In the Forage season data, the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is typically in season from September to March, with a peak around September to November in the northern hemisphere. First Nature gives summer, autumn and early winter as its season in Britain and Ireland. Wild Food UK says it can be found at any time of year but is more common in the winter months.
In the Forage data the season runs from September to March, with the peak around September to November in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and local timing depends on the weather.
In Britain and Ireland, First Nature names summer, autumn and early winter. In parts of southern Europe the season is longer, and the mushroom can sometimes be found through to January or February. The Woodland Trust lists its fruiting season as year round. Wild Food UK says it can turn up in large numbers at any time of year, but is more common in winter.
In North America, MushroomExpert says it appears between October and early April. The closely related Pleurotus pulmonarius is often paler and appears between late April and September there. Wild Food UK also says the pale oyster should be found in summer, while the oyster mushroom prefers the colder months.
First Nature says the various oyster mushrooms are mostly saprophytic on deciduous trees and only very rarely found on conifers. Pleurotus ostreatus is particularly fond of beech stumps but also occurs on several other hardwoods.
Look on dying or dead standing broadleaf trees, particularly beech and oaks, and sometimes on fallen trunks and large branches. Wild Food UK describes large shelf like clusters on stumps and fallen wood. The Woodland Trust calls the oyster mushroom common in UK woods.
Many Pleurotus species seem to emerge beyond reach, sometimes high up in the crowns of trees.
MushroomExpert names four features: shelf like clusters on wood, a relatively large size, whitish gills that run down a stubby, nearly absent stem, and a whitish to lilac spore print.
First Nature describes the cap as white, cream, brown or blue grey, 5 to 18 cm across, often in overlapping groups with each stem attached to the wood separately. The gills are white, turning pale ochre with age, crowded and running down the stem. The stem is usually short, 1 to 3 cm long, and has no ring. The spore print is white or more often pale lilac grey.
Oyster mushrooms vary so much in size, shape and colour that confident identification of some species is tricky without a microscope.
First Nature points out the macroscopic similarity of angel’s wings (Pleurocybella porrigens) to oyster mushrooms. The German Mycological Society (DGfM) lists it as the cause of the Pleurocybella syndrome, with symptoms such as weakness, tremor, confusion, seizures and coma. Symptoms can start days to weeks after the meal, between 1 and 31 days. The DGfM says poisonings have so far only been reported from Japan, in patients with existing kidney damage.
Angel’s wings is white, 2 to 10 cm across, usually stemless and shaped like a funnel split down one side. It grows on well rotted conifer timber, usually covered in moss. First Nature separates the oyster mushroom by its usually slightly lilac spore print, thicker cap flesh and short stem.
The peeling oysterling (Crepidotus mollis) has a brown spore print, which readily distinguishes it from oyster mushrooms. In the field, its elastic cap skin, which can be stretched, is a faster way to tell it apart. Its kidney shaped caps are 1.5 to 5 cm across.
Within the genus, Pleurotus dryinus has a frosted cap and a short lived ring on the stem. In the branched oyster mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae), several caps often share a common stem.
The DGfM tests and certifies mushroom experts (Pilzsachverständige), who can identify the mushrooms shown to them. The DGfM shows experts near you on a map.
Season and wood type tell you where to look, not what you have found: keep the whole fruitbody, check the spore print and have every find checked before you eat anything. If in doubt, leave it.
Get medical advice quickly if you think someone may have been poisoned. Symptoms may take a few hours or days to start.
In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if you think someone may have swallowed something harmful. If you are not sure whether something is harmful, call NHS 111. In the US, the poison center number is 1 800 222 1222. If the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken, Poison Control says to call 911. The BVL lists the poison centres in Germany and Austria, for example the Berlin poison emergency line on 030 192 40. In Austria, the poison information centre (Vergiftungsinformationszentrale) is on +43 140 643 43. In Switzerland, Tox Info Suisse runs the emergency number 145.
For other species and months, see the mushroom season guide; to see what is in season in your region right now, use the Season Finder. Both are linked below.
White, usually stemless, a funnel split down one side. On well rotted conifer timber, usually covered in moss. Linked by the DGfM to the Pleurocybella syndrome.
Brown spore print instead of white. Elastic cap skin that can be stretched.
Often paler, appears between late April and September in North America.
Not every pale bracket on a tree is an oyster mushroom. Never pick on season and wood type alone, check the spore print and the whole fruitbody, and have every find checked by a mushroom expert. If in doubt, leave it.
In the Forage data, typically September to March, with a peak around September to November in the northern hemisphere. Wild Food UK says oysters can be found at any time of year but are more common in the winter months.
Yes. First Nature names early winter as part of the season in Britain and Ireland, and in parts of southern Europe it can run through to January or February. In North America, MushroomExpert says it appears between October and early April.
Mostly deciduous trees, very rarely conifers. Pleurotus ostreatus is particularly fond of beech stumps, and also grows on dead or dying beech and oaks.
First Nature gives white or more often pale lilac grey. MushroomExpert gives whitish to lilac.
Angel’s wings, which First Nature describes as macroscopically similar to oyster mushrooms. The DGfM links it to the Pleurocybella syndrome. It is usually stemless and grows on well rotted conifer timber, usually covered in moss. The peeling oysterling has a brown spore print, which readily distinguishes it from oyster mushrooms.
Get medical advice quickly; symptoms may take hours or days to start. In the UK call 999 or go to A&E. In the US call 1 800 222 1222. The BVL lists the poison centres in Germany and Austria, for example the Berlin line on 030 192 40; in Austria the number is +43 140 643 43, in Switzerland 145.
Forage shows you the species in your region and pings you when the season starts.
All information without guarantee. This text is orientation on season and habitat, not an identification guide, and it makes no claim about whether any specific plant or mushroom is edible. Many species have toxic, some deadly, lookalikes. Never eat or use anything that has not been identified with certainty by an expert, such as a qualified mushroom inspector. We accept no liability for any harm arising from the use of this information. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center or emergency services right away. Mind conservation law and property rights.
