Fan-shaped white to gray mushroom growing in shelf-like clusters on dead or dying hardwoods. Decurrent gills, short or absent stem. One of the easiest wild mushrooms to identify.
Habitat
Dead and dying cottonwood, aspen, and other hardwoods along creek bottoms. Saprotrophic (decomposes wood). Unique in Colorado for having spring AND fall seasons.
Season Windows by Region
Growing Requirements
Min Soil Temp
40°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.5in 3d
Drought Tolerance
moderate
Elevation Range
5–300 ft
Look-Alikes
Pleurocybella porrigens (Angel Wings)
Generally grows on conifer wood (not hardwood). Very thin flesh compared to true oysters. Has caused fatalities in Japan among people with kidney issues.
Identification Tips
- ✓Should smell pleasant and mild — reject any with an off smell
- ✓Check dead cottonwoods along streams in spring and fall
- ✓One of the few mushrooms with two seasons in Colorado
- ✓Grows in clusters — one log can produce a meal's worth
Field Notes
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus and P. pulmonarius) on dead and dying hardwoods year-round. Peak production Nov-Mar when temperatures moderate. Look on fallen oaks, sweetgum, and tulip poplar along river corridors. Summer flushes possible after heavy rain but heat causes rapid decomposition.
Found Oyster Mushroom?
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.