Oyster Mushroom - Pleurotus ostreatus

Description

The shell-like or fan-shaped cap is very variable in size, shape and colour - white, blue-grey, cream, brown, pinkish - but it always has an eccentric stipe. The gills are white, crowded and decurrent.   

Similar Species

other Pleurotus

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph from top down, in side-view and underneath to show gills and stipe attachment; not substrate and habitat

Habitat

They grow on dead wood - usually on dead standing trees or on fallen logs.

When to see it

It can be seen for most of the year especially late spring to autumn.

UK Status

Fairly common and widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Oyster Mushroom
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Pleurotaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
91
First record:
12/11/2004 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
22/01/2026 (Hollingworth, Jane)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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