Unlike many other members of the genus Stropharia, it is regarded as a choice edible[3] and is commercially cultivated.

The king stropharia can grow to 20 centimetres (8 inches) high with a reddish-brown convex to flattening cap up to 30 cm (12 in) across,[4] the size leading to another colloquial name godzilla mushroom.

In Paul Stamets' book Mycelium Running, a study done by Christiane Pischl showed that the king stropharia makes an excellent garden companion to corn.

A 2006 study, published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, found the king stropharia to have the ability to attack the nematode Panagrellus redivivus; the fungus produces unique spiny cells called acanthocytes which are able to immobilise and digest the nematodes.

[7] Described as very tasty by some authors, the fungus is easily cultivated on a medium similar to that on which it grows naturally.