The **Blue Oyster** mushroom (*Pleurotus ostreatus* var. *columbinus*, also known as *Pleurotus columbinus*) is a striking variety with a distinctive blue-gray tint, closely related to the common pearl oyster.

Its cultivation needs are essentially the same as those for pearl or standard oyster mushrooms. These mushrooms fruit readily on a broad variety of substrates, including straw, sawdust, wood chips, newspaper and cardboard.

The vibrant blue hue is most intense in the early growth stages and on young fruiting bodies. As the mushrooms mature, the color fades significantly—often leaving just a subtle hint of blue or shifting to pale gray, steel-blue, or nearly white tones in older specimens. This makes them especially eye-catching when harvested young.

Colonization/Fruiting Temperatures: 70-75F/65-80F