EDIBLE: Admirable Bolete is a good edible with firm texture and pleasant flavor. The blue-staining is normal and safe. The unique growth on or near hemlock wood makes identification straightforward. Cook thoroughly before eating. Some people may experience mild digestive upset. Relatively uncommon species.
The Admirable Bolete features a distinctive dark reddish-brown to burgundy cap (5-20 cm) with velvety, dry surface. Pores are bright golden-yellow, bruising blue-green. The yellow stem displays burgundy-red tones and has distinctive yellow reticulation. Yellow flesh stains blue when cut. Often grows on decaying hemlock wood - a unique habitat among boletes. Spore print is olive-brown.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Aureoboletus |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | Aug-Oct |
| Habitat | Mycorrhizal with hemlock trees but distinctively fruits on or near decaying hemlock wood, stumps, and logs. Found in old-growth and mature hemlock forests. The wood-associated growth habit is unusual for boletes and diagnostic for this species. |
| Region | Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Coastal hemlock forests, Western hemlock zone |
Habitat: Mycorrhizal with hemlock trees but distinctively fruits on or near decaying hemlock wood, stumps, and logs. Found in old-growth and mature hemlock forests. The wood-associated growth habit is unusual for boletes and diagnostic for this species.
Region: Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Coastal hemlock forests, Western hemlock zone
Late summer through fall (August-October) with peak fruiting in September. Appears after late summer rains in hemlock habitats.
Typical months: Aug-Oct
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
not on wood, different colors
smaller, different habitat
scabrous stems, not on wood
Pin the patch before you leave it. Coordinates, photos, and field notes stay on your device — and the offline lookalike guide travels with you into the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.