Lion's Mane is prized in the kitchen for its tender texture and mild, seafood-like flavor, and it's just as popular as a functional mushroom. This bag arrives fully colonized with bright white, cottony mycelium, ready to spawn into Master's Mix or supplemented hardwood.
- H. erinaceusSpecies
- ~5 lbColonized grain
- 60–70°FFruiting temp
- BeginnerSkill level
- 12–13Master's Mix bags
Why grow Lion's Mane from our spawn
Beginner-friendly
Straightforward to grow from colonized spawn, fruiting at 60–70°F.
Dual purpose
Grown both as a gourmet mushroom and for functional use.
Ready on arrival
The grain often loosens up in transit, so it's usually ready to spawn as soon as you open the box.
White specks are normal: Lion's Mane often leaves small white flecks on the kernels. That's healthy growth.
From bag to block
1Break it up
Squeeze and massage the sealed bag until the grain separates into loose kernels.
2Set up clean
For a simple Master's Mix spawn, a clean room with still air works. For grain-to-grain or other open work, use a flow hood.
3Spawn about 1:3
Roughly one part spawn to three parts substrate, or about 2 cups per 5 lb bag of sterilized Master’s Mix. One bag covers 12–13.
4Seal and wait
Seal the bags, mix thoroughly and let them colonize at 65–75°F before moving to fruiting conditions.
Lion's Mane grain spawn specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Scientific name | Hericium erinaceus |
| Mycelium | Bright white, cottony and coral-like; small white specks on the grain are common |
| Grain | Mostly white and red millet with a little milo |
| Bag | Unicorn 3T, 3-mil, 0.22-micron filter patch |
| Sterilization | 3-hour autoclave cycle |
| Weight | 5 lb net; bags usually fill to about 5.5 lb |
| Spawn rate | About 1:3; one bag spawns 12–13 bags of 5 lb Master's Mix |
| Best substrates | Master's Mix, hardwood sawdust with bran, supplemented hardwood pellets |
| Fruiting temperature | 60–70°F |
| Skill level | Beginner |
| Type | Gourmet and functional |
| Shelf life | Best within about 90 days; up to 120 days refrigerated at 35–40°F |
| Ships | Same or next business day |
Where our genetics come from
Our master culture collection is the product of years of isolation work in our Illinois lab. We've added to it through a partnership with a leading commercial culture supplier in Canada and with select strains from the UK and Asia. Every culture is kept as first-generation commercial genetics and chosen for clean, vigorous colonization and fruit that's true to type.
Common questions
What should Lion's Mane grain spawn look like?
Bright white and cottony, often with small white specks on the kernels. Both are signs of healthy mycelium.
What substrate works best for Lion's Mane?
Master's Mix, hardwood sawdust with bran, or supplemented hardwood pellets.
How long will the spawn keep?
Use it within about 90 days for the best results. Refrigerated at 35–40°F, it can last around 120 days.
Do I need a flow hood?
Not for a basic Master's Mix spawn in a clean, still room. For grain-to-grain expansion or other open work, use a flow hood or clean room.
What if the bag arrives damaged or contaminated?
Every bag ships fully colonized and is inspected first. If something's wrong, contact us within 5 days of delivery with a photo and we'll send a free replacement.
Made fresh, shipped fast
Each bag is sterilized for 3 hours in an autoclave, inoculated under HEPA-filtered laminar flow and left to colonize completely in a dedicated clean room, then inspected before it ships. Millet's small kernels mean more inoculation points per pound, so the spawn spreads quickly and evenly through your substrate.
We produce on a rolling schedule instead of stockpiling, so your spawn is fresh. It usually ships the same or next business day in padded packaging, with a free cold pack from May through September or for hot destinations.
Lion's Mane spawn, fully colonized
Broken up and ready to spawn
When it arrives: Break up the grain and spawn it soon. If you can't use it right away, refrigerate it at 35–40°F.