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A jelly ear fungus growing from the trunk of a tree. It's a wrinkled, pinkish fungus that looks remarkably like an ear

Jelly ear © Kieran Morgan

Jelly ear

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Scientific name: Auricularia auricula-judae
As the name suggests, this fungus looks uncannily like an ear!

Top facts

Stats

Usually 3-10 cm

Conservation status

Common

When to see

All year

About

The jelly ear fungus grows on dead and dying branches. It is most often found on elder trees, but can sometimes be encountered on other species such as ash, beech and sycamore. It favours damp, shady spots and often grows in clusters.

What to look for

A gelatinous purplish-brown fungus that grows in cups on branches. As the cups age, they develop lobes and can look uncannily like an ear growing from the wood. The inner surface of the cups is smooth and shiny, whilst the outside is velvety.

Where to find

Common across the UK

Did you know?

Jelly ear can survive freezing weather, thawing out afterwards and continuing to grow.