Stumbled across these black, finger-like things poking out of the mulch. They are hard and creepy. Does anyone know what this is?…See more

🧠 What it is

A harmless wood-decaying fungus that grows on:

dead tree stumps
buried rotting wood
mulch or wood chips in gardens

It feeds on decaying organic matter, not living plants.

👀 Why it looks creepy
Appears as black or dark brown finger-like shapes
Often grows in clusters (like a hand coming out of the ground)
Young forms can be pale, then turn black as they mature
The inside is usually pale/white when cut open
🌱 Why it appears in gardens

It grows when conditions are right:

lots of moisture
shade
presence of rotting wood or mulch

Spring and autumn often trigger growth.

⚠️ Is it dangerous?