"Suillus americanus" was first described scientifically by American mycologist Charles Horton Peck in 1888, based on specimens he had originally collected as far back as 1869, in New York state, near Sand Lake, Albany, and Port Jefferson.In his 1888 publication he indicated that he had originally listed these collections as "Boletus flavidus" (now known as "Suillus flavidus") in his 1869 "Report of the State Botanist" (published in 1872).