Chicken Of The Woods is a perennial grown for the harvest. Notably, it stands up to deer.
Zones
Data not available
pH Range
5-8
Sun
Shade
Days to Maturity
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Score Chicken Of The Woods on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether chicken of the woods actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score chicken of the woods against your land's real conditions.
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What Chicken Of The Woods is
Chicken Of The Woods grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot at maturity. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Chicken Of The Woods
Chicken Of The Woods does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
Data not available
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Shade
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
120+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant chicken of the woods in shade with at least 2 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Chicken Of The Woods prefers pH 5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Watch for cultivar-specific ripeness cues and pick at peak. Local Cooperative Extension guides publish timing tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — chicken of the woods isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Chicken Of The Woods isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Chicken Of The Woods thrives
Whether chicken of the woods thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Chicken Of The Woods will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether chicken of the woods actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Chicken Of The Woods in my zone?
Zone data for chicken of the woods is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
When should you plant Chicken Of The Woods?
Most growers plant chicken of the woods after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Chicken Of The Woods need?
Chicken Of The Woods is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.
What soil does Chicken Of The Woods need?
Chicken Of The Woods prefers soil pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Chicken Of The Woods attract pollinators?
Chicken Of The Woods isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Chicken Of The Woods safe for pets?
Chicken Of The Woods is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.