City Editor London here. I was so excited to spot a Texas Star Mushroom on a recent walk through Garrison Park in south Austin.
The unusual and beautiful fungi became Texas’ state mushroom in 2021, making the Lone Star State one of just three to declare a state mushroom. The fascinating mushroom is quite rare, only growing in Texas, Oklahoma, and Japan .
The mushroom is most likely to be seen in late fall, when it shoots out of the ground as a closed capsule, then splits from the center to bloom into a star shape, making a hissing sound as it releases its spores.
Want to see a Texas Star Mushroom for yourself? Look for cedar elm stumps in your neighborhood or check out this month’s Talks and Walks at Zilker Botanical Garden this Saturday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m.