Mushrooms are a type of fungus that come in many shapes, colors, and sizes. Knowing mushroom names helps identify different kinds, from small button mushrooms to larger shiitake and oyster varieties. Some mushrooms are edible and nutritious, while others are poisonous, so learning their names is important for cooking and safety.
This post will teach you common mushroom names useful in cooking, gardening, and biology to help you talk clearly about mushrooms in daily life.
Common Mushroom Names in English
Common mushrooms are kinds of fungi often found in food, gardens, and nature, known for their simple shapes and uses. Some well-known ones are button, shiitake, oyster, and portobello.
- Button mushroom
- Portobello mushroom
- Shiitake mushroom
- Oyster mushroom
- Enoki mushroom
- Chanterelle mushroom
- Morel mushroom
- Porcini mushroom
- Cremini mushroom
- Maitake mushroom
- Puffball mushroom
- Lion’s Mane mushroom
- King oyster mushroom
- Wood ear mushroom
- Honey mushroom
- Hedgehog mushroom
- Blewit mushroom
- Russula mushroom
- White cap mushroom
- Slippery jack mushroom
- Velvet foot mushroom
- Shaggy mane mushroom
- Beech mushroom
- Bay bolete mushroom
- Black trumpet mushroom
- Field mushroom
- Almond mushroom
- Cauliflower mushroom
- Rosy bonnet mushroom
- Split gill mushroom
- Chestnut mushroom
- Pink oyster mushroom
- Elm oyster mushroom
- Parasol mushroom
- Winter mushroom
Mushroom Names with List
Mushrooms come in many shapes and flavors, from everyday cooking varieties to rare types. Mushroom names with list show different types of mushrooms used in food and nature. Common types include button, shiitake, oyster, and portobello.
Popular Everyday Mushrooms
Popular everyday mushrooms appear in markets often, offering familiar flavors, easy preparation, and reliable results across many different cuisines.
- Button mushroom
- Portobello
- Cremini
- Oyster mushroom
- Shiitake
- Enoki
- King trumpet
- White beech
- Chestnut mushroom
- Baby bella
Kitchen Favorites
Kitchen favorites are mushrooms valued by cooks for consistent flavor, pleasant texture, and versatility across a wide range of dishes.
- Chanterelle
- Morel
- Maitake
- Porcini
- Shimeji
- Wood ear
- Nameko
- Hedgehog mushroom
- Lion’s mane
- Black trumpet
Soups and Sauces
Soups and sauces benefit from mushrooms adding depth, aroma, and balanced taste while blending seamlessly with vegetables, seafood, or meat-based recipes.
- Shiitake
- Enoki
- Cremini
- Porcini
- Maitake
- Oyster mushroom
- Button mushroom
- Wood ear
- Chanterelle
- Morel
Edible Mushroom Names
Edible mushroom names include safe-to-consume varieties enjoyed worldwide for taste, texture, and suitability in diverse cooking styles.
Mushrooms for Cooking
Types for cooking contain mushrooms chosen for ability to provide appealing flavor, texture, and aroma in main or side dishes.
- Shiitake – A popular mushroom with a rich, smoky flavor used in many dishes worldwide.
- Portobello – Large, meaty mushrooms often grilled or used as a vegetarian burger substitute.
- Maitake – Also known as hen of the woods, it has a delicate flavor and health benefits.
- Chanterelle – A golden-yellow mushroom prized for its fruity aroma and tasty texture.
- Oyster mushroom – Grows in clusters with a mild taste, often used in stir-fries and soups.
- Cremini – A young portobello with a firm texture and rich, earthy flavor.
- Porcini – A prized wild mushroom with a nutty flavor, used fresh or dried in cooking.
- King trumpet – Thick-stemmed mushroom with a mild taste and firm texture, great for grilling.
- Morel – Honeycomb-like mushroom known for its unique taste and prized by chefs.
- Enoki – Long, thin mushrooms with small caps, often used in soups and salads.
Mild-Flavored Mushroom Names
Mild-flavored varieties have gentle taste, soft texture, and easy pairing with different ingredients, making them versatile for various cooking methods.
- Button mushroom – Small, white mushrooms commonly used fresh in salads and cooking.
- Enoki – Thin, white mushrooms with tiny caps, popular in Asian soups and dishes.
- White beech – A cluster-growing mushroom with a mild flavor, often used in stir-fries.
- King trumpet – Thick, firm-stemmed mushroom with a mild taste, great for grilling.
- Puffball – Round mushrooms that release spores when mature, some varieties are edible.
- Chestnut mushroom – Brown-capped mushrooms with a nutty flavor, good for sautés.
- Baby bella – Also called cremini, a young portobello with a rich, earthy taste.
- Bunashimeji – Small, brown mushrooms with a slightly nutty flavor, often cooked before eating.
- Wood ear – Thin, dark mushrooms with a crunchy texture, popular in Asian cooking.
- Pioppino – Small brown mushrooms with a firm texture and mild flavor, found in forests.
Rich-Flavored Varieties
Rich-flavored varieties deliver deep, earthy tastes and strong aromas that enhance recipes requiring bold flavor and satisfying mouthfeel.
- Porcini
- Morel
- Chanterelle
- Maitake
- Shiitake
- Black trumpet
- Matsutake
- Hedgehog mushroom
- Lion’s mane
- King oyster
Poisonous Mushroom Names
Poisonous mushroom names describe harmful species capable of causing severe illness or death when consumed, requiring careful identification.
Highly Toxic Species
Highly toxic species contain potent natural toxins causing dangerous symptoms even in small amounts, making avoidance crucial.
- Death cap – One of the most poisonous mushrooms, it has a smooth greenish cap and white gills.
- Destroying angel – A deadly white mushroom with a smooth cap and thick stem, found in forests.
- Deadly webcap – A toxic mushroom with a brown cap and web-like veil under the gills.
- Autumn skullcap – Poisonous mushroom with a pale cap that appears in late summer and fall.
- Conocybe filaris – A small toxic mushroom often found in lawns and grassy areas.
- Fool’s cone cap – dangerous mushroom with a cone-shaped cap, often mistaken for edible types.
- Inocybe patouillardii – Poisonous mushroom with fibrous cap and brown spores, found in woods.
- Angel’s wings – white mushroom with thin, delicate caps that grows on dead wood.
- Deadly dapperling – A small, poisonous mushroom with white gills and a scaly cap.
- Lepiota brunneoincarnata – rare but deadly mushroom with brownish scales on its cap.
Commonly Mistaken with Edible
Commonly mistaken with edible varieties, these harmful mushrooms resemble safe ones, increasing risk of accidental consumption.
- False morel – A poisonous mushroom with wrinkled caps that can be mistaken for edible morels.
- Green-spored parasol – A large mushroom with green spores, often found in grassy areas.
- Jack-o’-lantern – Bright orange mushroom that glows faintly in the dark but is toxic.
- Panther cap – poisonous mushroom with a spotted brown cap and white gills underneath.
- Yellow stainer – Mushroom that turns yellow when bruised and can cause stomach upset if eaten.
- Ivory funnel – A pale mushroom with funnel-shaped caps found in woodlands.
- Brown roll-rim – Has a brown cap with a curled edge and grows on forest floors.
- Sulphur tuft – Bright yellow clustered mushrooms that grow on decaying wood and are toxic.
- Entoloma sinuatum – A toxic mushroom with pale caps and pinkish spores found in woods.
- Cortinarius orellanus – Deadly poisonous mushroom with rusty brown spores and a slimy cap.
Medicinal Mushroom Names
Medicinal mushroom names refer to species traditionally valued for compounds believed to support health, used in teas, extracts, or supplements.
Immune-Support Types
Immune-support types are mushrooms associated with natural compounds thought to help maintain body defense and general well-being.
- Reishi – A red mushroom known for boosting immunity and reducing stress naturally.
- Turkey tail – Colorful, fan-shaped fungus used to support immune health and fight infections.
- Maitake – Also called “hen of the woods,” this mushroom helps improve immune function.
- Shiitake – Popular edible mushroom with a rich flavor often used in cooking and medicine.
- Chaga – A dark fungus growing on trees, famous for its antioxidant and immune benefits.
- Agaricus blazei – A medicinal mushroom known for supporting immune system and fighting tumors.
- Mesima – A lesser-known fungus valued for its health-supporting properties in herbal medicine.
- Cordyceps – A rare fungus that grows on insects, used to boost energy and stamina.
- Tremella – Also called snow fungus, known for its jelly-like texture and skin benefits.
- Phellinus linteus – A medicinal mushroom used in traditional medicine to support health and healing.
Energy-Boosting Types
Energy-boosting types are linked to possible endurance benefits, often consumed as powders, extracts, or teas for health routines.
- Cordyceps – A rare fungus that grows on insects, used in traditional medicine for energy.
- Lion’s mane – A white, shaggy mushroom known for brain health and nerve support.
- Chaga – A dark fungus that grows on birch trees, used for immune boosting teas.
- Reishi – Known as the “mushroom of immortality,” it supports wellness and stress relief.
- Agarikon – A large, shelf-like fungus found on old trees with medicinal uses.
- Poria cocos – A woody fungus used in herbal medicine to support digestion and sleep.
- Hericium erinaceus – Another name for Lion’s mane mushroom with health benefits.
- Shiitake – A popular edible mushroom used worldwide for its rich flavor and nutrients.
- Oyster mushroom – Grows in clusters with a mild taste, easy to cultivate at home.
- Turkey tail – A colorful bracket fungus used to support immune health and healing.
Seasonal Mushroom Names
Seasonal mushroom names highlight varieties thriving during specific times of year, reflecting seasonal conditions through texture, flavor, and growth.
Spring Varieties
Spring varieties emerge as temperatures rise, offering light, fresh flavors and tender textures after colder months.
- Morel
- Oyster mushroom
- Enoki
- St. George’s mushroom
- Fairy ring mushroom
- Pheasant back
- Blewit
- Dryad’s saddle
- Chicken of the woods
- Velvet shank
Mushrooms found in Summer
Summer varieties grow in shaded, damp spots, providing subtle flavors and interesting textures to complement warm-season recipes.
- Chanterelle
- King trumpet
- Chicken of the woods
- Parasol mushroom
- Hedgehog mushroom
- Slippery jack
- Indigo milk cap
- Black trumpet
- Oyster mushroom
- Wine cap
Autumn Varieties
Autumn varieties develop richer taste and firmer texture, matching well with hearty seasonal dishes during cooler, moist conditions.
- Porcini
- Maitake
- Shiitake
- Honey fungus
- Cauliflower mushroom
- Saffron milk cap
- Blewit
- Hedgehog mushroom
- Puffball
- Turkey tail
Winter Varieties of Mushrooms
Winter varieties withstand cold weather, retaining firm texture and flavor that suits soups, stews, and slow-cooked meals.
- Wood ear
- Enoki
- Oyster mushroom
- Velvet shank
- Nameko
- Shiitake
- Chaga
- Turkey tail
- Winter chanterelle
- Brick cap
Rare and Unusual Mushroom Names
Rare and unusual mushroom names describe distinctive species with uncommon colors, shapes, or growth patterns, often found only in certain environments.
Exotic Mushrooms
Exotic species grow in specific regions and are valued for unusual culinary qualities or striking appearance in natural environments.
- Caesar’s mushroom – A prized edible mushroom with a smooth, orange cap and mild flavor.
- Blue chanterelle – Known for its blue color and funnel-shaped cap, it grows in forests.
- Matsutake – A rare, aromatic mushroom valued in Japanese cooking for its spicy smell.
- Truffle – An underground fungus famous for its strong aroma and use in gourmet dishes.
- Indigo milk cap – A blue-purple mushroom that releases a milky liquid when cut.
- Devil’s cigar – A unique, dark fungus that looks like a small cigar and grows on wood.
- Tiger milk mushroom – Known for its medicinal properties and striking striped pattern.
- King bolete – A large, brown mushroom popular for its firm texture and rich taste.
- Pink oyster mushroom – Bright pink fungi that grow in clusters and have a mild flavor.
- White truffle – One of the most expensive mushrooms, known for its intense aroma and rarity.
Unique Shapes and Colors
Unique shapes and colors distinguish mushrooms from familiar varieties, making them stand out among other species.
- Blue foot mushroom – A small mushroom with blue stems and tasty, edible caps found in forests.
- Scarlet elf cup – Bright red cup-shaped fungi that grow on decaying wood in damp places.
- Lobster mushroom – A mushroom with a reddish shell-like appearance, often used in cooking.
- Black trumpet – Dark, trumpet-shaped mushrooms prized for their rich flavor and aroma.
- Lion’s mane – A white, fluffy mushroom known for its unique look and health benefits.
- Violet webcap – A purple mushroom with a smooth cap, often found in woodlands.
- Golden jelly fungus – A bright yellow, jelly-like fungus that grows on dead trees.
- Starfish fungus – A star-shaped fungus with arms that spread out, found on forest floors.
- Octopus stinkhorn – A strange-looking fungus with long tentacle-like arms and a strong odor.
- Earthstar – A round fungus that opens like a star, often seen on decaying wood or soil.
FAQ about Mushrooms
Mushrooms grow from spores that develop into a network of threads called mycelium, which absorbs nutrients from the environment.
No, mushrooms belong to the fungi kingdom, which is completely different from plants.
Mushrooms grow best in dark or low-light conditions because they do not need sunlight for energy like plants do. Darkness helps them develop properly.
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