Discovering a bright red-orange fungus in garden mulch can be alarming, but it is often a harmless red stinkhorn mushroom.
These fungi grow rapidly in decaying wood and leaf litter, featuring striking shapes and foul odors that attract insects to spread spores.
While beneficial for recycling nutrients, their strong smell and rapid overnight emergence can catch gardeners completely by surprise.
Wearing gloves for safe removal and keeping children and pets away ensures a clean garden while preventing accidental ingestion.
