Types of Psychedelic Mushrooms: A Complete Guide to Psilocybin Species Around the World

There isn’t one type of psychedelic mushroom, even though pop culture lumps them into the singular category of “magic mushrooms. There are, in fact, more than 200 species, all of which differ in their potency, legality, and appearance. 

Understanding this diversity matters. Different species can vary several-fold in strength; some have deep Indigenous roots, others thrive in urban landscaping, and a few are now at the center of cutting-edge medical research. This guide explores the major types of psychedelic mushrooms, how they work, which species are most well-known, and how factors like potency, legality, safety, and culture shape their use in the modern world.

What Are Psychedelic Mushrooms? 

Psychedelic mushrooms are fungi that produce the psychoactive compound psilocybin. When you ingest it, the psilocybin converts to psilocin and changes how different brain regions communicate, often increasing connectivity between areas that don’t typically interact. The result is what you think of as a classic psychedelic experience: shifts in mood and perception, visual or sensory changes, an altered sense of time, and deep introspection.

There’s evidence that psychedelic mushrooms have been used ceremonially for at least 3,000 years. Indigenous groups in Mexico and Central America treated these mushrooms as sacred tools for healing and divination. In the 1950s, Mazatec healer María Sabina introduced these traditions to the West—thanks in part to an article written by R. Gordon Wasson for Life magazine—sparking global interest but also leading to exploitation and disruption of her local practices. Some Indigenous communities continue to protect these traditions, while Western science has re-embraced psilocybin in clinical research and therapy.

Major Psilocybin Mushroom Species

While more than 300 mushroom species contain psilocybin, a handful of them are commonly used for research and recreational use. These species vary in potency, habitat, appearance, and cultural significance. Below are the most well-known.

Psilocybe Cubensis (“Gold Caps”)

Potency: Moderate (0.5-1% psilocybin)
Habitat: Subtropical/tropical regions, grows on cattle dung
P. cubensis is the best-known psychedelic mushroom in the world because it’s relatively easy to cultivate indoors. It has a golden-brown cap, a thick stem, and bruises blue when handled. Dozens of cultivated strains exist, but these are all genetic variants of the same species. Some strains, like Penis Envy, have been selectively bred for higher potency. Because it’s consistent and accessible, P. cubensis is the species most often used in research and therapeutic contexts.

Psilocybe Semilanceata (“Liberty Cap”) 

Potency: High (1-2% psilocybin)
Habitat: Grasslands, especially where sheep or cattle graze
This small mushroom is native to temperate regions across Europe and North America. It has a distinctive conical shape with a pointed tip. Despite its size, it is one of the most naturally potent species. Liberty caps have been used recreationally in Europe for decades and remain one of the most commonly foraged psychedelic mushrooms in the world.

Psilocybe Azurescens (“Flying Saucer”)

Potency: Very high (up to 2% psilocybin + psilocin)
Habitat: Coastal wood debris in the Pacific Northwest
Known as the “flying saucer mushroom,” P. azurescens produces large caramel-colored caps with wavy edges. First formally described in the 1990s, it naturally occurs in only a few coastal areas but is famous for its intense effects. Its combination of high psilocybin and psilocin content makes it one of the most potent species known.

Psilocybe Cyanescens (“Wavy Cap”)

Potency: High (0.8-1.8% psilocybin)
Habitat: Wood chips, mulched garden beds, landscaping
P. cyanescens, or “wavy caps,” thrive in urban and suburban environments where wood mulch is used. They are commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, parts of Europe, and even city parks. Although potent, they are harder to cultivate intentionally because they prefer outdoor wood-based substrates.

Psilocybe Mexicana & Psilocybe Tampanensis (“Little Birds” & “Philosopher’s Stone)

Potency: Moderate (0.3-0.7% psilocybin)
Habitat: Mexico, Central America, and the southeastern U.S.
These species are notable for producing sclerotia, the underground nutrient storage units, also called “truffles”, which house the same psilocybin as is found in the fungi. Truffles are legal in certain countries (like the Netherlands) even when mushroom fruiting bodies are not, making them more accessible in some settings.

Other Notable Species

• Panaeolus Cyanescens (“Blue Meanies”): Extremely potent tropical dung lover, smaller and different genus than Psilocybe.
• Psilocybe Caerulescens (“Landslide Mushroom”): Traditionally used in Mexico, grows in mountainous or disturbed soils.

Other Factors to Consider When Taking Mushrooms

It’s essential to understand how other factors, aside from the type of mushrooms, can impact the safety and quality of a trip. Potency (the percentage of psilocybin in the mushroom relative to its weight), the growing conditions, and the legality.

At a Glance: Potency Hierarchy

You’ve got to know—or, at least, take mushrooms with someone who knows—how much psilocybin different species contain. For example, P. azurescens can contain nearly four times more psilocybin than P. cubensis, which means if you take the same dose of those two different species, you’re looking at two very different feeling trips.

• Very High: Psilocybe azurescens, Panaeolus cyanescens
• High: Psilocybe semilanceata (liberty caps), Psilocybe cyanescens
• Moderate: Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe mexicana, Psilocybe tampanensis (truffles)

What Influences Potency Beyond Species?

Even within the same species, strength can vary significantly due to:

• Growing conditions: Temperature, humidity, and substrate can influence the production of alkaloids.
• Maturity at harvest: Younger mushrooms may have a higher concentration by weight, but larger mushrooms contain more total psilocybin.
• Genetics: Different strains or clones within a species can vary.
• Storage and preparation: Heat, light, moisture, and oxygen degrade psilocybin over time. Well-dried and properly stored mushrooms are more potent.

The species of a mushroom is a strong indicator of potency, but it’s not the only factor. Identifying the mushroom and understanding where it came from is critical for safe and accurate dosing.

Do Different Species Feel Different?

Not really. All psilocybin mushrooms elicit the same core effects: Altered perception and visuals, emotional shifts, an altered sense of time, and the ability to look inward. Some people say specific species can feel more “visual” or “body heavy”—anecdotal claims that are hard to verify scientifically. 

If a specific species feels different to you over another, it’s probably due to the dosage, any additional compounds, and your set and setting, which is clinical speak for your mental state and physical setting going into the experience. Your set and setting play a significant role in the overall experience you have (which we’ll touch on more below).

Duration

Most psilocybin mushroom experiences last 4 to 6 hours, with the trip peaking at the one-and-a-half to two-hour mark. After effects may linger for several hours. Duration is generally similar across species, though high-potency species may feel more intense.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Psilocybin remains a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and is similarly restricted in most countries, making it illegal to possess and sell. However, the legal landscape is evolving:

• Several U.S. cities and states have decriminalized psilocybin possession or use. Though decriminalization typically means reduced penalties, not legality. 
• Oregon and Colorado have created legal frameworks for supervised psilocybin services.
• Research exemptions allow scientific studies at major universities.
• Some countries like Jamaica, the Netherlands (for truffles), and Brazil have more permissive legal environments.

Ethically, harvesting mushrooms raises some conservation concerns. Over-collection can damage ecosystems and deplete local populations. Many mycologists (people who study fungi) and environmentalists advocate for cultivation rather than wild foraging to reduce pressure on natural populations.

Also, it’s respectful to acknowledge the indigenous traditions around mushrooms. The commercialization and appropriation of sacred practices without acknowledgment or benefit to source communities represents an ongoing ethical concern.

How to Use Mushrooms Responsibly 

Set and Setting 

As mentioned above, there are other factors aside from the species that significantly impact your trip experience. Set refers to your mindset, expectations, and intent for the session. Setting is your physical environment and social group. 

Research consistently shows that set and setting are crucial to having a positive experience, implying that adverse outcomes correlate more strongly with poor set and setting than with dose or species. A moderate dose in a comfortable, supported environment produces vastly different outcomes than the same dose in a chaotic setting.

Also, it’s crucial to undergo medical screening before taking psilocybin, as it can be contraindicated for people with certain cardiovascular conditions, those taking specific medications, or individuals with personal or family histories of psychotic disorders. Any legitimate retreat, like Beckley Retreats, will bake this into its onboarding process, before allowing you to embark on a ceremony.

Integration and Post-Experience Care

The experience itself is only part of the picture. Integration is the process of making sense of insights and incorporating them into daily life, which often determines long-term benefits. This might involve journaling, therapy, discussion with trusted friends, or participation in integration circles.

Modern therapeutic approaches combine psilocybin sessions with extensive preparation and integration support, recognizing that the medicine catalyzes change but doesn’t create lasting transformation alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Ullrey, A. M. (Ed.). (2024, October). Ritual and religious uses of Psilocybe mushrooms in Mesoamerica. Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard Divinity School. https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2024/10/ritual-and-religious-uses-psilocybe-mushrooms-mesoamerica
2. Maria Sabina and a brief history of Magic Mushrooms. (2022, October). FungaOnline. https://fungaonline.com/instead-of-history-of-plant-medicines/
3. Van Court, R. C., Wiseman, M. S., Meyer, K. W., Ballhorn, D. J., Amses, K. R., Slot, J. C., Dentinger, B. T. M., Garibay-Orijel, R., & Uehling, J. K. (2022). Diversity, biology, and history of psilocybin-containing fungi: Suggestions for research and technological development. Fungal Biology, 126(4), 308–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2022.01.003
4. Godfrey, K., Weiss, B., Zhang, X., Spriggs, M., Peill, J., Lyons, T., Carhart-Harris, R., & Erritzoe, D. (2025). An investigation of acute physiological and psychological moderators of psychedelic-induced personality change among healthy volunteers. Neuroscience Applied, 4, 104092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nsa.2024.104092