26 Delicious Mushroom Species You Should Cultivate

One of the first questions of someone who wants to start growing mushrooms is, “What can I grow in my region?” Or “I’m living in this climate what can I grow?” Today I will give you a list of 26 delicious mushrooms you can grow almost everywhere.

For each mushroom species, I not only listed the basic growing conditions but also some countries where they are already cultivated. I also added a short introduction to the climate classification system at the end of this article.

With that said let’s dive into it.

Lentinula edodes

Figure 1: Lentinula edodes[1]

Description[2]

Lentinula edodes is better known by its name, shiitake. Shiitake can be found wild only in places as China, Japan, and Korea, there its treasured and traditional delicacy at dinner tables.

Shiitake has a great flavor, taste, and an enticing aroma. They are also well-known for their medicinal benefits in strengthening the immune system.

Countries with cultivation

Germany (Cfb, Dfa), Canada (Dfa, Dfc, Dsb, ET), USA (BSk, BWh, Csb, Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), China (BWk, BSh, Cfa, Cfb, Cfc, Dwa, Dwb), Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), Vietnam (Aw, Am, Cwa), Argentina (BWh, BWk, BSh, BSk, Cfa, Cwa), Brazil (Aw, Am, Af, BSh, Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Mexico (Aw, BSh, BSk, BWh, Cwa, Cwb), Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb), Kenya (Aw, BSh, BWh)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 10-16°C/16-21°C 16-18°C/21-27°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 60-80%r.F.
> 10,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 4-7/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent
50-100lx 500-2,000lx 500-2,000lx

Source

Paul Stamets 1996

If you want to learn more about how you can cultivation shiitake, then I recommend my article about Shiitake Log Cultivation to you. In it, I will give you an overview of all the steps you need to grow shiitake.

Pleurotus ostreatus

Figure 2: Pleurotus ostreatus[3]

Description

Pleurotus ostreatus also known as Oyster mushroom was first cultivated in Germany during World War I[4]. The mushroom itself has no strong taste and can, therefore, added to many dishes.

Countries with cultivation

Germany (Cfb, Dfa), Canada (Dfa, Dfc, Dsb, ET), USA (BSk, BWh, Csb, Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), China (BWk, BSh, Cfa, Cfb, Cfc, Dwa, Dwb), Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), Vietnam (Aw, Am, Cwa), Brazil (Aw, Am, Af, BSh, Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Mexico (Aw, BSh, BSk, BWh, Cwa, Cwb), Cuba (Aw), Ghana (Aw, Am), Bangladesh (Aw, Am, Cwa), Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb), Indonesia (Af), Pakistan (BWh, BSk, Cwa), Nigeria (Aw, Am, BSh)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
24°C 10-15,6°C 18-24°C
85-94%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 80-85%r.F.
5,000-20,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2
1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent
No light 1,000-1,500lx 1,000-1,500lx

Source

Paul Stamets 1996

Agaricus bisporus

Figure 3: Agaricus bisporus[5]

Description

Agaricus bisporus, also known as button mushroom, is one of the main cultivated mushrooms worldwide.

The taste is aromatic and nutty.

Countries with cultivation

Germany (Cfb, Dfa), USA (BSk, BWh, Csb, Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), ), China (BWk, BSh, Cfa, Cfb, Cfc, Dwa, Dwb),  India (Aw, BSh, Cwa), Vietnam (Aw, Am, Cwa), Brazil (Aw, Am, Af, BSh, Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb), Indonesia (Af), Malaysia (Af), Nigeria (Aw, Am, BSh)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
22-25°C 16°C 14-18°C
85-90%r.F. 85-90%r.F. 85-90%r.F.

Sources

Shashank Maheshwari 2013

Ferah Yilmaz 2007

Pleurotus eryngii

Figure 4: Pleurotus eryngii [6]

Description

Pleurotus eryngii also known as King Oyster, is widely cultivated because of its nutty taste.

Countries with cultivation

Germany (Cfb, Dfa), Canada (Cfb, Dfa, Dfc, Dsb, ET), China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), Bangladesh (Aw, Am, Cwa)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
24°C 10-15°C 15-21°C
90-95%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
5,000-20,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2 < 2,000 ppm CO2
1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-5/hr air vent
No light 500-1,000lx 500-1,000lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Ganoderma lucidum

Figure 5: Ganoderma lucidum[7]

Description

Ganoderma lucidum or Reishi is a medicinial mushroom and cultivated for its health benefits.

Countries with cultivation

China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Vietnam (Aw, Am, Cwa), Mexico (Aw, BSh, BSk, BWh, Cwa, Cwb), Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb), Nigeria (Aw, Am, BSh)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 18-24°C 21-27°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
Up to 50,000ppm CO2 20,000-40,000 ppm CO2 500-2,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 0-1/hr air vent 1-2/hr air vent
No light 200-500lx @4-8h/d 500-1,000lx @12h/d

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Flammulina velutipes

Figure 6: Flammulina velutipes[8]

Description

Flammuilna velutipes or Enoki is after Shiitake the most cultivated mushroom in Japan.

Countries with cultivation

China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), Mexico (Aw, BSh, BSk, BWh, Cwa, Cwb), Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-24°C 4-10°C 10-16°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
> 5,000 ppm CO2 2,000-4,000 ppm CO2 2,000-4,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 2-4/hr air vent 2-4/hr air vent
No light 20-50lx 20-50lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Volvariella volvacea

Figure 7: Volvariella volvacea[9]

Description

(Main) ingredient in Asian cuisine.

Countries with cultivation

China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb), Malaysia (Af), Nigeria (Aw, Am, BSh)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 10-16°C/16-21°C 16-18°C/21-27°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 60-80%r.F.

Sources

Pleurotus pulmonarius

Figure 8: Pleurotus pulmonarius[10]

Description

Similar to his cousin Pleurotus ostreatus.

Countries with cultivation

Canada (Cfb, Dfa, Dfc, Dsb, ET), Mexico (Aw, BSh, BSk, BWh, Cwa, Cwb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
20-25°C 10-16°C 16-18°C
80-90%r.F. 80-90%r.F. 80-90%r.F.
> 5,000 ppm CO2 400-800 ppm CO2 400-800 ppm CO2
1/hr air vent 5-7/hr air vent 5-7/hr air vent
No light 1,000-1,500lx 1,000-1,500lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Tariquil Islam 2016

Akinmusire O.O 2011

Pleurotus sajor-caju (Lentinus sajor-caju)

no picture

Description

Similar to his cousin Pleurotus ostreatus.

Countries with cultivation

Bangladesh (Aw, Am, Cwa), Philippines (Af, Am)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
20-30°C (23-27, 27-29°C, opt. 25°C) 15-30°C (opt. 25°C) 15-30°C (opt. 25°C)
60-95%r.F. (78-80%r.F.) 60-95%r.F. (78-80%r.F.) 60-95%r.F. (78-80%r.F.)

Sources

Pinkal Patel 2014

JM Hussein 2016

Chandra P. Pokhrel 2013

S. A. Shinde 2015

Pholiota nameko

Figure 9: Pholiota nameko[11]

Description

Pholiota nameko or short Nameko is an ingredient in Japanese cuisine.

Countries with cultivation

Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc), Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
24-29°C 10-15,6°C 13-18°C
95-100%r.F. 98-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
> 5,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2 800-1,200 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent
No light 500-1,000lx 500-1,000lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Pleurotus florida

no picture

Description

Similar to his cousin Pleurotus ostreatus.

Countries with cultivation

Bangladesh (Aw, Am, Cwa)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
20-26°C 16-21°C 22-27°C
80-95%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 80-95%r.F.

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Denisa Stanescu 2013

Fahad Alkoaik 2015

S. R. Mondal 2010

Aristide Nshuti Niyokus 2013

Agaricus bitorquis

Figure 10: Agaricus bitorquis[12]

Description

The mushroom has a ‘mushroomy’ taste[13] and was first cultivated in 1968.

Countries with cultivation

Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
20-30°C (opt. 30°C) < 35°C 10-16°C°C 24°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 60-80%r.F.

Sources

Amir Nawaz 2015

P. Güler 2007

Grifola frondosa

Figure 11: Grifola frondosa[14]

Description

Grifola frondosa or Maitake is a known medicinal mushroom and for that reason cultivated.

Countries with cultivation

Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-24°C 10-15,6C 13-16°C
95-100%r.F. 95%r.F. 75-85%r.F.
20,000-40,000 ppm CO2 2,000-5,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent
No light 100-500lx 100-500lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Hypsizygus marmoreus

no picture

Description

Know also as white beech mushroom and commonly used in Japanese cuisine.

Countries with cultivation

Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 10-16°C 16-18°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 60-80%r.F.

Sources

Hypsizygus tessulatus

Figure 12: Hypsizygus tessulatus[15]

Description

Known also as Buna-Shimeji and commonly used in Japanese cuisine.

Countries with cultivation

Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-24°C 10-15°C 13-18°C
95-100%r.F. 98-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
> 5,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2 2,000-4,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 2-4/hr air vent
No light 400-600lx 400-600lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Tricholoma matsutake

Figure 13: Tricholoma matsutake[16]

Description

Is a highly popular mushrooms in Japan. It has a cinnamon-like taste.

Countries with cultivation

Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 10-16°C 16-18°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 60-80%r.F.

Sources

Trametes Versicolor

Figure 14: Trametes Versicolor[17]

Description

It is not an edible mushroom[18] but used in Chinese medicine.

Countries with cultivation

Mexico (Aw, BSh, BSk, BWh, Cwa, Cwb), China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
24-29°C 10-24°C 18°C-24°C
90-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 85-90%r.F.
> 5,000 ppm CO2 400-800 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2
1/hr air vent 5-7/hr air vent 5-7/hr air vent
No light 500-2,000lx 500-2,000lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Agrocybe aegerita

Figure 15: Agrocybe aegerita[19]

Description

This mushroom is commonly known as the poplar mushroom or chestnut mushroom[20].

Countries with cultivation

Guatemala (Af, Am, Aw, Cfb), Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 10-16°C 13-29°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
> 20,000 ppm CO2 < 2,000 ppm CO2 < 2,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-6/hr air vent
No light 500-1,000lx 500-1,000lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Auricularia polytricha

Figure 16: Auricularia polytricha[21]

Description

This mushroom is often used in Asian cuisine.

Countries with cultivation

China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 10-16°C 16-18°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 60-80%r.F.

Sources

Hericium erinaceus

Figure 17: Hericium erinaceus[22]

Description

Know as lion’s mane is an edible and medicinal mushroom.

Countries with cultivation

Canada (Cfb, Dfa, Dfc, Dsb, ET), China (Cfa, Cfb, Cfc)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-24°C 10-15,6°C 18-24°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
> 5,000-40,000 ppm CO2 500-700 ppm CO2 500-700 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 5-8/hr air vent 5-8/hr air vent
No light 500-1,000 lx 500-1,000 lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Coprinus comatus

Figure 18: Coprinus comatus[23]

Description

Also known as shaggy mane is a common mushroom with a mild taste[24].

Countries with cultivation

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 16-21°C 18-24°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 80-90%r.F.
5,000-20,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent
No light 500-1,000lx @8h/d 500-1,000lx @8h/d

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Hypholoma lateritium

Figure 19: Hypholoma lateritium[25]

Description

A popular mushroom in the USA and Japan.

Countries with cultivation

Japan (Cfa, Dfa, Dfb), USA (BSk, BWh, Csb, Cfa, Dfa, Dfb)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-24°C 10-16°C 10-16°C
95-100%r.F. 98-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
> 10,000 ppm CO2 1,000-2,000 ppm CO2 1,000-5,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 1-2/hr air vent 1-2/hr air vent
No light 100-200lx 100-200lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Pleurotus djamor

Figure 20: Pleurotus djamor[26]

Description

Similar to his cousin Pleurotus ostreatus but with a salmon-like taste.

Countries with cultivation

Germany (Cfb, Dfa)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
24-30°C 18-25°C 20-30°C
95-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 85-90%r.F.
5,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 5-8/hr air vent 5-8/hr air vent
No light 750-1,500lx 750-1,500lx

Sources

Paul Stamets

Pleurotus citrinopileatus

no picture

Description

Similar to his cousin Pleurotus ostreatus but with a citrus taste.

Countries with cultivation

Germany (Cfb, Dfa)

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
24-29°C 21-27°C 21-29°C
90-100%r.F. 98-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
5,000-20,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2
1-2/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent
No light 500-1,000lx 500-1,000lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Pleurotus euosmus

no picture

Description

Similar to his cousin Pleurotus ostreatus.

Countries with cultivation

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
21-27°C 18-24°C 21-27°C
98-100%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 90-95%r.F.
> 10,000 ppm CO2 < 2,000 ppm CO2 < 1,000 ppm CO2
0-1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent
No light 750-1,500lx 750-1,500lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Pleurotus cystidiosus

no picture

Description

Similar to his cousin Pleurotus ostreatus.

Countries with cultivation

Parameter for cultivation

Spawn Run Pinhead Formation Fruiting
24-30°C 18-24°C 21-27°C
90-95%r.F. 95-100%r.F. 85-90%r.F.
5,000-20,000 ppm CO2 500-1,000 ppm CO2 < 2,000 ppm CO2
1/hr air vent 4-8/hr air vent 4–5/hr air vent
No light 1,000-2,000lx 500-1,000lx

Sources

Paul Stamets 1996

Climate Zones

To compare different regions with each other, the German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen first introduced a now widely used climate classification. It later got updated by Rudolf Geiger and is now known as the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system.

According to this classification, there are five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns.

  • A tropical
  • B dry
  • C temperate
  • D continental
  • E polar

Figure 21: New and improved Köppen-Geiger classifications[27]

The whole article about the Köppen climate classification can be found on Wikipedia (link).

Please keep in mind that the climate zones only play a role if you want to grow your mushrooms in non-controlled and uninsulated rooms (e.g., tents or sheds).

I should also mention that while I insert the climate zones for each country, it does not mean that you can grow in each climate zone. If you want to be sure if you can grow them outside you, have to go into each country and its climate zones and see how they cultivate mushrooms there.

Besides that, the list of countries is a non-exhausted list, which means it does not contain all countries in which each of the mushrooms are cultivated.

With this information at hand, it should be possible for you to pick the right mushroom species which can be grown in your region. But that is not all.

If you want to be sure that you picked the right mushroom, you should check my article What is the best mushroom strain out. In this article, I describe five aspects by which I determine if a mushroom strain is worth growing or not. At the end of this article, you will know about how you can evaluate each and every mushroom with a single number – the mushroom rating value (MVR).

 If you are successfully growing mushrooms in your region, please contact me and tell me about it. I am happy to hear from you If you are successfully growing mushrooms in your region, please contact me and tell me about it. I am happy to hear from you.


[1] gluckspilze.com

[2] Mushroom Growers‘ Handbook 2: Shiitake Cultivation

[3] gluckspilze.com

[4] Wikipedia

[5] gluckspilze.com

[6] gluckspilze.com

[7] gluckspilze.com

[8] gluckspilze.com

[9] Source

[10] Own picture

[11] Source

[12] Source

[13] Wikipedia

[14] gluckspilze.com

[15] Source

[16] Source

[17] gluckspilze.com

[18] Wikipedia

[19] gluckspilze.com

[20] Wikipedia

[21] gluckspilze.com

[22] gluckspilze.com

[23] Source

[24] Wikipedia

[25] Source

[26] Own picture

[27] nature.com

6 thoughts on “26 Delicious Mushroom Species You Should Cultivate

  1. Abraham van Tonder says:

    I learned a lot .
    Thanks

    1. Thank you for your feedback and for taking the time to tell me.

  2. Thank you for your work Rouven! Awesome site.

    Does this article mean I could use the same fruiting chamber for king- and blue oysters, lion’s mane and chestnut mushrooms? Given their growing needs are in the same spectrum.

    1. You could, in theory, and some mushroom farmers do. Especially in the beginning as it reduces the number of rooms you need. With that said, similar cultivation parameters do not mean similar optimal cultivation parameters.

  3. What is the “%r.F.” value on the tables standing for? is it humidity?

    1. Exactly. It is the German version of R.H. which is the relative humidity.

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