The Polish name of the mushroom (opieńka, meaning something growing on a tree trunk) indicates where it can be found: on trunks of old trees. Honey fungi most often appear in the autumn in areas in which trees were fallen. This mushroom is a dangerous parasite of many trees, since it attacks their root system. At night, honey fungi emit greenish light.

The fruiting bodies are yellowish-brown, and the caps, initially semi-circular, become flat or even concave as the mushrooms age. Characteristic spots resembling effaceable scales appear on the cap. The stem is slim and has a light ring.

Young mushrooms are most highly valued, with older ones being unpalatable and sometimes wormy. It is worth discarding the stems as they are hard and stringy. Honey fungi are most often marinated. They have a delicate, pleasant smell resembling camembert or other soft cheeses.