Hen of the Woods
(Grifola frondosa)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | not listed |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description
Hen of the Woods easily recognized stalked polypore is common in eastern North America. The numerous, overlapping, smoky-brown caps are reminiscent of a fluffed-up chicken, giving this mushroom its common name. It is found in deciduous woodlands, especially woodland edges. It usually occurs at the base of a dead or dying tree or stump, especially oak. Sometimes it is found apparently on the ground but growing on submerged, rotting roots. It is both saprobic, on dead and rotting wood, and parasitic, on a living tree. It causes butt rot in the heartwood and sapwood of its host. When on a living tree it exploits a wound already created by another organism, rarely being the primary source of infection.
It appears in summer and fall as a large cluster of rosettes of numerous small, overlapping, fan-shaped caps rising from a single base. The base is fleshy but tough and repeatedly branched, with each branch ending in a cap. The clusters are usually 6″ to 16″ in diameter and weigh 5 to 10 pounds, though they can get up to 40″ in diameter and weigh more than 100 pounds.
Each cap is ¾″ to 4″ in diameter, flattened, and spoon-, tongue-, or fan-shaped. It is usually attached to the stalk branch laterally, at the side, sometimes off center but near the side. The upper surface is dark grayish-brown at first, becoming paler and lighter gray with age. It may be smooth, rough, or velvety-hairy. The margins are often wavy. The flesh is firm and white.
The underside (pore surface) is white or yellowish. The spore print is white.
Tender young caps are edible after long, slow cooking. The taste is mild.
Similar Species
Grifola umbellata caps are larger and lighter in color. They are attached near the center, not at or near the side. It is much less common.
Habitat and Hosts
Deciduous woodlands, especially woodland edges, on hardwoods, especially oak.
Ecology
Season
Summer and fall
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 9/28/2025). |
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| 9/28/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Widely distributed and common in eastern North America |
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Taxonomy
Kingdom
Fungi (fungi)
Subkingdom
Dikarya
Phylum
Basidiomycota (club fungi)
Subphylum
Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms)
Class
Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies)
Subclass
Agaricomycetidae
Order
Polyporales (shelf fungi)
Family
Grifolaceae
Genus
Grifola
Family
Some sources place the genus Grifola in the family Meripilaceae, others in the family Grifolaceae.
Subordinate Taxa
Synonyms
Agaricus frondosus
Boletus cristatus
Boletus cristatus var. floriformis
Boletus elegans
Boletus frondosus
Boletus intybaceus
Caloporus frondosus
Caloporus intybaceus
Cladodendron frondosum
Cladomeris frondosa
Cladomeris intybacea
Fungus squamatin-incumbens
Grifola albicans
Grifola frondosa ssp. frondosa
Grifola frondosa ssp. intybacea
Grifola intybacea
Merisma frondosum
Merisma intybaceus
Polypilus frondosus
Polypilus frondosus ssp. intybaceus
Polypilus intybaceus
Polyporus albicans
Polyporus barrelieri
Polyporus frondosus
Polyporus frondosus var. intybaceus
Polyporus intybaceus
Common Names
Dancing Butterfly Mushroom
Hen of the Woods
Maitake
Sheep’s Head
Glossary
Parasitic
Obtaining nutrients from another living organism.
Saprobic
A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.
Visitor Photos
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Patriot Coins MN |
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Hen of the woods - St. Cloud |
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Alli Gao |
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Hen-in-the-woods? |
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Bill Vose |
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Is this hen of woods popped up over the week in my yard about 20 feet from an old white oak? |
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rlaz84 |
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Cannon Valley Foraging |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
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Slideshows
Visitor Videos
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Other Videos
Hen Of The Woods (Maitake, Sheep's Head) Mushroom Identification & Health Benefits with Adam Haritan
Learn Your Land
Mushroom Hunting Maitake Grifola Frondosa Hen of the woods
thethangswedo1
Hen of the Woods Mushrooms
330 MaNiaC
Maitake - Sheepshead - Hen of the Woods - Cooking Mushroom
Leatherwoodoutdoors2
Hen of the woods wild mushroom harvest
Greg Seitz
Visitor Sightings
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
Patriot Coins MN
9/14/2025
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Alli Gao
10/4/2021
Location: Rosland Park, Hennepin County, Edina MN
Hen-in-the-woods?
Jill Jacobson
9/8/2019
Location: Becker County near Ottertail county line.
Growing below a dead oak tree on hill in backyard.
Scott Johnson
9/4/2018
Location: Becker County near Ottertail county line.
Growing below a dead oak tree on hill in backyard.
rlaz84
9/30/2016
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Cannon Valley Foraging
5/13/2016
Location: Afton, MN
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
