if you can send in some clear photos of the cap, stem and gills I’ll do my best.
  
Tyler Murrow

March 31, 2020

Hi I believe I found one as well. Can I post a photo?

1. Eric Biggane
  
  April 9, 2020
  
  Hi Tyler, you can send photos to [email protected]. They must be clear photos of the stem, cap and gills.
  
  1. Chris Chambers
    
    June 21, 2020
    
    Found some possible fairy ring champignons in the garden they grow every year could you identify them if I send you some pictures?
    
    1. Eric Biggane
      
      June 22, 2020
      
      I should be able to ID them if you can send clear, fairly close up photos of the caps, stem, gills and more importantly for Fairy Ring Champignons where the stem joins the gills. Send them to [email protected]
      
Rhiannon

June 9, 2020

Do you get these mushrooms in scotland?

1. Eric Biggane
  
  June 16, 2020
  
  You should be able to find these mushrooms throughout the UK but they want wet weather and to be growing in short grass for you to see them.
  
2. Robert Kay
  
  August 22, 2022
  
  yes, and often in woodland too.
  
  1. Eric Biggane
    
    August 23, 2022
    
    You need to be careful with Fairy Ring Champignon growing in woodland as there are a few little brown mushrooms that can look similar.
    
Patsy

June 29, 2020

Hi, I think these may be what is growing in my lawn in North Wales . Can I send you a picture? I’ve been afraid to let the dogs out in case they were something poisonous.

1. Eric Biggane
  
  June 29, 2020
  
  Please send in pictures of the cap, gills and most importantly with these mushrooms, where the gills meet the stem.
  
The Geese

October 9, 2021

Made a delicious risotto using these mushrooms. Your identification guide and videos have been fantastic, thank you for your hard work on this site.

Kris Chambers

July 15, 2023

Hi,

Should I be careful of eating these if picked from a place where fertiliser or 3-4 in one weed/feed has been applied?
Thanks

1. Eric Biggane
  
  July 15, 2023
  
  I would be worried if it was sprayed with weed killer but fertiliser is fine.
  
Martin Polley

July 30, 2023

hi I think I have found some of these.
is it ok to send you some photos for confirming identification please.🙏
martin

1. Eric Biggane
  
  July 31, 2023
  
  You can send photos to [email protected] Please include photos of the cap, gills, stem and importantly for Fairy Ring Champignon, where the gills join the stem.
  
Gary James Beech

August 4, 2023

Hiya James,i picked hundreds of these on the school field where im a caretaker last week and dried them out,amazed to see how they go back to original condition after adding water! Going to do a mushroom snd Madiera Risotto later

Sophie Holmes

August 22, 2023

Hi hi,
Wondered if I could ask a bit of advice please…
I made a stock collection of fairy rings this year, tasted a couple freshly fried which were delicious and dried a Kilner jar’s worth using the string method mainly. I’ve had them about a month and rehydrated some today for 15 minutes to use in mushrooms on toast (mixed with some assorted shop bought), and found both the smell and flavour so strong compared to previously, to the point I couldn’t finish the meal. Is there something o May have done wrong? Rehydrated them for too long or not enough time (I did 15 mins with room temp water)?
Would appreciate some advice on whether it’s normal for them to have such a strong flavour and to maybe use less next time.

Thanks in advance

1. Eric Biggane
  
  August 24, 2023
  
  Mushrooms develop more glutamates when drying which intensifies the flavour. I’ve never found the flavour too strong but I love strong tasting mushrooms. Maybe use less next time, I don’t think you did anything wrong.
  
  1. Sophie Holmes
    
    October 15, 2023
    
    Hi, update, went on a foraging course and was told they weren’t dry enough which is why they didn’t smell good, thought you might find it helpful.
    
    Also, have gone and picked some more today to re-stock but on checking some of them there were lots of maggots inside them…is this normal and can they be eaten (not that I want to eat maggots just curious!) ?
    
    1. Eric Biggane
      
      October 18, 2023
      
      They are perfectly safe to eat when full of maggots, just not very appetizing. If you dry the mushrooms in a dehydrator, the maggots crawl out and dry at the bottom of the machine, leaving the dried mushrooms maggot free.
      
Lilly

September 23, 2024

Just had a load of rainfall and the grass fairy ring I spotted earlier in May is now full of mushrooms. Heading back to check that fact about the gills from the video, I haven’t heard that one before. Thanks so much for information 🙂

John Mccrae

October 14, 2024

I live in north Wales and get lots of these but they only start to appear at the end of September?