Only the West coast of the United States, from California to Washington, is home to a population of azurescens, which primarily congregates around the Columbia River delta in Oregon. That’s because they favor sandier environments, such those close to dunes and sea grasses, as well as loose, decomposing wood.

In comparison to other psilocybin-containing mushrooms, they can endure temperatures as low as 16 to 24° C (60 to 75° F). Fortunately, this also makes Azzies simple for home gardeners in the U.S. and Europe to grow outdoors. Sadly, they reportedly have a rather bitter flavor.

Dried Psilocybe Azurescens | Flying Saucer Mushrooms

Psilocybe Azurescens, a.k.a. Flying Saucers, Blue Angels, Azzies, or Indigo Psilocybe

Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer, a tropical/subtropical species that frequently grows in cow dung, is the most well-known member of the genus Psilocybe. They have an annulus that resembles a skirt, a wide brown or yellow cap, and a thick stem. Flying Saucer Mushrooms

Psilocybe azurescens is incredibly difficult to grow, while P. cubsensis is very simple, and Terrence McKenna made a big splash with his “5 grams in silent darkness” campaign. Flying Saucer Mushrooms

Psilocybe azurescens are often known to by a variety of common names: Azzies, Astoriensis, Flying Saucers, Blue Runners, Blue Angels, or Indigo Psilocybe. Once you “get your eye in,” Azurescens are extremely recognizable because to their caramel-colored caps, bright white stems, and wide umbo (the “nipple-like” feature in the center of the cap).

To the untrained eye, many Psilocybes can look like any other LBM’s (little brown mushrooms) hiding amongst the undergrowth. The general advice is to know the features of the species you are looking for, but also the ones you are not. Members of the genus Galerina, for example, can be deadly, and many other lookalikes can be poisonous.