✅ Edibility Note
CHOICE EDIBLE when young and on proper hosts: Harvest only young, tender, pliable specimens. AVOID specimens growing on eucalyptus as these commonly cause digestive upset in many people. Specimens from oak and other native hardwoods are safer. Start with small amounts to test tolerance. Cook thoroughly. Best when soft and moist. Some individuals react poorly regardless of host tree.
Description
Bright orange to salmon-pink bracket fungus with sulfur-yellow pore surface, forming large overlapping shelves 2-10 inches wide. Very similar to L. sulphureus but typically more pink-orange tones. Soft and succulent when young, becoming tough with age. Distinguished from eastern species by western range and host trees, particularly eucalyptus and oak. Annual bracket.
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat: Parasitic and saprobic on living and dead hardwood trees in western North America, particularly eucalyptus, oak, and other hardwoods. Forms large rosettes on trunks and at bases of trees. Common on ornamental eucalyptus in California. Causes brown cubical heart rot.
Region: California coast, Pacific coastal areas, Southwestern deserts, Baja California, Western North America, Particularly common in urban California
Seasonality
Late fall through spring in California, typically October-March, coinciding with rainy season. Can fruit year-round in mild coastal climates. Peak in December-February. Opposite seasonal pattern from eastern Laetiporus.
Common Lookalikes
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species:
- Laetiporus sulphureus (eastern, different season/hosts)
- Laetiporus conifericola (on conifers, different region)
- Other western Laetiporus species (similar edibility)
- Jack-o'-lantern (Omphalotus olivascens) - toxic, has gills not pores
Track Your Chicken of the Woods Finds
Save location, photos, and notes securely on your device. Works offline in the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.