This mushroom originated from Asia or Europe but can be found scattered across the globe from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. The mushroom is wrapped in white universal veil when it is young, as it grows the top of the white veil will break and the white speckled warts on the red cap will be all that remain of the veil.

When fully grown, the cap usually measures from 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) in diameter and it is usually a distinct blood red color. Fresh Amanita muscaria mushrooms have white flesh and a bland taste. After drying, the flesh will darken to a dark cream to pale brown color and they will taste very bad, to most people.

The fly agaric mushroom is rarely toxic to adults but doses higher than 20 fresh mushrooms may be fatal to small children or those in ill health. It is best to use dried fly agaric mushrooms rather than fresh ones, because hallucinogenic chemicals are more concentrated and less toxic when the mushrooms have dried.