With Kennett Square making Pennsylvania the Mushroom Capital of the World, a new bill has been proposed that would officially designate a Pennsylvania state mushroom, writes Kayla Henderson for Northcentral PA.
Pennsylvania House Bill 1090, sponsored by Representative Mandy Steele, aims to designate the Hemlock Varnish Shelf, a flowering mushroom, as the official state mushroom of the Commonwealth.
It was selected as the potential state mushroom through a public survey organized by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program in September 2024. The specific mushroom was proposed to its connection to the Pennsylvania state tree, the eastern hemlock. The colorful fruiting mushroom appears on hemlock trees from early June through the fall.
Other candidates for the state mushroom included the hen of the woods, the red chanterelle, and the black trumpet mushrooms.
The hemlock varnish shelf is also known for its healing properties and use in traditional Asian medicinal practices. It can be consumed through capsules or beverages for medicinal use.
Seven U.S. states currently have an official state mushroom. With Kennett Square producing 60 percent of the country’s mushroom supply, designating a state mushroom would honor the region’s agriculture, marking the town’s statewide and national contributions.
Read more about the recent legislation to officially designate a Pennsylvania State Mushroom in Northcentral PA.
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