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Congaree NP Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Congaree NP

100–200 ft · SC🚗 Directions

Good

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 Oct 11, 5:15 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

Congaree is rated Good: soil is sitting at 72.1°F, every species on the list has held its temperature threshold for 7 of 7 days (Golden Teacher 6 of 7), and the moisture trigger has fired. Only 0.4" has fallen over both the 7- and 14-day windows, so moisture is the limiting factor. Soil VWC is 0.19 today against a 0.14 seven-day average, which tells you a fresh pulse just hit and primordia are activating, with fruiting roughly 7-10 days out. Nothing is flushing yet. The floodplain hardwood setting favors the wood-decayers and bottomland associates: oyster, elm and aspen oyster, chicken and hen of the woods, lion's mane, jack-o-lantern, and the chanterelles and black trumpets under oak. Rain is the swing variable, because a thin 0.4" pulse over two weeks won't sustain a big flush without a follow-up soaking. Watch for additional rain in the next 3-5 days, which would push this toward Excellent. If it stays dry, expect a sparse, patchy flush concentrated in the wettest microsites. Also watch for hard drying winds, since 72°F soil will pull moisture out fast. Be careful with ID on lookalikes. Death cap, green-gill lepiota, and jack-o-lantern are all flagged viable alongside choice edibles, so expect them to be up in the same window. Hot tip: Skip the high ground and target low, shaded sloughs and creek margins around big downed hardwoods, where residual moisture will carry primordia through to fruiting; check them around day 7-10.

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 Potential80/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

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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 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

ChanterelleCantharellus cibarius

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Hen of the WoodsGrifola frondosa

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Lion's ManeHericium erinaceus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Honey MushroomArmillaria mellea

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Liberty CapPsilocybe semilanceata

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Sulphur TuftHypholoma fasciculare

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow FootCraterellus tubaeformis

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Winter PolyporePolyporus brumalis

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Tooth JellyPseudohydnum gelatinosum

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Elm OysterHypsizygus ulmarius

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Devil's CigarChorioactis geaster

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Winter Mushroom / Wild EnokiFlammulina velutipes

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Amethyst DeceiverLaccaria amethystina

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Golden TeacherPsilocybe cubensis

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

HIGHPrimed

Lantern StinkhornLysurus mokusin

All conditions met (soil 72°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.19 VWC, 7d avg 0.14 — fresh pulse, primordia activating, fruiting ~7-10d out)

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.