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Edibility
Inedible
Lookalike Danger
1 / 5
Habitat
🪵 Mulched gardens
Season
Apr – Jul
"Hollow lattice of bright red arms hatching from a white egg. Introduced from the Mediterranean; now naturalized in coastal California gardens. Disturbing form, foul smell, photogenic."
🌳 Host Trees & Plants
This species is found with or partners with the following hosts. Ectomycorrhizal hosts (green border) form a root-level partnership; ericoid / arbutoid shrubs (purple border) share the same mycorrhizal networks.
Wood-Chip Mulch
Hardwood mulch
Saprobic substrate
Landscape hardwood chip mulch — wine cap, bird’s nest fungi, dog-vomit slime mold. A great backyard cultivation substrate.
A hollow lattice of bright red arms that hatches from a soft white egg — bizarre even by stinkhorn standards. Introduced to North America from the Mediterranean (where it is native); now well-established in coastal California garden beds. Foul smell, photogenic form.
Habitat
Mulched gardens and disturbed soil in coastal California from San Diego to Mendocino, with scattered populations elsewhere. Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Fruits April through July.
Look for this on the ground
Lawn and wood-chip edge
Manicured lawn meeting fresh hardwood mulch — suburban edge habitat.
Season Windows by Region
Region
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Northern Sierra / Tahoe
CA · 5,000–9,000 ft
Angeles NF / San Gabriel Mountains
CA · 1,500–10,064 ft
Los Padres NF / Big Sur
CA · 0–8,831 ft
Mendocino NF / Yolla Bolly
CA · 1,500–8,092 ft
Growing Requirements
Min Soil Temp
55°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.5in 7d
Drought Tolerance
moderate
Elevation Range
0–10,064 ft
Look-Alikes
Species to rule out before picking. Each is tagged with its own edibility.
Clathrus columnatus (Column Stinkhorn)
Not dangerousDifferent form — separate pink-red columns instead of a connected lattice. Same family.
Identification Tips
- ✓Bright red hollow lattice is unmistakable
- ✓Hatches from a soft white "egg" 1–2 inches across
- ✓Mediterranean garden bed habitat in coastal CA
Field Notes
Mulched gardens
Found Red Cage?
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.
Safety: Never eat any wild mushroom without 100% certain identification from multiple sources. This page is for informational purposes only. When in doubt, throw it out.