The Agaricus julius reigns supreme as the mushroom has been crowned Colorado’s official state mushroom.
“We have a state animal and we have multiple state plants, trees and flowers. Excluding a mushroom is like excluding an entire kingdom of life,” said Hamilton Pevec, president of the Western Colorado Mycological Association (WCMA). “Part of this effort is to make sure that funga are always part of the conversation. Flora, fauna and funga. Ecologically speaking, we wouldn’t be here without them.”
Side note: some mycologists are pushing to use the term “funga,” partly because it flows better with flora and fauna.
The designation was officially introduced in January 2025 as HB 25-1091. To be considered, the mushroom had to fulfill a lengthy criteria. Specifically, it has to be geographically, socially and biologically relevant, be original, recognizable, taxonomically stable and tell a compelling story.
A choice-edible mushroom, Agaricus julius, also known as “the Emperor,” beautifully represents Colorado as it was first described in the state. For many years, it was mistakenly identified as its close relative Agaricus augustus, known as “the Prince,” but upon further inspection of the DNA sequence data mycologists realized they beheld an entirely new species. Thus, in 2016, Agaricus julius, “The Emperor formerly known as The Prince,” was recognized.
“What’s really interesting is that this species is considered a true and distinct Colorado species,” said Pevec. “The taxonomy for Agaricus julius is considered stable and the species will not be reconsidered a new species in the future.”
Prized among mushroom foragers, it appears in high-elevation, spruce-fir forests and is easily identified by its large cap adorned with brown scales and delightful cherry-almond aroma.
“In my opinion it is also rare and precious,” said Pevec. “Porcini, chanterelle or morels, which are all very popular and highly prized edibles, can be found a lot at a time. Whereas if you’re lucky to find an Agaricus julius, you only get a few — one, two or three — at a time.”
A civics lesson
While the bill recently passed through the House and Senate, its story began in September 2020, when Greg Sanchez, a social studies teacher at Horizon High School in Thornton, created a unique opportunity for his civics students.
“I started this as an experiment with the students to see what efforts we can do to influence the government,” Sanchez elaborated. “I reached out to see what could happen, [so] to show students the process.”
However, the process took some time as COVID and retiring representatives caused unexpected delays. Sanchez said the initiative finally gained momentum when state-wide mycologists and House District 31 Representative Jacque Phillips joined. Between WCMA, the Colorado Mycological Society, Pikes Peak Mycological Association and the Denver and Crested Butte Botanical Gardens, a committee was formed to help the students discuss and research a fitting mushroom. Phillips offered to help draft the legislation and was excited to see student involvement.
“It’s something they wanted to get designated for Colorado and it’s a great way to learn how legislation is made before it becomes a law,” Phillips stated.
Sanchez hopes a state mushroom will promote further funga discussion and help educate the public about its benefits. His students agree.
“Mushrooms are severely underrated, as I only learned about them for like less than a week in fourth grade,” said freshman Delilah Viano who provided testimony to the House on Feb. 3. “If we had a state mushroom, then people could learn about it and know what they do to the environment and ecosystem.”
An incredible asset to the Colorado ecosystem, the Agaricus julius is a saprotrophic fungus, meaning it decomposes dead or decaying organic material, thereby recycling nutrients and reducing wildfire fuel. Culturally speaking, Sanchez said mushrooms play a key role in understanding the intricate connection between human life and funga.
“There’s a branch of mycology called ethnomycology that deals with history and culture and the human connection,” said Sanchez. “I really dug deep into that and some of the traditions and mushroom cultures around the world. This effort ties into that because of politics -— how the government is involved with mushroom topics.”
“I really want to give a lot of credit to the joint committee. I started by myself, but this would not have happened if we didn’t have support from professional mycologists and the different association presidents,” Sanchez concluded. “From an education standpoint this is something to help students understand that their voice matters. Engaging with your government is really important, and I’m glad they were involved.”
Visit www.wcmycoassociation.org to learn more about Agaricus julius and our local mycological association. And always consult with an expert before consuming mushrooms foraged in the wild.