Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Common mushroom

Oyster Mushroom

Pleurotus ostreatus

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a common mushroom in Tennessee. Say it: ploo-roh-tus os-tree-ay-tus.

How to know it

  • Has: Gills underneath
  • Has: Shelf-like clusters
  • Does not have: No ring

Gills run down onto a short side stem

Choice edible

Never eat a wild mushroom without an expert

Where and when

Forests statewide
Fruits
Fruits: January, February, October, November, December

Where to look

  • Grows on Dead hardwood logs and trees
  • Trees Hardwoods
  • Conditions Cold, wet months

Watch

Video coming soon. Oyster Mushroom appears in our Mushrooms of Tennessee on YouTube.

Also out in October

See all mushrooms of Tennessee →

More photos

Never eat a wild mushroom unless an expert has identified it in person. This page is for learning, not a guide to eating.

Top photo: Katja Schulz (CC BY) · source. Think something here is wrong? Tell us.