As we continue into 2026, Hikes of Georgia is thrilled to present our comprehensive End-of-Year Fungi Observation Report, a detailed exploration of the diverse fungi species found across Georgia. Leveraging data sourced from the iNaturalist database, this report highlights key insights, trends, and visualizations from over 19,000 recorded fungi observations. From edible and medicinal fungi to regional hotspots, our analysis underscores Georgia’s vibrant and diverse fungal ecosystem. Whether you’re a mycology enthusiast, nature lover, or beginner hiker, this report is your guide to understanding the fascinating world of fungi in Georgia. Dive in to discover the top observed species, seasonal trends, and much more!
- Summary of fungi observations data
- Monthly fungi observation trends
- Edibility breakdown
- Top 10 most observed fungi species
- Top 5 edible species + Seasonal Trends
- Top 5 medicinal species + Seasonal Trends
- Observation hotspots (regional breakdown by county)
- Fungi observations interactive map
Overall Fungi Observation Trends
Visualization:
Summary of Fungi Observations Dataset 2025 (Proportional Scaling)
Analysis:
The total number of fungi observations recorded in 2025 was 19,092, with 1,106 unique species identified. Among these, 38 species were categorized as edible and 20 as medicinal.
While overall observations and species diversity were lower than in 2024, the dataset still reflects strong community science engagement and a substantial breadth of biodiversity across Georgia. The increase in documented edible and medicinal species suggests growing public interest in functional and foraged fungi, aligning with the educational efforts of Hikes of Georgia.
As in previous years, a significant portion of observed fungi remain outside edible or medicinal classifications, emphasizing the continued need for identification efforts, ecological research, and structured biodiversity monitoring throughout the state.
Monthly Trends in Fungi Observations
Visualization:
Analysis:
Observations in 2025 peaked in August, with a total of 3,510 observations, likely influenced by late-summer rainfall patterns and optimal fruiting conditions across Georgia. A secondary rise occurred in June (2,605 observations) and May (2,481 observations), reflecting strong late-spring fungal activity.
Unlike 2024, which saw its highest surge in mid-summer (July), the 2025 data shows a noticeable dip in July (1,269 observations) before rebounding sharply in August. Observation levels were lowest during late winter months, particularly February (858 observations), consistent with reduced fungal fruiting during colder conditions.
Overall, the 2025 seasonal pattern reinforces the strong influence of temperature and moisture cycles on fungal productivity, while also suggesting slight phenological shifts compared to the previous year’s peak timing.
Edibility Breakdown
Visualization:
Proportion of Medicinal, Edible, and Unknown Fungi Observations in Georgia 2025
Analysis:
The pie chart illustrates that 82.4% of fungi observations in 2025 were classified as “unknown”, while 7.5% were categorized as edible and 10.0% as medicinal. Compared to 2024, there was a notable proportional increase in both edible and medicinal classifications.
This shift suggests growing awareness and improved identification of functional fungi within Georgia’s ecosystems, likely influenced by continued education, foraging interest, and community science engagement. Despite this progress, the large majority of observations remaining in the “unknown” category highlights the vast unexplored diversity of Georgia’s fungal landscape and reinforces the importance of ongoing documentation, research, and classification efforts.
Top 10 Most Observed Fungi
Visualization:
Analysis:
The most observed fungi in Georgia during 2025 was the Ringless Honey Mushroom, followed closely by Turkey-tail, both exceeding 700 observations. Other highly documented species included Crowded Parchment, False Turkeytail, and Violet-Toothed Polypore, reflecting the strong presence of wood-decaying bracket fungi across the state.
Unlike 2024, where broader taxonomic groupings such as “Fungi Including Lichens” and “Amanita Mushrooms” dominated, the 2025 data highlights more specific species-level identifications. This suggests an improvement in observer accuracy and taxonomic resolution within the iNaturalist community.
Overall, the dominance of saprotrophic and bracket-forming fungi reinforces Georgia’s rich hardwood ecosystems and the ecological importance of decomposer species in nutrient cycling and forest health.
Top 5 Edible Fungi Species + Seasonal Trends
Visualizations:
Georgia Seasonal Trends for Top 5 Edible Species 2025
Analysis:
The most observed edible fungi in Georgia during 2025 was the American Amber Jelly Fungus, followed by Ornate-stalked Bolete, Snow Fungus, Pear-shaped Puffball, and Orange Jelly Spot. These results highlight a strong representation of moisture-loving and wood-associated species across the state.
Seasonal trends reveal distinct fruiting patterns among these top edible species. The Ornate-stalked Bolete experienced a pronounced peak in early summer, particularly in June, suggesting favorable warm and humid conditions. Snow fungus showed a strong surge in late spring (May), while the Pear-shaped Puffball exhibited its highest activity in November, aligning with cooler fall conditions. Meanwhile, American Amber Jelly Fungus maintained relatively steady observations throughout the year, with moderate winter and early spring presence.
Compared to 2024 — where lion’s mane, oysters, and chanterelles dominated — the 2025 edible landscape reflects a shift toward jelly fungi and boletes. This may indicate changes in moisture patterns, observer focus, or ecological variability across Georgia’s forests.
Overall, the combined species and seasonal data emphasize the dynamic nature of edible fungi fruiting cycles and reinforce the importance of month-by-month ecological monitoring.
Top 5 Medicinal Fungi Species + Seasonal Trends
Visualizations:
Georgia Seasonal Trends for Top 5 Medicinal Species 2025
Analysis:
The most observed medicinal fungus in Georgia during 2025 was Turkey-tail, maintaining its position as a dominant and widely recognized functional species. It was followed by Golden Reishi, Snow Fungus, Splitgill Mushroom, and Honey Mushroom. Turkey-tail’s continued prominence reflects both its ecological abundance and growing public awareness of its medicinal properties.
Seasonal patterns reveal distinct fruiting behaviors among these top medicinal species. Turkey-tail demonstrated sustained activity throughout the year, with notable peaks in late summer and early fall. Golden Reishi exhibited a strong surge in early summer (June), aligning with warm and humid conditions favorable to polypore development. Snow Fungus showed increased activity in late spring, while Honey Mushroom peaked sharply in September, corresponding with cooler, moisture-rich fall conditions.
Compared to 2024, the 2025 data reflects greater seasonal variability and sharper mid-year spikes, suggesting potential influences from rainfall distribution and temperature fluctuations. The continued dominance of wood-decaying polypores highlights Georgia’s robust hardwood ecosystems and the ecological importance of decomposer fungi in forest nutrient cycling.
Overall, the medicinal species data reinforces the intersection between ecological function and human interest, emphasizing the value of long-term monitoring to better understand both biodiversity trends and functional fungal resources.
Observation Hotspots by Region
Visualization:
Analysis:
The top counties for fungi observations in 2025 were Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton, with Gwinnett leading in total documented observations. Cobb and Clarke counties rounded out the top five, reflecting continued strong engagement across both metropolitan and university-adjacent regions.
Compared to 2024, where DeKalb held the highest number of observations, the 2025 data shows a shift in regional concentration, with Gwinnett emerging as the most active county. Overall observation totals across the top counties were lower than the previous year, aligning with the broader reduction in statewide observations.
These regional patterns likely reflect a combination of population density, accessibility to parks and green spaces, and active community science participation. The consistent presence of metro-Atlanta counties highlights the important role urban-natural interfaces play in biodiversity documentation and fungal research across Georgia.
Georgia Fungi Observation Map
The map above provides a detailed spatial visualization of fungi observations across Georgia for the year 2024. Each point on the map represents a specific observation, categorized by edibility status:
- Green: Edible fungi observations
- Purple: Medicinal fungi observations
- Blue: Unknown or uncategorized fungi observations
The map is interactive, allowing users to zoom in and out and explore specific areas of interest. This visualization offers a geographical perspective, highlighting observation hotspots and the distribution of different fungi types across the state.
Closing Summary
The 2025 End-of-Year Georgia Fungi Report highlights the continued richness and seasonal dynamism of fungal life across the state. With over 19,000 observations and 1,106 unique species documented, Georgia remains an active and ecologically diverse landscape for mycological discovery.
While total observations were lower than the previous year, the data reveals meaningful trends — including increased proportional identification of edible and medicinal fungi, clearer species-level documentation, and distinct seasonal fruiting patterns across both edible and medicinal categories.
This year’s findings reinforce the importance of community science, long-term ecological monitoring, and continued public engagement. As the majority of observations remain classified as “unknown,” Georgia’s fungal ecosystems still hold vast untapped potential for research, conservation, and education.
Moving into 2026, the integration of data science, environmental education, and predictive ecological analysis will remain central to advancing fungal literacy and biodiversity stewardship across the region.
Stay tuned for future monthly reports and join Hikes of Georgia for a firsthand exploration of these incredible organisms in 2025!
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