- Oyster Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Mushrooms from Plug Spawn | Key Growing Information
- Lion's Mane Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Key Growing Information
- Log Inoculation Calculator for Growing Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn or Plugs
- Oyster Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Key Growing Information
- 'Spray & Grow' Mushroom Kit | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Shiitake Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Almond Agaricus & Wine Cap Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Key Growing Information
- Mushroom Glossary of Terms
- Mushroom Plug Spawn | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Shiitake Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Key Growing Information
- Almond Agaricus and Wine Cap Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Substrate Types for Growing Mushrooms
- Mushroom 'Spray & Grow' Kits | Key Growing Information
- Lion's Mane Mushrooms from Sawdust Spawn | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Suitability of Tree Species for Growing Mushrooms on Logs
Suitability of Tree Species for Growing Mushrooms on Logs
Difficulty Ratings for Mushroom Strains
Log Production
Difficulty Scale 1-101 = Good for Beginners; 10 = Very Difficult to Cultivate
- Shiitake: 1
- Oyster: 2
- Italian Oyster: 3
- Lion's Mane: 4
Growing mushrooms outdoors on logs? Most mushrooms have preferred tree species that will help increase consistency and yields. Use this page to understand which types of wood are best for the mushroom strain you wish to grow.
Need more help? Skip down to additional mushroom growing resources
| Tree Species Suitability for Growing Mushrooms | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Key* |
★ Recommended | ✔ Suitable | ✖ Not recommended | |
| Shiitake | Oyster | Italian Oyster | Lion's Mane | |
| Ailanthus | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Alder | ★ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ash | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | |
| Aspen | ✖ | ★ | ★ | ✔ |
| Basswood | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Beech | ★ | ✔ | ✔ | ★ |
| Birch | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Black Walnut | ✖ | ✔ | ||
| Box Elder | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Buckeye | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Cherry | ✖ | ✔ | ||
| Chestnut | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Chinese Tallow | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Cottonwood | ✖ | ★ | ★ | ✔ |
| Elm | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Eucalyptus | ✔ | |||
| Hackberry | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Hemlock | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Hickory | ✔ | |||
| Hophornbeam | ★ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Hornbeam | ★ | ★ | ||
| Maple, Hard | ★ | ✔ | ✔ | ★ |
| Maple, Soft | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mimosa | ||||
| Mulberry | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Oaks | ★ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Palm | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Peach | ✖ | |||
| Pear | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Pecan | ✔ | |||
| Pines | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | |
| Sassafrass | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sweetgum | ★ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sycamore | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Tuliptree | ✔ | ★ | ★ | |
| Tupelo | ✔ | |||
| Willow | ✔ | ★ | ★ | |
| Key* |
★ Recommended | ✔ Suitable | ✖ Not recommended | * Data courtesy of North Spore. Blanks indicate unknown or untested. Note: for most mushrooms, conifers or softwoods should be avoided. Note: we do not recommend growing Wine Cap or Almond Agaricus on logs. |