Although colloquially referred to as a "mushroom", Chroogomphus species fall into the order Boletales, and are only considered "agaricoids" (fungi with mushroom-like fruiting structures).

However, recent investigation has found that what has previously been called Chroogomphus rutilus in the United States is genetically distinct from individuals from Europe.

Furthermore, C. ochraceus strains from the Pacific Northwest were found to be capable of producing the same colors typical of other species of Chroogomphus if given the right conditions.

The pileus (cap) of C. ochraceus forms with a conical shape when young, and usually flattens out into a table-top shape–sometimes with a small depression in the center– at maturity when it measures 2.5–9 centimetres (1–3+1⁄2 in) across.

[5] It was originally thought that since Chroogomphus species are so closely associated with conifer trees, that the two organisms shared a mycorrhizal relationship.