Witch's Butter (Tremella mesenterica)
Common mushroom

Witch's Butter

Tremella mesenterica

Witch's Butter (Tremella mesenterica) is a common mushroom in Tennessee. Say it: treh-mel-uh mez-en-tair-ih-kuh.

How to know it

  • Has: Wobbly jelly lobes
  • Has: Bright yellow-orange
  • Does not have: No gills

Shrivels when dry, then swells again after rain

Edible Very bland

Never eat a wild mushroom without an expert

Where and when

Forests statewide
Fruits
Fruits: January, February, March, April, May, December

Look right after heavy rain

Where to look

  • Grows on Dead hardwood sticks
  • Trees Oaks and other hardwoods
  • Conditions Swells up after heavy rain

Watch

Video coming soon. Witch's Butter appears in our Mushrooms of Tennessee on YouTube.

Also out in October

See all mushrooms of Tennessee →

More photos

Never eat a wild mushroom unless an expert has identified it in person. This page is for learning, not a guide to eating.

Top photo: Shirley Zundell (CC BY) · source. Think something here is wrong? Tell us.