How Many Types Of Mushrooms Are There: A Gardener’S Guide To The Fungi

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever walked into your garden after a rainy morning and discovered a mysterious cluster of mushrooms that seemingly appeared overnight? It’s a moment that sparks curiosity in every gardener, making you wonder about the vast, hidden world of fungi right beneath your feet. You might be asking, “Just how many types of mushrooms are there?” and, more importantly, “What do they mean for my garden?”

I promise, by the end of this guide, you won’t just have an answer to that big question—you’ll have a newfound appreciation for these incredible organisms. We’re going to demystify the fungi kingdom together, looking at it through a gardener’s lens.

We’ll dig into the staggering numbers, explore the main categories of mushrooms you’ll encounter, and highlight the delicious types you can grow yourself. We’ll even cover the benefits they bring to your soil and how to handle the ones you’d rather not see. Let’s get started!

The Staggering Number: So, How Many Types of Mushrooms Are There, Really?

When you ask, “how many types of mushrooms are there?”, the answer is both simple and mind-bogglingly complex. The short answer is: a lot. Scientists who study fungi, called mycologists, have a tough job because new species are being discovered all the time!

Currently, experts have officially described around 14,000 to 22,000 species of mushrooms. But here’s the amazing part—that’s believed to be just a tiny fraction of what’s really out there. The total number of fungal species on Earth is estimated to be in the millions, possibly as high as 3.8 million!

For us gardeners, we don’t need to know all of them. What’s more important is understanding the major groups they fall into and how they interact with our gardens. This knowledge is central to any good how many types of mushrooms are there guide.

A Gardener’s Guide to Mushroom Categories

Instead of getting lost in the thousands of individual species, it’s much more helpful to think about mushrooms in terms of how they get their food. This tells you everything you need to know about their role in your garden’s ecosystem. They generally fall into three main groups.

1. Saprotrophic (The Decomposers)

These are the great recyclers of the natural world. Saprotrophic mushrooms break down dead organic matter, like fallen leaves, old wood chips, and leftover roots. Think of them as the cleanup crew for your garden.

When you see these mushrooms on your mulch or in your compost pile, it’s a fantastic sign! It means nature’s decomposition engine is running smoothly, turning waste into nutrient-rich soil. Many delicious gourmet mushrooms, like Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms, are saprotrophs.

2. Mycorrhizal (The Partners)

This is where the magic really happens for gardeners. Mycorrhizal fungi form a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial, relationship with the roots of most plants. The fungus creates a vast network of tiny threads (mycelium) that extends the plant’s root system, helping it absorb water and nutrients it couldn’t reach on its own.

In return, the plant shares some of the sugars it produces through photosynthesis. It’s a beautiful partnership that leads to healthier, more resilient plants. Some of the most sought-after wild mushrooms, like Chanterelles and Porcini, are mycorrhizal.

3. Parasitic (The Takers)

This is the group that can sometimes cause problems. Parasitic fungi feed on living organisms, including our beloved plants and trees. While some are relatively harmless, others can cause significant damage or disease.

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A classic example is the Honey Fungus (Armillaria), which can be a serious issue for trees and woody shrubs. Understanding this category helps in diagnosing certain plant health issues. This is one of the key common problems with how many types of mushrooms are there that gardeners face.

The “Must-Know” Edible Mushrooms for Your Garden & Kitchen

One of the most exciting aspects of learning about fungi is discovering the ones you can eat and even grow yourself! Cultivating your own mushrooms is an incredibly rewarding, eco-friendly project. Here are a few perfect for beginners.

Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Don’t worry—these are perfect for beginners! Oyster mushrooms are some of the easiest to grow. They are saprotrophs that thrive on materials like straw, coffee grounds, or hardwood sawdust. You can buy ready-to-fruit kits or try growing them on logs.

  • Flavor: Mild, savory, and slightly delicate.
  • Growing Medium: Straw, coffee grounds, hardwood logs (like poplar or oak).
  • Difficulty: Very Easy.

Shiitake Mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)

Famous for their rich, umami flavor, Shiitakes are a culinary delight. They are traditionally grown on hardwood logs, which is a wonderful long-term project. Once you inoculate a log with shiitake spawn, it can produce mushrooms for several years. This is a great example of sustainable mushroom growing.

  • Flavor: Meaty, smoky, and rich.
  • Growing Medium: Hardwood logs (especially oak and sugar maple).
  • Difficulty: Easy to Medium.

Wine Cap Mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata)

Also known as the “Garden Giant,” this is the perfect mushroom to integrate directly into your garden beds! Wine Caps are decomposers that happily grow in wood chip or straw mulch. They help build incredible soil while providing a delicious harvest right alongside your vegetables.

  • Flavor: Earthy, nutty, with a hint of red wine.
  • Growing Medium: Wood chip beds or deep straw mulch.
  • Difficulty: Easy.

Beneficial Fungi: The Unseen Heroes of Your Garden Soil

Beyond the edible varieties, understanding the benefits of how many types of mushrooms are there is key to becoming a better gardener. The vast underground network of mycorrhizal fungi is your garden’s best friend.

This “fungal internet” does more than just feed your plants. It improves soil structure by binding soil particles together, which increases water infiltration and reduces erosion. A healthy fungal network makes your entire garden more resilient to drought and disease.

How can you encourage these helpers? It’s simple:

  1. Minimize Tilling: Tilling and heavy digging break up the delicate mycelial networks. Practice no-dig or low-dig gardening where possible.
  2. Use Organic Mulch: A thick layer of wood chips, straw, or shredded leaves provides food for beneficial fungi.
  3. Avoid Fungicides: Chemical fungicides can be indiscriminate, harming the good fungi along with the bad. Use them only as a last resort.

Following these how many types of mushrooms are there best practices will foster a thriving underground ecosystem.

Common Problems: Unwanted Mushrooms in Your Garden

Sometimes, mushrooms pop up where we don’t want them—like in the middle of a perfect lawn. But don’t panic! In most cases, these mushrooms are completely harmless and are actually a sign of healthy, organic-rich soil.

The little brown mushrooms in your lawn are likely saprotrophs, feasting on buried wood, old roots, or thatch. They are simply doing their job of decomposition.

If you’re concerned about pets or small children, you can simply knock them over with a rake or pick them by hand (wearing gloves is always a good idea). They will usually disappear on their own as conditions dry out. There’s rarely a need for chemical intervention.

A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Never, ever eat a mushroom from your garden or the wild unless you are 100% certain of its identification with the help of an expert. Many poisonous mushrooms look dangerously similar to edible ones. When in doubt, throw it out!

Getting Started: Your First Steps into Eco-Friendly Mushroom Cultivation

Ready to try growing your own? This is the best way to truly learn how to how many types of mushrooms are there in a hands-on way. Starting is easier than you think.

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Option 1: The Mushroom Kit

This is the simplest entry point. You can buy a pre-colonized block of substrate (like sawdust or straw) that is ready to fruit. All you need to do is open it, mist it with water, and watch your mushrooms grow. Oyster mushroom kits are fantastic for this.

Option 2: The Log Method

For a more long-term, sustainable project, try inoculating logs with Shiitake or Lion’s Mane spawn. You’ll need to drill holes in a freshly cut hardwood log, insert the spawn (which comes in plugs or sawdust), and seal the holes with wax. It takes more patience, but the rewards last for years.

Option 3: The Garden Bed Method

This is perfect for Wine Cap mushrooms. Simply layer cardboard, fresh hardwood chips, and Wine Cap spawn in a shady part of your garden. Keep it moist, and in a few months to a year, you’ll have mushrooms popping up through the mulch.

Each method has its own simple how many types of mushrooms are there care guide, usually just involving maintaining proper moisture and shade.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mushroom Types

What’s the difference between a mushroom and a fungus?

Think of it like an apple and an apple tree. The fungus is the main organism, a vast network of threads called mycelium that usually lives underground or within wood. The mushroom is just the temporary fruiting body of that fungus, like the apple on the tree. Its job is to produce and release spores to reproduce.

Are mushrooms in my potted plants a bad sign?

Usually not! Most often, the little yellow mushrooms (like Leucocoprinus birnbaumii) you see in houseplants are harmless saprotrophs. They are breaking down the potting mix, which is a natural process. They indicate that your soil is consistently moist, but they won’t harm your plant.

How can I identify a mushroom I found?

Mushroom identification is a complex skill that requires careful observation of features like cap shape, gill structure, stem characteristics, spore color, and habitat. Never rely on a phone app alone. The safest way is to consult local field guides and, most importantly, connect with a local mycological society or an experienced forager for a positive ID. Remember the golden rule: when in doubt, it’s poisonous.

Your Fungi Adventure Awaits!

So, while the technical answer to “how many types of mushrooms are there?” is “tens of thousands, and maybe millions,” the real answer for a gardener is much more personal. It’s about the decomposers turning your mulch into black gold, the mycorrhizal partners helping your tomatoes thrive, and the delicious Oysters you can grow on your countertop.

Don’t be intimidated by the sheer number. Start small. Appreciate the fungi you see as signs of a living, breathing ecosystem in your garden. Maybe even try your hand at growing a simple kit.

You’ve now got a fantastic foundation for understanding the fungi in your world. Go forth and grow, and keep your eyes open for the quiet, incredible magic happening right under your nose!

Rimon Chowdhury
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