Originally discovered In 1979 by a group of Boy Scouts, camping close to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon.

In 1995, mycologist Paul Stamets (and his colleague Jochen Gartz)  named “Psilocybe azurescens” after Stamets’ son Azureus, who had  been named after Azure, the color that shrooms bruise when damaged.  

What are psilocybe azurescens mushrooms? 

Psilocybe azurescens is a strain of psychedelic mushroom that turns blue in color when bruised, explaining its many nicknames, including blue angels, azzies, indigo psilocybe, and flying saucer mushrooms (with regards to the shape of the cap).

These little shrooms are one of the most potent species of psilocybin mushroom, so it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into before you embark on a psychedelic journey. 

What do psilocybe azurescens Look Like? 

When identifying these mushrooms, it can be helpful to compare them against psilocybe cubensis–one of the most common and popular psychedelic strains. While cubensis shrooms will have brownish caps that are round or flat on top, azzies are more caramel- or straw-colored with a peaked center, not unlike a nipple, say some sources.

The stem–or ‘stipe’ in mycology terms–can be anywhere from 3.5 to nearly 8 inches and can appear twisted, but the real telltale that separates them from psilocybe cubensis is that azurescens don’t have a notable ring around the stipe. If there is a ring, it is not well-developed and persistent as is seen in psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. Another significant difference between cubensis and azurescens is that azurescens will taste bitter, whereas cubensis is known for its earthy flavor.

Another thing to note is that azurescens mushrooms tend to look a heck of a lot like psilocybe cyanescens, which are commonly called wavy cap mushrooms or blueleg brownie mushrooms, in reference to the color they bruise when damaged. It’s not a huge deal if you mix these guys up, due to their similar potency, but it’s not likely, since they tend to grow in very different areas of the world! 

Lastly, be sure to check the color of the spores; on most psychedelic mushrooms, the spores will be a dark purplish-black, but other mushrooms can feature rust or cream-colored spore prints, which may indicate that you’ve found a poisonous mushroom. As always, if you’re unsure of what you’ve found, get a second opinion (and a third, and a fourth), and be sure to start low and go slow. 

Where to find psilocybe azurescens mushrooms

These little mushrooms eat wood and woody debris, so are likely to be found in forests in northwestern North America, or  adjacent to the shoreline amongst coastal dunes, especially within clumps of woody flotsam and jetsam. 

Azurescens can be found fairly widely distributed up the coast, in Oregon, Washington, California, and British Columbia. 

How potent is psilocybe azurescens? 

These flying saucer mushrooms are one of the strongest cubensis mushrooms, with psilocybin levels reaching up to 1.8% per dry weight mushroom. 

What are the effects of psilocybe azurescens? 

Because of their high psilocybin levels, these mushrooms can bring about fairly intense trips with perceptual, emotional and physical effects, even at a low dose. 

Low dose effects include the brightening of colors, sharpening of object edges, hearing a new quality in music and external sounds, increased heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, and a light body high. Some people experience calmness, others experience anxiety–it’s all in how you go into the trip. 

At a medium dose of psilocybe azurescens, between 0.5 and 1.75 grams, these effects become a bit stronger. You might begin to see patterns overlaid on what you’re seeing around you, or see images and patterns when you close your eyes. Some people even claim that objects morph and “breathe” right in front of them. 

Feelings of euphoria, gratitude, and deep empathy are common. Those prone to anxiety during a trip can feel that emotion escalate into dread or panic. This can be accompanied by muscle weakness, a stronger body high, and slight nausea, but these effects are normal and shouldn’t be a reason to freak out. Like we’ve said before, if you’re unsure how you’ll react to a certain dose, start low and go slow.

Flying saucer mushrooms at a high dose (1.75 to 2.5 grams) can produce powerful effects like the ones described above, but intensified. Users may experience hallucinations, visions that depart from reality, or temporary loss of self (which psychonauts call ‘ego death’).

Effects can exacerbate whatever mood the user was in upon ingestion, so if you’re in a relaxed state of mind in a place where you feel safe, you're likely to have a better time.  And equally, the opposite is true, which is why set and setting are so important.  What’s most important is listening to your body and mind, both pre, during and after the experience. 

How long does a psilocybe azurescens trip last? 

In terms of duration, trips on psilocybe azurescens can last between four to six hours, depending on the dose taken, method of consumption, what you’ve eaten, and if other drugs have been consumed simultaneously.

Drinking shroom tea can speed up the onset of hallucinogenic effects (as opposed to consuming raw or dried mushrooms), due to the ease of digesting a powder versus a masticated mushroom.

Psilocybe azurescens experiences

Erowid has hundreds of documented reports from users who have tried Psilocybe azurescens. Here are a select few accounts: 

"I glance over at M, who is practicing yoga on one of our oriental carpets, and become filled with overwhelming love for her. This isn’t anything out of the norm, but in this hyper-sensitive state, the love I feel for her seems to be present in every fiber of my being as an increasingly warm energy. It feels as if a star is being born within the center of my chest. As I look down at my pants, I can almost perceive each individual atom; every electron whipping around the nucleus at the designated 2200 km/s."

"This was one of the most intense and enjoyable experiences I have ever had. I have experienced with cubensis many times before as with entheogens like LSA and salvia but none of these have been comparable with mushies."

"I laid down on the couch again to see if anything else cool was about to happen. It did. I mean, I've always had this voice inside me telling what's wrong or right and the like. Maybe it's my ego? Now it was fading away. I was swirled around in a particle world where we kept zooming in on smaller and smaller parts. I was swirled around in a particle world where we kept zooming in on smaller and smaller parts. Suddenly, we hit rock bottom. I was the absolutely smallest particle possible, my ego and all thought and reasoning was gone. I had visions of floating around like this particle for a couple of hours."

"I am now playing guitar, It sounds amazing, and feels as if I am actually playing better than I usually would, then I start feeling a little overwhelmed by the trip. The overwhelming feeling continues, so I try to calm myself down by listening to phish and mentally telling myself nothing can harm you, you will be ok. It works for a little, but I still have a weird feeling inside me. I put on Reno 911, but all the characters are making no sense, their sentences are random words to me, and they face morphing is in full effect. I feel very uncomfortable, and while I know to never fight a trip, I find myself subconsciously doing so."

How can you cultivate psilocybe azurescens?

Psilocybe azurescens tend to grow in nourished woodlands, as they are fond of woody debris and other moist, nutrient-rich environments. This is why they’re particularly abundant in the northwest and known as one of the North American psilocybe species. 

Flying saucer mushrooms fruit in late September as colder weather hits, and continues through late December and early January, until the weather starts to warm up again. They can even withstand temperatures as low as 25-68º Fahrenheit, making them perfect for the pacific northwest.

If you’re looking to grow psilocybe azurescens, make sure you have plenty of wood and woody debris for them to munch on, and keep them cool enough (but not too cold). Azzies will happily grow in mulched garden beds in open shady areas, and they tend to befriend rhododendrons, rose bushes, azaleas, and blackberries. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about trying this mushroom,  we highly encourage you to do your research, and never consume alone. The better the set and setting, the more healing and productive the outcome. 

Keep in mind the potential for visiting traumatic memories or difficult feelings while tripping, and the need for properly integrating the psychedelic experience afterwards. 

If you're planning a trip and want some guidance on what the ideal dose is, check out our shroom dosage calculator and this handy guide.