Giant Puffball

Calvatia gigantea

Must cookJul–OctFungi

Grassland, parkland, woodland edge

Find on Map

All Identification Points

Large white to cream sphere, 10–80cm across

No cap, gills, or stem visible externally

Flesh must be pure white throughout when sliced

Outer skin smooth and slightly felty

You must slice every single specimen before eating to verify white interior

Harvest Notes

ONLY eat when flesh is pure white throughout. Yellow or purple interior means inedible or dangerous.

Uses

Sliced thickly and pan-fried in butter, battered, dried as powder seasoning.

Equipment Needed

Sharp knife, large basket.

Storage

Use within 2 days. Slice and freeze.

Lookalikes

Common Earthball — much smaller, yellow-brown patterned skin, purple-black inside. Amanita egg (DEADLY) — slicing reveals mushroom silhouette inside. You must slice every puffball.

Spore Print

Olive-brown at maturity

Relative Nutrition

Protein

Vitamin C

Iron

Where to Find It

Ashton Court deer park and Stockwood Open Space grassland in August–September.

Goblin CombeAshton Court EstateStockwood Open Space

Personal foraging permitted under the Theft Act 1968. Never uproot plants without landowner permission. Always use multiple identification methods before consuming any wild food.

← PreviousHedgehog Mushroom Next →Chicken of the Woods