Native Hericium erinaceus - JCMBR37 (Lions Mane) Liquid Culture

10ml of Lions Mane liquid culture, complete with a 16g prick & IPA wipe.

This culture was obtained from a wild fruiting body, found in Brighton Sussex and kindly sent to our lab for preservation.

This native Lions Mane produces lovely white, dense pompom like fruits. Minimal bruising and keeps well. 

Don’t forget to add a bag of Sterile Grain to get your grow underway!

Our gourmet cultures are the perfect choice, to expand your own liquid mycelium or produce your own mushroom grain spawn, fruiting blocks and to ultimately, grow your own gourmet mushrooms! The 10ml syringe contains a premium culture, nurtured by us at Jurassic Coast Mushrooms, suspended in a broth rich in nutrients, to jump-start the growth of your mushrooms. 

What you'll receive -

• 1 x 10ml liquid culture syringe
• 1 x IPA wipe
• 1 x 16g sterile prick

By choosing a native liquid culture, you're not only going to be rewarded with yummy mushrooms but you will also be playing your role in preserving and supporting native fungi.

Our Hericium liquid cultures are produced in-house under sterile laboratory conditions and selected for vigorous growth, reliable colonisation and strong fruiting performance. This collection includes both Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) and Hericium coralloides (Coral Tooth), two highly prized gourmet fungi known for their distinctive appearance, rapid growth and exceptional culinary qualities.

Hericium species are wood-loving fungi that produce dense white mycelium and striking cascading fruiting bodies. Lion’s Mane develops large pom-pom style formations with elongated spines, while Coral Tooth forms intricate branching structures resembling underwater coral or icicles. Both species are highly sought after by cultivators, chefs and mycology enthusiasts alike.

Each liquid culture contains actively growing live mycelium suspended within a nutrient-rich solution, suitable for inoculating sterilised grain, agar plates or liquid media. Hericium species are generally considered highly rewarding to cultivate and perform exceptionally well on hardwood-based substrates.

Colonisation & Incubation

For best results, inoculate sterile grain using aseptic technique in a clean working environment. Suitable grain options include millet, rye, wheat and sorghum. Once fully colonised, grain spawn can be transferred to hardwood sawdust substrates supplemented with bran or other nutritional additives.

Ideal incubation temperatures typically range between:

• 20–24°C

Typical grain colonisation times:

• 10–21 days depending on temperature, grain type and inoculation rate

Bulk substrate colonisation generally occurs within:

• 2–4 weeks

Hericium mycelium is often bright white and dense in appearance, though some strains may display softer or more wispy growth patterns during early development. Fully colonised blocks can become firm and consolidated prior to fruiting initiation.

Fruiting Conditions

Hericium species generally prefer:

• High humidity (85–95% RH)
• Good fresh air exchange
• Moderate indirect lighting
• Stable temperatures

Recommended fruiting temperatures:

• 15–22°C

Fresh air exchange is particularly important during fruiting, as poor airflow can lead to malformed growth or compressed spine development. Maintaining consistent humidity while avoiding excessive surface moisture will encourage healthy fruit body formation and elongated spines.

Lion’s Mane typically forms dense rounded clusters, while Coral Tooth develops delicate branching structures with cascading teeth across multiple growth points. Under suitable conditions, both species can produce multiple flushes from a single substrate block.

Substrate Recommendations

Hericium species perform best on hardwood-based substrates such as:

• Hardwood sawdust
• Hardwood fuel pellets
• Supplemented sawdust blocks
• Enriched wood-based cultivation mixes

Some cultivators also achieve success using master’s mix style substrates containing hardwood and soy hull supplementation.

Stable environmental conditions and fully colonised substrates are important for successful fruiting and overall yield.

Handling & Storage

Shake thoroughly before use to distribute the live mycelium evenly throughout the liquid culture. Always use sterile needles and clean inoculation procedures to minimise contamination risk.

For short-term storage:

• Refrigerate between 2–8°C
• Avoid freezing
• Allow the syringe to reach room temperature prior to use

For optimum vitality and performance, liquid cultures are ideally used within several months of receipt.

For Research & Cultivation

Our Hericium liquid cultures are intended for mycological research, microscopy and cultivation purposes. Growth characteristics, morphology and fruiting behaviour may vary between species, strains and environmental conditions.

Whether you are producing gourmet mushrooms at home, expanding your culture library or experimenting with advanced cultivation techniques, Hericium species remain among the most fascinating and rewarding fungi available to cultivators.