Powdered Camellia oleifera ( Oil-seed Camellia ) seed coats and chestnut shells were included as components of substrates used to cultivate H. erinaceus. Highest fungal mycelium growth rates were recorded when the growth substrate included 20% or 40% powdered C. oleifera seed coats. Fruit body yields were increased 29.2% when substrates contained 63% C. oleifera powder, which represented a significant difference ( P 0.05 ) compared with controls. No significant difference ( P 0.05 ) compared with controls was observed when substrates contained chestnut shell power. However, since powdered chestnut shells and oleifera seed coats are cheaper than sawdust, both are suitable for inclusion in substrates used to cultivate H. erinaceus.