Source-reviewed species profile
Wood hedgehog Hydnum repandum
A pale, fleshy mushroom with soft, light-coloured spines beneath the cap.
Where can I find wood hedgehog?
Occurs in both deciduous and coniferous woodland. Search moss and leaf litter on the forest floor.
In Mycoverse you can select Wood hedgehog and compare candidate search areas using a species-specific assessment of rainfall, estimated soil moisture, temperature, forest type, tree signals, canopy cover, terrain and season. Where source coverage is available, the assessment also uses historical species observations. Historical observations are historical data, not recent finds.
Images, text and app suggestions cannot confirm a species or food safety.
Field features
- The underside consists of distinct, soft spines that detach relatively easily.
- The cap is pale cream-yellow to light ochre and often irregular.
Habitat and search guidance
Occurs in both deciduous and coniferous woodland. Search moss and leaf litter on the forest floor.
Months
August–November
Species requiring extra care
Compare the complete mushroom, habitat and season. These cards support learning; they do not identify a finding.
Dark tooth fungi
A dark cap and dark or hard spines do not fit wood hedgehog.
Terracotta hedgehog
Wood hedgehog is stouter and paler; terracotta hedgehog is smaller and more orange-red. Both must have spines, not gills.
Open and compare →Safety status
This profile is educational, not a species confirmation. Have the complete finding checked before considering it as food.
Sources and review status
Last reviewed: 25 July 2026.