Where Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Grow?

Psychedelic mushrooms have been used as part of religious ceremonies for centuries, and in more recent years psilocybin mushrooms have gained traction as a viable alternative medicine. Although some regions of the United States have decriminalized these plants and legalized their use in supervised medical settings, they remain illegal under federal law due to their classification as a Schedule 1 drug.

Nevertheless, psilocybin mushrooms can often be found in the most ordinary of natural settings. Read further to learn where you can find magic mushrooms in the wild and how to identify them as you search.

What Are Psilocybin Mushrooms?

Psilocybin mushrooms, often referred to as “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms,” are fungi that contain the naturally occurring psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. These compounds are known for their hallucinogenic effects that, similar to LSD, induce changes in perception, mood, and cognitive processes.

While psilocybin mushrooms have long been used recreationally, shrooms also offer genuine medical benefits for patients suffering from conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Where Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Grow Naturally?

Psilocybin mushrooms primarily grow in moist, fertile, and humid environments, with a particular affinity for grasslands, fields, and forests. These mushrooms can be found in North and South America, Australia, Europe, and parts of Asia, and they’re generally discovered in tropical or subtropical climates.

Within the United States, magic mushrooms can be found in:

• The Pacific Northwest: One of the most common regions to find psilocybin mushrooms growing in the wild is the pacific northwest, ranging from the Washington state border with Canada all the way down the coast to Northern California. Because psilocybin thrives in moist areas, the rainy PNW is an ideal place to find them.
• The Midwest and Northeast: Psilocybin is commonly found in the area stretching from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. Psilocybin are most commonly found in damp areas during June through November.
• The Gulf Coast and Southern States: Magic mushrooms can be found in forests along the Gulf Coast, as well as in cow manure in South and East Texas and Central Florida. They can also be found in the forests of other southern states like Tennessee, Mississippi, and North Carolina.
• The Southwest – Psilocybin is more scarce in these regions (New Mexico and Arizona), but you might be able to find varieties such as P. azurescens., P. Mexicana, P. aztecorum, P. cinctulus, and P. hopiisome in forested areas during July to September.