Hillbilly Pumpkin Mushrooms are Not White Trash — They’re Orange Southern Beauties
Hillbilly Pumpkins are a type of psilocybe cubensis mushroom. They contain psilocybin, which accounts for some–but not all–of the psychedelic effects. When you take Hillbilly Pumpkins, the experience feels a lot like other types of cubensis mushrooms, such as Golden Teacher.
In their psychedelic effects, most people can’t tell the difference between different strains of p. cubensis. What changes the trip for most people are the set and setting–what you’re feeling, where you are, and who you’re with. Yet Hillbillies are some of the favorite mushrooms of people who claim to be able to tell the difference.
“The Hillbilly mushroom has a reputation for providing a warm, euphoric, and balanced visual and thought-provoking experience,” say the growers at Wisdom Peak Healing Center in Denver, Colorado.
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Potency of Hillbilly Pumpkins
Even though most people can’t tell the subjective differences between strains, people can tell whether a mushroom is more potent than others.
In that vein, one way to describe the strength of a mushroom is to compare it to a more common mushroom. The Golden Teacher is likely the most common psychedelic mushroom, the standard candle of the mushroom world.
Reports say Hillbilly mushrooms are stronger than Golden Teachers. So your trip on Hillbilly Pumpkins may be more intense. The carpet might be swirlier, your friends funnier, your confusion (perhaps) deeper.
Users say Hillbilly Pumpkins are not as strong as some strains, such as Penis Envy or Panaeolus cyanescens. (Only testing then–in a lab or in your body–can tell for sure.)
Hillbilly Pumpkins Are Growing More Popular
These mushrooms have been around for decades. Growers say they’re easy to cultivate and yield a lot of mushrooms. Users say they give a consistently pleasant experience. “Vivid visuals and a profound sense of being and insights,” says Eric Sturm, owner of E&B Supply, which sells mushroom growing equipment
With this stellar reputation growing, I feel like I’m encountering Hillbillies a lot more than I used to.
- Hillbilly Pumpkins were on sale at the first mushroom dispensary in Denver. (A dispensary that is not totally legal, but which the cops haven’t shut down yet.)
- Hillbilly Pumpkins were one of the most popular strains entered into Colorado’s first-ever Psychedelic Cup. (The cup was legal under Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act, which decriminalized mushrooms; no mushrooms were on sale at the event.)
- At the cup, mushrooms were judged on beauty and potency. Someone entered a Hillbilly Pumpkin as one of the prettiest mushrooms around.
RELATED: Are Mushrooms Legal in Colorado? The Answer is a Little Tricky
A Hillbilly Pumpkin entered in the “Best in Show” competition at Colorado’s Psychedelic Cup. Photo by Reilly Capps.
Some Things to Know About Hillbilly Pumpkins
- The effects come on after about 45 minutes.
- You might start the trip by yawning or feeling your body more fully.
- The trip peaks between one hour and two and a half hours after taking them.
- The trip lasts four to six hours, typically.
- If you take them too late in the day, they can keep you from sleeping.
Growing Hillbilly Pumpkins
“Hillbillies can easily be grown at home in a mono-tub, Dub tub, all in one bag or controlled environment. This makes them an ideal mushroom for new and experienced mycologists,” says Sturm. “Hillbillies are a dung-loving species. They love to grow. Usually forming large canopies with medium size fruits. Large stems and bright caramel, gold caps.”
Why They Are Called Hillbilly Pumpkins
Hillbilly Pumpkins got their name because, reports say, they were foraged in Arkansas–thus, Hillbilly. And they have an orange, wavy cap that looks a bit like a pumpkin. Thus: Hillbilly Pumpkins. (No word on whether the mushrooms object to being called Hillbillies. 😂)
Hillbilly Pumpkins Dosage Guide
“Hillbilly mushrooms make a great microdose,” says Sturm.
Dose these mushrooms like any other. Although, because these babies are powerful — “Effects can be intense,” says Sturm — take a little less than normal.
- Microdose: .05 to .15 grams
- Low: 0.2 – 1 gram
- Medium: 1 – 2 gram
- Strong: 2.5 – 5 gram
- Heavy: 5 gram and upwards
To find the right dose for you, measure your shrooms with a scale. If you don’t have a way to weigh them, “Great rule of thumb, start slow,” says Sturm. For example:
- For a microdose, break off part of the mushroom the size of a pencil eraser.
- For a low dose, try half a stem of a typical mushroom.
After you’ve taken them, feel your dose. Next trip, adjust up or down. You’ll find your sweet spot by trial and error, just like adding milk to your coffee or sugar to your tea.
The Hillbilly Pumpkin has an orange tint to its wavy cap. Photo courtesy of Wisdom Peak Healing Center.
Other Popular Mushroom Strains
Interested in learning more about the different varieties of magic mushrooms strains? Click through our menu below for a deeper dive into each strain.
