Assessment Notes

Justification

Russula vesca is a widespread, edible, ectomycorrhizal fungus in Eurasia and North America. There is no evidence of decline. It can be locally abundant where suitable habitat exists. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (LC).

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Geographic range

Russula vesca is fairly common to common in temperate to arctic and alpine areas in Europe, Asia and in North America. The area of occupancy (AOO) of this species is much larger than 2,000 km², and its extent of occurrence (EOO) is much larger than 20,000 km².

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Population and Trends

The population size is likely to be very large since this is such a widespread species, and more or less stable as there is no indication of any decline.

Population Trend: Stable

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Habitat and Ecology

Russula vesca is common in temperate to hemiboreal deciduous and coniferous forest, particularly in deciduous forest, e.g. beech woodland. It is also found in conifer plantations on neutral or acidic soil. Russula vesca is an ectomycorrhizal mushroom.

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Threats

There are no major threats to this species. It is commonly and widely found in woodlands.

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Conservation Actions

No conservation measures are needed for this species since it is widespread and there are no major threats to it.

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Use and Trade

Russula vesca is a very much appreciated edible wild mushroom.

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Source and Citation

Dahlberg, A. 2019. Russula vesca (errata version published in 2022). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T122090747A223014776. Accessed on 22 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence