[1] This mushroom has red, cream-yellow, and pink color variants, which complicates attempts at field identification,[2][3] although finding "red and creamy capped fruitbodies in close proximity is a good clue indicating this species".

[4] The winter russula is "mildly toxic,"[4] and causes intestinal distress even when consumed in small amounts.

[2] The red morph was previously identified as Russula silvicola,[2][3] but was found to be genetically identical to the cream-colored individuals called R.

[4] The red morph is superficially similar to Russula californiensis but R. cremicolor has a much sharper, peppier taste, likes to associate with mixed forest or tanoak rather than pine, and keeps its gills and stipe white even in age.

This Russulales-related article is a stub.