While you have undoubtedly seen a star upon a Christmas tree, have you ever seen this star-shaped mushroom growing from the soil of your potted plants? This holiday season, I am reminded of the Earthstar mushroom.

Earthstars Are Growing Slightly

I admit it: I am not very fond of mushrooms when it comes to eating them. Unless finely chopped and well incorporated into a sauce, beyond texture recognition, I avoid the otherwise slimy-spongey fungus as a food choice. Although, mushrooms can be appealing from a strictly aesthetic standpoint. Whether represented as a beloved video game character or pictured in plant-themed accessories, mushrooms inspire people with their iconic cap and stalk appearance. Yet, not all mushrooms match this most-recognizable description.

Earthstar mushrooms, from the Geastrum genus, look just as their common name suggests—like a star-shaped mushroom growing from the Earth. The immature form of an earthstar resembles that of a small egg. When mature, its rind splits open to reveal a round center spore case. In this mature form, an earthstar resembles a flower in bloom or, better yet, a wonderful star!

Earthstar, Earthstar, Sitting in a Pot

Though not toxic, earthstars are inedible, so it is better to enjoy them in observation. However, more practically, seeing mushrooms may indicate the ill health of a nearby plant or the poor condition of its soil. If you see an earthstar or any other mushroom growing from your potted plants, you may want to investigate the environmental factors affecting the plant’s soil health.

When You Wish Upon an Earth Star (…For More Information)

To better understand what environmental factors are involved in mushroom growth, see recent EDIS publication #PP377, “A Basic Guide to Mushrooms Commonly Encountered in Potted Plants in Florida,” at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP377. It can help you identify common mushrooms and guide you toward the right management strategy. Identification is important for growing healthy plants but also to ensure human safety. Some mushrooms are toxic, so consult a professional to help with identification before you ever consider eating a wild mushroom.

To read more publications about mushrooms, visit Ask IFAS.

See also this blog for another fun mushroom observation, fairy rings: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2024/09/11/weekly-what-is-it-fairy-rings/.

See this additional blog about how to identify mushrooms via spore print: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/orangeco/2024/10/30/how-to-make-a-mushroom-spore-print/.

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