🍄 Maitake
Grifola frondosa
medicinal_mushrooms
fungus
Meripilaceae
☀️ Sun
Dappled shade (80, 90% shade)
💧 Water
High humidity (70, 85%); soak logs periodically
🗺️ Zones
4, 8 (outdoor log cultivation)
🧪 Soil pH
N/A (grown on logs/sawdust)
🪴 Soil Type
Hardwood logs (oak, elm, maple) or supplemented sawdust blocks
🚿 Drainage
N/A (logs should be off ground in humid, shaded area)
📏 Spacing
Logs stacked with ample air space; fruiting clusters need room
📐 Height
Fruiting cluster 4, 24 inches across
⏱️ Maturity
12, 24 months from inoculation to first fruiting
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (7)
Shade and humidity maintenance
🤝 Moss
Humidity indicator and environment stabilizer
🤝 Oak Trees
Natural host tree for outdoor cultivation
Different substrate niche, complementary mushroom yard
Oak log mushroom cultivation companion
🤝 Solomon's Seal
Woodland understory companion plant
🤝 Wine Cap Mushroom
Different growing method, diverse mushroom garden
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
Juglone toxicity affects surrounding soil biology
Antifungal wood oils inhibit mycelial growth
⚠️ Pine
Conifer resins and low pH inhibit hardwood-loving fungi
📝 Growing Notes
Challenging to cultivate , needs very specific temperature and humidity conditions. Found wild at the base of mature oak trees in late summer/fall. Fruits from buried logs or supplemented sawdust blocks with a casing layer. Each cluster can weigh 5, 20+ pounds in the wild. Rich, earthy, savory flavor , excellent sautéed in butter or as broth. Can be dried for long-term storage.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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