Combs Tooth Fungus Spawn: Wild Appalachian Hericium americanum. #1 lion’s type for Log Production

This is a true wild mountain culture we found growing between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains in Southwest Virginia.

We grow all of our cultures commercially and stand behind their viability and performance.

This strain of Hericium americanum grows similarly to other Hericium species. It colonizes quickly and typically produces within 6 months, usually the following spring or fall after inoculation.

It has a unique branching, cascading look that really stands out at a farm stand or on a chef’s plate. Flavor is very similar to lion’s mane, mild and slightly sweet.

It fruits across a wide range of seasonal conditions. We farm it year round in Southwest Virginia.

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Choosing Your Spawn Type

We offer:

• Fresh made to order sawdust spawn
• Plug spawn for easy log inoculation

These are locally tested, heavy producing commercial strains.

If your goal is log production, we highly recommend Hericium americanum or comb tooth types.

If you are growing on indoor fruiting blocks, traditional Lion’s Mane performs best in that setting.

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Log Selection Matters

• Cut fresh hardwood logs
• Let them rest about 2 weeks after cutting so natural antifungal compounds break down
• Avoid old or dried logs
• 4 to 6 inch diameter logs are the sweet spot in our experience

The thicker the log, the longer it can produce. Expect 3 to 6 years of production under good conditions.

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Sawdust Spawn Instructions

You will need:

• An inoculation tool (available from Field & Forest or online retailers)
• Hot wax or pliable wax to seal holes

Drill, fill, and seal each inoculation point.

If you are only doing a few logs, you can skip wax by placing the logs in a trash bag for a couple months while they colonize. Just do not forget about them.

Another low tech option is the totem method. You can also cut a wound with a chainsaw and pack it with spawn. Keep things simple.

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Plug Spawn Instructions

Great for beginners.

• Use an 8.5 mm or 5/16 inch drill bit
• Drill 1 inch deep holes with a stop collar
• Hammer in plug spawn
• Ideally seal with wax to prevent drying

If you do not want to wax, the trash bag method works here too. Keep logs out of direct sun and somewhere warm to speed colonization. Do not forget to remove them after a couple months.

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After Inoculation

Logs need about 6 months to fully colonize in a shady, moist location.

They are alive, just like a plant. If conditions are very dry, water them.

Fruiting usually happens after a multi day rain event followed by warming temperatures. When conditions line up, it feels like magic.

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If you are serious about growing your own mushrooms, there are excellent free resources online. Learning the basics will dramatically improve your success.

We grow what we sell.
Tested in our mountains.
Proven in our climate.