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Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), whole fruiting body
Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
Edible species

Cauliflower mushroom

Sparassis crispa · Sparassidaceae

The cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), karnabahar mantarı in Turkish, is an edible mushroom when young, made of curly, wavy lobes that look like a cauliflower or a sponge and growing at the base of conifers such as pines; never eat it without certain identification.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team6 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilySparassidaceae
SeasonAug–Nov
Spore printWhite to pale cream
Cap width10–25 cm
Records in Turkey2 records
CultivationWild only
StatusEdible species

The cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), karnabahar mantarı in Turkish, is an edible mushroom when young, made of curly, wavy lobes that look like a cauliflower or a sponge and growing at the base of conifers such as pines; never eat it without certain identification. It is cream to pale yellow, 10–25 cm across and sometimes up to 50 cm. It causes brown rot in the roots of its host and can reappear in the same spot each year. Soil and insects get caught in its folds, so it needs careful cleaning.

Also called: wood cauliflower, cauliflower fungus Turkish: Karnabahar mantarı Synonyms: Sparassis radicata

Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), whole fruiting body

How to recognise it

Cauliflower mushroom, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: White to pale cream Pleasant and nutty; flesh flexible when young, tough when old.

Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), whole fruiting body
Cap10–25 cm (sometimes 50 cm); rounded, like a sponge or cauliflower; many thin, curly, wavy lobes; cream to pale yellow, browning with age.
Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), cap surface, close-up
Cap surfaceNo gills or pores; spores form on the smooth surfaces of the lobes.
StemA thick, short shared stem rooting into the ground; mostly buried.

When and where

Aug–Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Augin season
  9. Sepin season
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Dec

The cauliflower mushroom fruits from late summer to late autumn. Its only Turkish GBIF record is from October.

Type Edible

In season AugustSeptemberOctoberNovember

Colour WhiteYellow

Regions Black Sea RegionKastamonuBolu

Where do cauliflower mushrooms grow?

The cauliflower mushroom grows at the base of conifers, mainly pines, or over their roots close to the ground; it is a parasite that causes root and butt rot.

Where is cauliflower mushrooms found in Turkey?

The cauliflower mushroom is rarely recorded in Turkey; GBIF holds only one Turkish record, from Kastamonu.

Which months

  1. Jan0
  2. Feb0
  3. Mar0
  4. Apr0
  5. May0
  6. Jun0
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep0
  10. Oct2
  11. Nov0
  12. Dec0

2 provinces, 2 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest cauliflower mushroom observations

On "illustrative" cards the image is a photo of the species; the observation photo cannot be shown here because of its licence, but can be seen at the source.

Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), in its natural habitat
In its habitat
Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Cauliflower mushroom can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Cauliflower mushroom.

Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa), whole fruiting body
This species Cauliflower mushroom
Salmon coral (Ramaria formosa) Poisonous

not Cauliflower mushroom

Salmon coral Ramaria formosa

Has upright, branching coral tips rather than curly lobes, is pinkish salmon and causes gastrointestinal poisoning.

Wood cauliflower (Sparassis spathulata) Edible species

not Cauliflower mushroom

Wood cauliflower Sparassis spathulata

Has flatter, broader, zoned lobes and grows mostly at the base of broadleaf trees.

Maitake (Grifola frondosa), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Cauliflower mushroom

Maitake Grifola frondosa

Made of grey-brown fan-shaped caps with pores underneath; grows at the base of oaks.

Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Cauliflower mushroom

Giant polypore Meripilus giganteus

Large brown shelf-like caps; the pore surface blackens when touched and the flesh is tough.

How to cook and eat cauliflower mushrooms

Safety first. Eat the cauliflower mushroom only when young and well cooked, and never without certain identification. Some coral fungi (Ramaria) are poisonous.

How to prepare it

Needles and soil lodge in its folds: break it into small clumps, clean under running water with an old toothbrush and blanch for 2–3 minutes before adding it to the dish.

How to cook it

Cook it slowly. It can also be preserved in oil or dried.

What goes with it?

  • cauliflower
  • shallots
  • garlic
  • thyme
  • olive oil
  • vegetable stock
  • raw cashews
  • soy sauce
  • nutritional yeast
  • balsamic vinegar

Source: Wikipedia · practical details from our recipes.

Recipe

Roasted cauliflower mushroom soup, made with cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa) Soups Roasted cauliflower mushroom soup A dairy-free soup of oven-caramelised cauliflower mushroom and cauliflower, made creamy with cashews: serves four, ready in an hour. 1 hr 10 min Cauliflower mushroom

How to store cauliflower mushrooms

Fresh · fridge3–7 daysKeep fresh cauliflower mushrooms unwashed in a paper bag in the fridge; delicate species are at the short end. Source
FrozenA few monthsFreeze cauliflower mushrooms cooked, not raw: sauté and cool them first. Source
DriedA few months – 1 yearKeep dried cauliflower mushrooms in an airtight jar in a cool, dry, dark place. Source

How to store mushrooms: the full guide →

Grow it, buy it

Cauliflower mushroom price list

Cauliflower mushroom price list
ProductUsMarket (sourced, dated)
Fresh cauliflower mushroomsMade to order · ask—
Dried cauliflower mushroomsMade to order · ask—

We make our cauliflower mushrooms products in small batches, to order; send a request and we email you the price and delivery date. The market column shows prices seen on other sellers' pages on the date given; they are not our prices and may have changed.

Mushroom grow kits →

Frequently asked questions

Is the cauliflower mushroom edible?

Yes, the cauliflower mushroom is edible when young, but never eat it without certain identification. Only fresh, young specimens are eaten, well cooked; old ones can be tough and bitter.

How do you recognise a cauliflower mushroom?

It is a rounded mass of cream to pale yellow, curly, wavy lobes that looks like a cauliflower or a sponge. It has no gills or pores and grows at the base of conifers such as pines.

What can be mistaken for a cauliflower mushroom?

The main risk is the salmon coral (Ramaria formosa), which causes gastrointestinal poisoning and has upright, branching coral tips. The wood cauliflower and hen of the woods look similar but are edible.

Where and when does it grow?

It grows from late summer to late autumn at the base of conifers, mainly pines. It is rarely recorded in Turkey; the only GBIF record is from Kastamonu.

How do you clean a cauliflower mushroom?

Break it into small pieces, clean soil, pine needles and insects from the folds with a brush and running water, then cook it thoroughly. Discard any browned parts.

Does the cauliflower mushroom harm trees?

Yes, it is a parasite that causes brown rot in the roots and lower trunk of conifers, which is why it can reappear at the foot of the same tree for years.

Is the cauliflower fungus the same as the cauliflower mushroom?

Yes. Cauliflower fungus and cauliflower mushroom both mean Sparassis crispa, the cream-coloured, crinkled ball that grows at the base of pines.

What is Sparassis spathulata?

Sparassis spathulata is a related species with broader, flatter lobes that grows at the base of oaks. Sparassis crispa grows with conifers.

How do we cook a cauliflower mushroom?

After cleaning it well, we tear the cauliflower mushroom into small pieces and sauté them in butter or oil, or simmer them in soups and stews. It keeps its firm, noodle-like texture during cooking.

Are cauliflower mushrooms edible?

Yes, the cauliflower mushroom is an edible species. Eat a wild one only after an expert has identified it with certainty: it can be confused with salmon coral (Ramaria formosa). Eat the cauliflower mushroom only when young and well cooked, and never without certain identification. Some coral fungi (Ramaria) are poisonous.

When is cauliflower mushroom season in Turkey?

In our calendar, cauliflower mushroom season runs Aug–Nov. The cauliflower mushroom fruits from late summer to late autumn. Its only Turkish GBIF record is from October.

Where do cauliflower mushrooms grow?

The cauliflower mushroom grows at the base of conifers, mainly pines, or over their roots close to the ground; it is a parasite that causes root and butt rot.

Where are cauliflower mushrooms found in Turkey?

The cauliflower mushroom is rarely recorded in Turkey; GBIF holds only one Turkish record, from Kastamonu.

What can the cauliflower mushroom be confused with?

The cauliflower mushroom can be confused with salmon coral (Ramaria formosa, poisonous), wood cauliflower (Sparassis spathulata, edible species), hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa, edible species) and giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the cauliflower mushroom called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa) is called Karnabahar mantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Sharma ve ark. (2022), IMA Fungus: Sparassis crispa derlemesi pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Adanacıoğlu ve ark. (2014), ANADOLU (Ege Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü): Türkiye makromantar genetik kaynakları I. Ege Bölgesi dergipark.org.tr
  3. Wikipedia (EN): Sparassis crispa en.wikipedia.org
All sources (6)
  1. First Nature: Sparassis crispa first-nature.com
  2. Wikipedia (EN): Ramaria formosa en.wikipedia.org
  3. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (8)