The Volvariella bombycina (Schaeff.) Singer was initially described in 1774 under the name of Agaricus bombycinus by Schaeffer, J.C., in 1951 it was moved to the Volverialla genus under the name Volvariella bombycina by Singer, R. Volvariella bombycina is a characteristic species with well-established taxonomic background.

Volvariella bombycina is a widespread but uncommon saprobic species that grows primarily on old, broadleaved trees, often in urban areas, parks, gardens, and roadsides. The fruiting bodies are prominent, attracting attention. It usually grows on hot summer days in residential areas when and where no other mushrooms are present.
Being a spectacular species often growing around people makes it a good candidate for a flagship species of fungal conservation. It is a characteristic species with plenty of reliable occurrence data from citizen scientists.

Volvariella bombycina is a worldwide distributed species occurring in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Africa, in temperate, Mediterranean, and subtropical climate zones.

There are more than 3500 records known for this species worldwide in GBIF. It occurs in natural environments but also in secondary habitats, such as parks, orchards, and roadside tree-lines as stepping stones. The species is considered to be stable. Its population size does not seem to be threatened and also the habitats occupied by this species are not declining.

Volvariella bombycina usually produces fruiting bodies on rotting wood of broad-leaved trees, especially on Fagus, Ulmus, Quercus, Populus, Betula, and Tilia. Occasionally it occurs on living trees, inside a hollow or at the foot of the tree. It also grows on other tree species in parks, including Styphnolobium, Robinia, and Platanus.

Volvariella bombycina needs thick logs of old trees. so the presence of coarse woody debris is important for the species existance.

More unmanaged forests and long-term forest reserves should be established in addition to the existing ones, which should be expanded to larger areas.
The management of urban parks should consider fungi as a valuable natural asset and take into account the needs of fungi in the decisions.
In the European Union, the Nature 2000 species list should be extended with fungi species, of which one of the best candidates is Volvariella bombycina as an indicator of old untamed forests.

Volvariella bombycina is edible but not considered to be a delicacy. It is commercially cultivated in Korea and other countries.