The variety ardosiacum, described by Italian mycologist Giacomo Bresadola, has a dark blue-grey cap.

Tricholoma saponaceum has a convex cap about 4–15 cm (1.6–5.9 in) across, with a vague umbo[5] which flattens with age.

The colour is highly variable, with greyish, greenish, olive, yellowish and brownish shades reported.

The widely spaced gills are adnexed and whitish, although may be tinted pale green and bruise pink.

Spruce, live oak, tanoak, and madrone are species it can be associated with in the western United States.