Chicken of the Woods
Laetiporus sulphureus
Also called: Chicken of the Woods, Sulphur Shelf, Sulphur Polypore, Chicken Mushroom, Crab of the Woods
Overview
Parasitizes living oak, cherry, locust (heart rot), then continues as saprotroph after host death. Spring fruitings tend to come off living trees; fall off dead — same organism, different host stage.
Edibility
Edible
Rarity
common
Trophic mode
parasitic-saprotrophic
Typical peak
Sep
Season
May–Nov (peak Aug–Oct) — typical fruiting months: Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Host trees & substrate
- Oak
- Black cherry
- Black locust (caution)
- Standing dead hardwood
Where it grows
See live fruiting predictions for Chicken of the Woods on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.
Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.