John Miller
Mushrooms are the visible fruiting bodies of fungi, which play an important role in ecosystems by decomposing organic matter. They grow on trees when conditions are right, such as during the rainy season, or when there is high humidity, moderate temperatures, and nutrient availability. While some mushrooms are edible, others are toxic, and some can even be deadly. Mushrooms that grow on trees can be broadly classified into three types: saprotrophic mushrooms, which feed on dead and decaying wood; parasitic mushrooms, which feed on living trees; and mycorrhizal mushrooms, which form beneficial symbiotic relationships with living trees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Oyster, shiitake, chicken of the woods, maitake, lion's mane, enokitake, velvet shank, wood ear, elm oyster, aspen oyster, late fall oyster, golden oyster, honey fungus |
| Mushroom characteristics | Caps and stems, gills, white spore prints, edible, gourmet, meaty flesh, saprotrophs, medicinal, culinary, parasitic, benign, harmful |
| Mushroom habitat | Decomposing hardwood logs, stumps, dead trees, living trees, injured trees, branches, roots |
| Preferred host trees | Elm, box elder, aspen, oak, beech, maple, chestnut, eucalyptus, willow, wild cherry, poplar, alder, birch, fruit trees, hedge plants, acacia, ash, cherry, elm, spruce, walnut, yew |
| Mushroom cultivation | Logs should be inoculated within 4 weeks of cutting, mycelium should outcompete other fungi, logs should be fresh |
| Mushroom benefits | Provides extra nutrients and moisture, extends the range of tree roots, health benefits, culinary uses |
| Mushroom dangers | Signs of unhealthy trees, cause serious damage, Armillaria root rot, brown heart rot, tree rot, tree decay |
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What You'll Learn
- Oyster mushrooms grow on elm, box elder, aspen, oak and beech trees
- Maitake mushrooms are parasites of white and red oak, and maple trees
- Chicken of the woods grows on deciduous hardwood trees like oak, maple, beech, willow, and eucalyptus
- Honey fungus is a harmful mushroom that grows near the roots of oak, birch, fruit trees, and hedge plants
- Mycorrhizal mushrooms form a symbiotic relationship with living trees, exchanging nutrients for simple sugars
Oyster mushrooms grow on elm, box elder, aspen, oak and beech trees
Oyster mushrooms are saprotrophs, meaning they grow on decomposing hardwood logs, stumps, or dead trees. They are one of the easiest mushroom species to grow and are prized for their subtle flavours and meaty flesh. They come in various shapes and colours, including pink, blue, and yellow varieties.
Elm oyster mushrooms (Hypsizygus ulmarius) grow on elm trees and box elders. They are often found growing from branch scars and wounds in living elms and box elders. They are highly sought after by mushroom foragers due to their delicate aroma and mild nutty flavour. They are also one of the few oyster mushrooms that continue to increase in mass even after their caps flatten.
Aspen oyster mushrooms (Plerotus populinus) grow on aspen trees. They are the most common oyster mushrooms and are nearly identical to the ones found in stores. They tend to grow in clusters, unlike elm oyster mushrooms, which grow individually or in small groups.
Oyster mushrooms also grow on oak and beech trees. The veiled oyster mushroom (Pleurotus dryinus), for example, is found late in the season on these trees.
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Maitake mushrooms are parasites of white and red oak, and maple trees
Maitake mushrooms, also known as "dancing mushrooms", are a type of fungus that is commonly found at the base of oak trees and other hardwoods. They are particularly fond of white and red oaks, but they can also be found on maple trees. These mushrooms are parasitic, feeding on the roots of aging oak trees and causing a butt rot in the host tree. While maitake mushrooms are considered weakly parasitic, they can still cause damage to their host trees, slowly weakening them over time.
Maitake mushrooms have a unique appearance, with flattened grayish-brown caps that have wavy edges. This resemblance to the ruffled feathers of a sitting hen has earned them the nickname "hen of the woods". They are also known as the "beef of the woods" or "Salisbury steak of the woods" due to their culinary versatility and delicious taste. Maitake mushrooms are prized for their edible and medicinal qualities, with traditional healers in Asia having used them for centuries.
Maitake mushrooms typically grow in clusters on stumps, downed trees, and living trees. They are often found in the summer and are commonly seen on oaks. Foragers east of the Rocky Mountains hold maitake mushrooms in high regard for their flavour and underappreciation. Maitake mushrooms are also considered a good find for foragers because, despite their excellent taste, they are not widely harvested.
Maitake mushrooms are not the only type of fungus that grows on trees. There are three common types of fungi that grow on trees: cap fungi, which produce mushrooms with distinct caps and stems and are generally the most well-known type of mushroom; shelf or bracket fungi, which produce shelf-like projections that are their spore-producing bodies; and mycorrhizal mushrooms, which form beneficial symbiotic relationships with living trees by extending the range of the tree's roots in exchange for simple sugars.
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Chicken of the woods grows on deciduous hardwood trees like oak, maple, beech, willow, and eucalyptus
Chicken of the woods is a brightly coloured, edible bracket fungus that grows in large tiered clusters on dead and decaying trees. It is commonly found on deciduous hardwood trees, such as oaks, maples, and beeches. It can also be found on willow, wild cherry, eucalyptus, and chestnut trees. Chicken of the woods is parasitic and saprobic, causing reddish-brown rot in its host trees.
Oaks are a preferred tree type for cultivating mushrooms due to their dense wood, which offers sustained nutrition for a longer fruiting period. Chicken of the woods is often found on dead or dying trees, but it has been known to fruit on living trees as well. It typically grows from late spring to early autumn, and fall is usually the best time to find these mushrooms.
Chicken of the woods gets its name from its taste and texture, which are similar to chicken meat. It has a mild flavour with lemony undertones and a dense, fibrous, succulent flesh that resembles cooked chicken. This makes it a popular meat replacement in vegetarian and vegan dishes.
In addition to chicken of the woods, there are several other types of mushrooms that grow on trees. Oyster mushrooms, for example, are saprotrophs that grow in clusters on decomposing hardwood logs, stumps, or dead trees. They come in various shapes and colours, including pink, blue, and yellow, and are prized for their subtle flavours and meaty flesh. Shiitake mushrooms are another example, favouring host trees such as chestnut, maple, beech, and oak. They have dark brown, umbrella-shaped caps and thin, fibrous stems, and they grow in groups on fallen branches in warm, moist environments.
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Honey fungus is a harmful mushroom that grows near the roots of oak, birch, fruit trees, and hedge plants
Honey fungus is a harmful mushroom that can be identified by its yellowish-brown colour and distinct white ring around its stems. They grow in clusters around the bases of trees or their roots, and sometimes on the ground over dead roots. They are particularly attracted to oak trees, but can also be found on birch trees, fruit trees, and hedge plants. The fungus spreads underground by direct contact between the roots of infected and healthy plants, and by means of black, root-like structures called rhizomorphs.
Honey fungus is a destructive pathogen that attacks and decays tree roots, eventually killing them entirely. The rot caused by the fungus eats the wood and bark at the base of the tree, causing it to become unstable and at risk of breaking and falling. Once the roots of a tree are invaded by honey fungus, it is difficult to control the spread, which is why prevention is the best course of action.
To check whether a plant is infected with honey fungus, one can peel away the bark at the base of the plant. A white or creamy white, paper-thin layer of fungal tissue (mycelium) indicates the presence of honey fungus. Rhizomorphs (bootlaces) can also be seen protruding from the root, as well as the white fungal mycelium found underneath the bark.
Honey fungus is a white-rot fungus, a pathogenic organism that affects trees, shrubs, woody climbers, and rarely, woody herbaceous perennial plants. It can grow on living, decaying, and dead plant material, and can kill its host with little consequence. The fungus can spread from living trees, dead and live roots, and stumps by reddish-brown to black rhizomorphs at the rate of approximately 3.3 feet (1 metre) a year.
While honey fungus is harmful to plants, it is considered a delicacy in some countries in Europe, including Ukraine, Russia, Poland, and Germany. However, it must be thoroughly cooked as it is mildly poisonous when consumed raw. It is also advised not to drink alcohol for 12 hours before and 24 hours after consuming honey fungus to avoid any possible nausea and vomiting.
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Mycorrhizal mushrooms form a symbiotic relationship with living trees, exchanging nutrients for simple sugars
Mushrooms that grow on trees are usually either edible or medicinal, and often both. Oyster mushrooms, for instance, are a favourite with chefs and are prized for their subtle flavours and meaty flesh. They are also known to provide several health benefits. Oyster mushrooms grow on elm trees, box elders, aspens, oaks and beeches. They are saprotrophs, meaning they grow on decomposing hardwood logs, stumps or dead trees.
Chicken of the woods is another edible mushroom that grows on deciduous hardwood trees like oaks, maples, beeches, willows, wild cherries, sweet chestnuts and eucalyptus trees. It is a brightly coloured fungus that grows in large tiered clusters. Maitake mushrooms, also known as hen of the woods, are parasites of trees, typically white and red oaks, but they can also be found on maples. They are prized for their culinary versatility and medicinal properties.
Elm oyster mushrooms, as the name suggests, grow on elm trees and box elders. Aspen oyster mushrooms are found on aspens, while Pluerotus dryinus grows on oak and beech. Late fall oyster mushrooms are eaten in Japan and grow on oaks and beeches. Golden oyster mushrooms are an invasive species that grow on elms, cherry and other hardwoods.
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Frequently asked questions
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most common types of mushrooms found on trees. They are popular with chefs for their subtle flavours and meaty flesh. They can be found growing in clusters on decomposing hardwood logs, stumps, or dead trees. Other types of mushrooms that grow on trees include shiitake, chicken of the woods, and maitake.
Not necessarily. Many mushrooms form beneficial connections with a tree's roots. However, some mushrooms can cause serious damage to trees. If you notice mushrooms growing on your tree, it is important to monitor them and understand their impact on the tree's health.
Mushrooms are fungi that decompose organic matter, breaking down dead plant and animal materials. They can spread through the air and find their way to an ideal host tree. To cultivate mushrooms on a tree, you can match the mushroom species to its preferred type of tree. For example, oyster mushrooms will be more successful on poplars and aspens than oaks or maples. Logs should be inoculated within 4 weeks of cutting to prevent competition from other fungi.
