Most of our Chicken of the Woods strains are isolated from native stock on the East Coast of the U.S., meaning they prefer hardwoods, specifically varieties of oak. This species is a polypore, with no gills, and is best harvested young by slicing the outermost tender, silky tissue on the tips, which can regenerate more tips if you go back and harvest a week or so later! Fruiting bodies range from light salmon to bright orange in color and wither white or yellow tube color depending on the species. This mushroom must be chopped and boiled in water, then tossing the water, and cooked like you normally would chicken. My favorite way is to turn it into chicken of the woods parmesan. It is so tasty this way.
Read our latest blog on how to make this tasty recipe, and also how to cultivate this mushroom and guarantee fruit:
How to grow chicken of the woods (Laetiporus spp.)
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Chicken of the Woods “Phil” (White Pored) - Laetiporus gilbertsonii var. pallidus - Isolated from a White Oak stump on our friend Phil’s property in Georgia, this one will adapt to many oak species. Inoculate fresh cut stumps or rounds or you can stack oak rounds “iced” with sawdust spawn in between for best fruiting.Preferring White Oak, this species is a tender, silky tissued, juicy form of Chicken of the Woods that is salmon-orange with alpine white pores underneath that typically fruits in the fall.
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Chicken of the Woods “Cherry”(Yellow Pored) - Laetiporus sulphureus - What grows on Cherry wood? This new strain was found by folks like you and cloned to make spawn that everyone could use to inoculate Cherry trees and related species. This unique find is bright orange with yellow tubes underneath, and was found COVERING a standing dead cherry tree in Pennsylvania.
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Chicken of the Woods "Enoree" (White Pored) - Laetiporus cincinnatus - Found growing on an American Elm by our friend Scott in South Carolina, this is a beautiful species of chicken of the woods with white pores. A delicious as a substitute for chicken.
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Chicken of the Woods "Chattooga" (White Pored) - Laetiporus cincinnatus - Found growing on rotting downed tree, this chicken of the woods has a gorgeous bright orange florette fruiting type body with white pore surface.
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Edibility and taste: Like white chicken meat, great texture
Grows on: Oaks, except for a few strains for Hemlock and Cherry
Fruiting Temps: Varies, Spring to Fall
Availability: Year Round