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Edibility
Edible
Lookalike Danger
2 / 5
Habitat
🍂 Leaf duff
Season
Oct – Dec
"Lavender gills, violet cap. A late-fall treat after the first frost. Always cook — raw causes upset stomach."
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.

Decomposing leaf and needle litter on the forest floor — substrate for blewit, aniseed funnel, earthstar, and many coral mushrooms.
Striking purple to violet gills and stem when young, fading to brown. Strong floral smell. Common late-season fruiter that can push into December in mild climates. Must be cooked — raw blewits cause GI upset in some.
Leaf litter, lawns, and compost piles across North America and Europe. Late fall through early winter.
Min Soil Temp
55°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.5in 7d
Drought Tolerance
moderate
Elevation Range
0–4,784 ft
DANGEROUS. Many Cortinarius are purple too; orellanine toxin is deadly. Cortinarius has rust-brown spores and a web-like cortina. Blewits have PINK spores, no cortina.
Edible but much smaller. Similar color.
Leaf duff
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.