Free tool
Wood guide for growing mushrooms
Which wood suits each mushroom: 12 species and 44 woods, with the compatibility of each pair.
Which wood is best for growing mushrooms?
Broadleaf hardwoods such as oak, beech, poplar and maple work for most mushrooms in the guide. Conifers such as pine and hemlock have resins that slow the mycelium. Each species has favorites: shiitake does best on oak, beech, sweetgum and ironwood, and blue oyster on cottonwood, beech and tulip tree.
Pick your mushroom
Each profile shows the good woods, the average ones and the ones to avoid.
Shiitake
Lentinula edodes
✓ 4 · Good
Blue/Snow Oyster
Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus
✓ 4 · Good
Golden Oyster
Pleurotus citrinopileatus
✓ 1 · Good
Italian Oyster
Pleurotus pulmonarius
✓ 2 · Good
Pink Oyster
Pleurotus djamor
✓ 0 · Good
Lion's Mane
Hericium erinaceus
✓ 0 · Good
Chestnut Mushroom
Pholiota adiposa
✓ 5 · Good
Nameko
Pholiota microspora
✓ 0 · Good
Chicken of the Woods
Laetiporus sulphureus
✓ 1 · Good
Hen of the Woods
Grifola frondosa
✓ 1 · Good
Reishi (G. lucidum)
Ganoderma lucidum
✓ 0 · Good
Reishi (G. tsugae)
Ganoderma tsugae
✓ 0 · GoodMushroom and wood compatibility chart
Each row is a wood and each column a mushroom. Swipe the table to see every mushroom.
- Good
- Average
- Bad
- No data
| Wood | Shiitake | Blue/Snow Oyster | Golden Oyster | Italian Oyster | Pink Oyster | Lion's Mane | Chestnut Mushroom | Nameko | Chicken of the Woods | Hen of the Woods | Reishi (G. lucidum) | Reishi (G. tsugae) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak | ✓Good | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ✓Good | ✓Good | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Beech | ✓Good | ✓Good | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ✕Bad | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Aspen | ~Average | ✓Good | ✓Good | ✓Good | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Cottonwood | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Soft Maple | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ✕Bad | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Poplar | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ✕Bad | ·No data | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Tulip Tree | ~Average | ✓Good | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Sweetgum | ✓Good | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ✕Bad | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Ironwood | ✓Good | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Birch | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Cherry | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Elm | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Hackberry | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Sassafras | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Sycamore | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Alder | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ✕Bad | ·No data | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Willow | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Mulberry | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Box Elder | ·No data | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Chestnut | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Hickory | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Pecan | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Ailanthus | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Ash | ✕Bad | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Black Walnut | ✕Bad | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Eucalyptus | ~Average | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Tupelo | ~Average | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Albizia | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Buckeye | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Hemlock · Conifer or softwood | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ~Average |
| Hophornbeam | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Hornbeam | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Plum | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ~Average | ✕Bad |
| Basswood | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Chinese Tallow | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Mimosa | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Peach | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Persimmon | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Privet | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Serviceberry | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Sourwood | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
| Locust | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ~Average | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data |
| Sweetgum Tree | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ·No data | ✕Bad |
These recommendations come from common cultivation practice. Results change with climate, wood freshness and technique. For most mushrooms, avoid conifers and softwoods.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use pine to grow mushrooms?
Avoid it for most cultivated mushrooms. Pine resin slows the mycelium. A few species, such as hemlock reishi (Ganoderma tsugae), do grow on conifers.
What is the best wood for shiitake?
Oak, beech, sweetgum and ironwood. Birch, poplar and maple also work, with lower yields. Avoid ash and black walnut.
How long should a log rest before inoculation?
Usually 2 to 6 weeks after cutting. The wood loses the tree's natural defenses and still holds moisture for the mycelium.
Does the guide apply to sawdust and pellets?
Yes. The wood species matters the same in logs, sawdust or pellets. Sawdust and pellets usually get bran or gypsum as a supplement.
Track your batches in MycoLab
MycoLab keeps your recipes, your batches and every contamination you find. You see which recipe and which stage cause trouble. It is free.
Cultures to start your next batch
Lion's Mane (Hericium Erinaceus)
The brain mushroom. Known for its neuroprotective properties and delicate seafood-like flavor.
Shiitake (Lentinula Edodes)
The king of gourmet mushrooms. Intense flavor, meaty texture, and proven health benefits.
Blue Oyster (Pleurotus Columbinus)
Elegance in blue-grey tones. Robust, productive, and with excellent flavor for any recipe.