RHS invites fungi into its garden

THE Royal Horticultural Society is growing fungi in its gardens for the first time in almost 200 years, as it praises the “unsung hero” of gardening.

Fungi provide food and shelter for animals, help plant roots absorb water and nutrients, and ward off pests and diseases, the RHS told The Times.

Only a small proportion of fungi are pathogenic and cause disease in plants or animals, whereas the majority feed on dead organic material and help maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Scientists from the RHS are now growing these saprophytic fungi in a laboratory at its main garden at Wisley, Surrey.

Jassy Drakulic, an RHS pathologist, said that the project aims to change people’s perceptions of fungi and value them “as the natural engineers that they are” rather than viewing them as a threat.

She added: “Fungi are the unsung heroes of the garden, helping to break down dead and decaying matter, support plant growth and provide a welcome home for invertebrates.

“Their myriad shapes and colour also provide a sense of otherworldliness in a winter garden scene.”

The fungi being employed include oyster mushrooms, coral tooth fungus and turkey

‘Their myriad shapes and colour provide a sense of otherworldliness’

tail. They were found locally and will be spread on logs and hay bales at RHS Wisley’s wildlife garden next month.

Gardeners are advised to encourage good fungi to grow by placing pieces of dead wood of varying sizes in their gardens. This encourages the growth of mycelium from which mushrooms grow. Poisonous fungi, such as fly agaric, are not being championed by the RHS.