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Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Dominicus Johannes Bergsma · CC BY-SA 4.0
Edible species

Oyster mushroom

Pleurotus ostreatus · Pleurotaceae

The oyster mushroom grows in tiers of fan- or oyster-shaped caps on dead and dying hardwoods, and is one of the most widely cultivated edible mushrooms in the world.

FamilyPleurotaceae
SeasonOct–Mar
Spore printWhite to pale lilac-grey
Cap width2–30 cm
Stem length4 cm
Records in Turkey31 records
CultivationGrows at home
StatusEdible species

The oyster mushroom grows in tiers of fan- or oyster-shaped caps on dead and dying hardwoods, and is one of the most widely cultivated edible mushrooms in the world. Commercial growing began in Germany during the First World War; it is one of the easiest species to start growing at home.

Also called: grey oyster mushroom, pearl oyster, hiratake Turkish: İstiridye mantarı, kavak mantarı, istiridye

Oyster mushroom

How to recognise it

Oyster mushroom, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: White to pale lilac-grey Mild; a hint of bitter almond (benzaldehyde) or anise.

Cap — Oyster mushroom
Cap2–30 cm, fan- or oyster-shaped; white to grey or brown; margin inrolled when young, often wavy.
Gills — Oyster mushroom
GillsGills whitish, sometimes yellowing; decurrent, running down the stem.
Stem — Oyster mushroom
StemShort or absent; when present up to 4 cm, off-centre and attached sideways to the wood.

When and where

Oct–Mar

  1. Janin season
  2. Febin season
  3. Marin season
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Decin season

Wild oyster mushrooms fruit in the cool months, into January–February in southern Europe, and in Turkey GBIF records also cluster between October and March. Cultivated oyster mushrooms are produced all year round.

Where do oyster mushrooms grow?

The oyster mushroom is a saprotroph, a wood decomposer that causes white rot. It grows in clusters on dead or dying trunks and branches of broadleaf trees, especially beech and oak.

In Turkey

In Turkey the oyster mushroom has been recorded in the wild on broadleaf trees in wooded areas, and it is also widely cultivated there.

  • İstanbul13
  • Ankara8
  • İzmir2
  • Karaman2
  • Kırklareli1
  • Burdur1
  • Balıkesir1
  • Aksaray1

31 observations on our map (GBIF, iNaturalist). Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest oyster mushroom observations

See on the map

In its habitat — Oyster mushroom
In its habitat
In its habitat — Oyster mushroom
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Oyster mushroom
Oyster mushroom
King oyster mushroom
King oyster mushroom
Edible species

King oyster mushroom Pleurotus eryngii

A related edible species with a thick, fleshy stem, usually growing singly.

Poisonous

Lentinellus species Lentinellus spp.

Some species are toxic; gill edges are jagged and the cap finely hairy.

Poisonous

Ivory funnel Clitocybe dealbata

Contains muscarine; grows from soil in grass, not on wood.

In the kitchen

Cooking with oyster mushrooms

Pasta & risotto Creamy mushroom pasta Button and oyster mushrooms in a silky cream and parmesan sauce, brought together with starchy pasta water – on the table in 30 minutes. 30 min Button mushroom Snacks & starters Crispy fried oyster mushrooms Oyster mushrooms soaked in garlicky yoghurt, dredged in spiced flour and deep-fried until crisp, served with a dill and garlic yoghurt dip. 37 min Oyster mushroom Mains Oyster mushroom 'döner' wraps Oyster mushrooms marinated in spiced yoghurt, pressed in a hot cast-iron pan until crisp and wrapped in lavash with sumac onions and garlic yoghurt. Ready in 40 minutes, plus 30 minutes marinating. 40 min Oyster mushroom

On the blog

GrowingHow to use a mushroom grow kit: from box to harvest5 min readGrowingMushroom grow kit as a New Year gift: who it suits, which one, and how to give it4 min readGrowingWhy isn’t my mushroom grow kit growing? 7 causes and fixes5 min read

What goes well with oyster mushrooms

  • garlic ×3
  • olive oil ×2
  • flat-leaf parsley ×2
  • sweet paprika ×2
  • ground cumin ×2
  • sunflower oil ×2
  • lemon juice ×2
  • Turkish chilli flakes (pul biber) ×2
  • tagliatelle or penne
  • coarse salt

The ingredients that come up most in our 3 recipes with oyster mushrooms.

Storing oyster mushrooms

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

How to store mushrooms: the full guide →

What it contains

The oyster mushroom is reported to contain lovastatin at up to 2.8% of its dry weight (Wikipedia, with references). This is not a health claim. Source

General information, not a health claim.

Grow it, buy it

Oyster mushroom price list

Waiting list

Fresh oyster mushrooms

Pleurotus ostreatus

Grown by us; packed in whole clusters on the day they are picked.

Oyster mushroom price list
ProductUsMarket (sourced, dated)
Oyster mushroom grow kit · SmallComing soon · waiting list—
Oyster mushroom grow kit · LargeComing soon · waiting list—
Oyster mushroom grow kit · MegaComing soon · waiting list—
Fresh oyster mushroomsComing soon · waiting list—
Dried oyster mushroomsIn preparation · notify me—
Oyster mushroom powderIn preparation · notify me300 ₺ Erkel Gıda · Oyster mushroom powder, 100 g · 26 Oct 2026
Oyster mushroom spawn—749,00 ₺ Tohumlar Fidana · Oyster mushroom spawn, 1 kg · 26 Oct 2026

Our prices for oyster mushrooms are published when the product is ready; for now we take waiting-list sign-ups. The market column shows prices seen on other sellers' pages on the date given; they are not our prices and may have changed.

Grow kits → How to grow →

Frequently asked questions

Are oyster mushrooms edible?

Yes, the oyster mushroom is an edible species. Eat a wild one only after an expert has identified it with certainty: it can be confused with lentinellus species (Lentinellus spp.) and ivory funnel (Clitocybe dealbata).

When is oyster mushroom season in Turkey?

In our calendar, oyster mushroom season runs Oct–Mar. Wild oyster mushrooms fruit in the cool months, into January–February in southern Europe, and in Turkey GBIF records also cluster between October and March. Cultivated oyster mushrooms are produced all year round.

Where do oyster mushrooms grow?

The oyster mushroom is a saprotroph, a wood decomposer that causes white rot. It grows in clusters on dead or dying trunks and branches of broadleaf trees, especially beech and oak.

Where are oyster mushrooms found in Turkey?

In Turkey the oyster mushroom has been recorded in the wild on broadleaf trees in wooded areas, and it is also widely cultivated there.

What can the oyster mushroom be confused with?

The oyster mushroom can be confused with king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii, edible species), lentinellus species (Lentinellus spp., poisonous) and ivory funnel (Clitocybe dealbata, poisonous). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the oyster mushroom called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is called İstiridye mantarı; other local names include kavak mantarı and istiridye.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources (5)
Photo credits (10)