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Congaree NP Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Congaree NP

100–200 ft · SC🚗 Directions

S

Congaree National Park — 27,000 acres of the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern US. Champion loblolly pine, water tupelo, swamp chestnut oak, cherrybark oak, and bald cypress. Exceptional chicken-of-the-woods and oyster mushroom production; chanterelles on natural levees; lion's mane on hardwood snags. Boardwalk and Kingsnake trails for access.

Trees:Loblolly Pine Bald Cypress Swamp Chestnut Oak

Updated Aug 27, 4:19 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**Congaree NP – S-Tier Flush: Everything Is Go** You're looking at a perfect storm for late-summer fruiting across this floodplain ecosystem. 78°F soil, seven consecutive days above threshold, and moisture hovering at 0.17 VWC sustained—the entire moisture trigger window is locked in. This is the rare August window where Congaree stops being a swamp waiting-game and becomes a genuine producer across dozens of taxa simultaneously. The practical gold here is the edible breadth: **Chanterelles, oysters, and chicken of the woods** are your high-volume targets, but don't sleep on the polypores (turkey tail, artist's conk, beefsteak) or the inky caps if you're processing quickly. Even species typically marginal for this region—like wine caps and parasols—are showing full-condition viability. The bothersome note is that jack-o-lanterns and death caps are equally triggered; know your IDs cold in mixed flushes. No limiting factors means no excuses. This window closes when soil temps drop or we get a dry spell. The riverside substrate composition will determine microhabitat winners—look for oak and hardwood-associated species in the upslope margins, sotch the wet-tolerant polypores along the backswamp edge. **Hot tip:** Hit the understory deadfall for oysters and chicken before the heat draws them to soft decay; polypores take the full flush longer.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential95/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Nearby Camping

Within(2)

Longleaf Campground

developed

NPS~1.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Bluff Campground

developed

NPS~2.2 mi from center

6 sites

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.

Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Oyster MushroomPleurotus ostreatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

ChanterelleCantharellus cibarius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Amethyst DeceiverLaccaria amethystina

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Golden TeacherPsilocybe cubensis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Lantern StinkhornLysurus mokusin

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.17 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

Primordia readiness: Cold = mycelium dormant. Activating = soil warming, primordia building. Primed = 5+ sustained warm days at species threshold; fruiting imminent if moisture cooperates. Based on Schmidt 1983 / Mihail 2007.