April 27, 2022

NZ Mushroom Growing: Lions Mane, King Oyster, Reshi & Chaga

mushroom growing tips

Mushroom growing in NZ is very restricted. Here's the reason why and a list of what we are allowed to grow.

Contents hide

1 Growing Exotic Mushrooms in NZ

2 Lion’s Mane in NZ

3 Resihi in NZ

4 Controversy with the “Blue Oyster” mushroom in NZ

5 The controversy of the growing Pink Oyster mushrooms in NZ

6 The “allowed” list of Mushrooms in NZ

Growing Exotic Mushrooms in NZ

Mushroom growing in NZ is very restricted. We often get asked if we grow the following varieties. Sadly, we are not allowed to grow or even buy them as “fresh” in New Zealand.

Lion’s mane mushroom – No
King Oyster Mushroom – No
Cordyceps – No
Reshi – No
Chaga – No

As there are so many varieties not allowed, it’s easier to list the 25 that are permitted (see below). Anything not on this list would fall under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996

In 1996 new legislation was introduced to protect our native species and agricultural industry from unintentional threats aka bio-security. This means anything not growing in NZ before 1996 does not make the cut, and adding a new variety to the okay list is next to impossible. This is controlled by the EPA with MPI responsible for endorsing it.

King Oyster Mushroom growing, not allowed in NZ — king oyster

However, a recent addition to this list (and it took a lot of effort to prove it was growing before 1996) is Pleurotus ostreatus. But, even with its inclusion on the list no Mushroom grower in NZ has successfully been able to import it. There is a caveat to this; see the section on the Blue Oyster mushroom below.

Fortunately, some of these can still be purchased if they have been processed, so frozen, canned or dried.

Lion’s Mane in NZ

Can you grow or buy fresh Lion’s Mane in NZ? The simple answer is no.

However, a similar variety is allowed: Pekepeke kiore (Hericium novae-zealandiae) aka Coral tooth (Hericium coralloides). These are related to Lion’s Mane & often referred to as cousins. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to back up the claim that they have any health benefits.

lion's mane mushroom mushroom growing in NZ — Lions mane

Most people asking about Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) are interested in the health benefits because they have been scientifically validated in terms of health claims. To position the NZ Species as being similar “enough” that there is a benefit is misleading advertising.

The NZ varieties can be used in recipes calling for Lion’s Mane, but have a completely different texture and flavour. For a health benefit, you can buy Lions Mane supplements, as it these are processed, so is allowed to be imported.

Resihi in NZ

The story of Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is similar to Lion’s Mane above. Reishi is not allowed to be grown in NZ. Even dried Reishi is not allowed unless it has been processed into a powder and UV sterilised. It is the only mushroom with such tight scrutiny when imported into NZ. However, like Lion’s mane, there is a “cousin” (3 in fact) in NZ that occurs naturally and can be grown. The main one is Ganoderma applanatum aka Artist’s Conk. This can be found growing on trees like mountain beech.

If you are interested in buying Reishi Supplements, you can do so here.

Further reading:

Properties of Reishi G. lucidum compared to G. applantum. Ganoderma applanatum mushroom provides new insights into the management of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic degeneration: A comprehensive analysis.

Controversy with the “Blue Oyster” mushroom in NZ

In 2019, it was proven that Pleurotus osteatus (often called the Blue Oyster Mushroom in NZ) was growing and being cultivated before the 1996 cut-off date. This meant the EPA had to pass a ruling that this mushroom can be imported and grown in NZ. However – no NZ mushroom grower has been able to successfully import it – as MPI has a very strict genetic test that disqualifies this mushroom. It should also be noted that MPI has historically taken a very strong dislike to this mushroom and has made efforts to relax regulations for it.

This variety of Oyster mushrooms is the most commonly grown Oyster mushroom in other countries. It is often the one referred to as “the” Oyster mushroom. It is very similar to the Grey (Phoenix) Oyster. One of the benefits of the Blue Oyster is that it lasts a bit longer after harvesting.

The controversy of the growing Pink Oyster mushrooms in NZ

In a presentation, a Landcare research scientist made a statement that there was a possibility that the spore from the Pink Oyster mushroom may cross and ‘pollute’ the genetics of the native Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus parsonsiae (often called the Velvet oyster mushroom in NZ).

The Pink Oyster mushroom is one of the few varieties that the EPA allowed into NZ after the 1996 act, probably because they did not see a threat as it would have a chance of surviving in the NZ environment. This is because the Pink Oyster is a tropical mushroom, adapted to life in the tropics and living on tropical hardwoods.

To date, there has been no evidence of such an event, either Pinks escaping into the wild or cross genetics. However, it is probably prudent that people do not grow the same varieties of mushrooms together.