Unlike their carnivorous namesake, lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are almost never found in packs but prefer to grow in solitude. Mushroom foragers delight at discovering these pearlescent pom-poms amid the darkness of the forest interior while health advocates rave about their promising cognitive and immune system benefits. In this species spotlight, you’ll learn how to find, grow, and use this popular culinary-medicinal fungi known for centuries in eastern Asia as both a food and medicine.
What does lion's mane look like?
Lion's mane mushrooms are striking fungi. Appearing to float against the wood of dying hardwood trees, their furry looking, cream-colored fruiting bodies are covered in a coat of cascading icicle-like “teeth.” This is quite different from the overlapping clustered caps of oyster mushrooms or the smooth, shelf-like brackets of reishi or chicken of the woods. As part of the Hydnoid or tooth fungi, lion's mane mushrooms bear their spores on these pendant (free hanging) structures rather than from gills or pores. The teeth of younger fruiting bodies are shorter (less than half an inch) and whiter while mature specimens host spines reaching 2 inches in length fading to a yellow-brown. Fruiting bodies can range in size from just a couple of inches across to half a foot, with some weighing 5lbs or more!
Where do lion's mane mushrooms grow?
Lion's mane mushrooms are native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, and can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are primarily saprotrophic, feeding on dead and decaying hardwood logs, stumps, and trees of beech, maple, and oak. These fungi prefer to fruit in cooler temperatures (55 to 70 degrees F) and are typically foraged in the fall in New England. Luckily for us, lion’s mane is far easier to cultivate than it is to find growing in the wild.
Best ways to grow lion's mane
Lion’s mane can be cultivated indoors on hardwood sawdust to make fruiting blocks, or outdoors on logs, pillars, and stumps.
Growing & fruiting lion's mane mushrooms indoors
Lion’s mane can be grown in a number of ways indoors and out. For indoor cultivation we recommend growing lion’s mane from a grow kit such as a Spray & Grow Kit (for beginners) or a fruiting block kit in a fruiting chamber like a Martha tent or in a monotub. If you have enough space, lion’s mane can be grown from containers indoors as well. You can also use cultures to make your own grain spawn and supplement grain spawn or use Mastr Mix to make your own lion's mane fruiting blocks.
Keep in mind that this species is sensitive to high CO2 levels and will require a fresh air exchange system if grown in an enclosed space such as a monotub. When grown indoors in a moist, stable environment, fruiting blocks and Spray & Grow kits may fruit in as little as 2 to 3 weeks.
Growing & fruiting lion's mane mushrooms outside
Outdoors, lion’s mane can be grown in a variety of ways including on logs with plug spawn or on pillars, stumps and in buckets using sawdust spawn. While this fungi is compatible with a number of tree species, it grows best on beech, birch, maple, oak, and cherry. When growing outdoors, patience is required for growing lion's mane on logs, pillars, and stumps as it takes up to two years for fruiting to begin. As a reminder, lion’s mane prefers to fruit in the cooler weather of spring, fall, or winter (depending on your location).
Harvesting lion's mane mushrooms
Harvest lion’s mane when its fruiting body is about the size of your fist and hasn't started to brown, twisting and pulling the mushroom from its substrate. For long-term storage, it's best to sauté lion's mane mushrooms before freezing them. After cooking and cooling, place them in an airtight or vacuum-sealed freezer bag, label with the date, and store in the freezer for up to a year
What are the medicinal and nutritional qualities of lion's mane mushrooms?
Mushrooms in general are a nutritious, low-calorie source of vitamins B and D, and contain high amounts of fiber, protein, and antioxidants. They also can serve as an ethical and sustainable meat replacement. In addition to being a good source of potassium, the fruiting body and mycelium of lion’s mane contain a wealth of secondary metabolites (compounds like antibiotics, pigments and scents that are not directly involved in growth and development) that are being studied for their potential neuroprotective, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulatory, and antioxidative properties.
You can use lion's mane mushrooms to make medicinal teas, tinctures, and powders. At North Spore, we use 100% fruiting bodies in our medicinal products.
Lion’s mane has been shown to ease anxiety and depression, inhibit the growth of human cancer cells, and reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, hóu tóu gū, or lion’s mane mushroom is believed to support the liver, spleen, lung, heart, and kidney, so it's fascinating to see modern research highlighting its potential wealth of health benefits. Below are some of best potential benefits of lion's mane mushrooms:
May help with cognitive impairment
While extensive human research is limited, a growing body of evidence suggests that erinacines and hericenones, two classes of secondary metabolites isolated from the mushroom, may help combat nerve damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease and can stimulate nerve growth following nerve crushing incidents. A single Japanese study administering daily doses of powdered lion’s mane to older adults showed significant improvement in mental functioning for the duration of the 16-week trial.
May help the nervous system recover from trauma
Lion's mane is showing considerable promise for nerve damage repair in in-vitro and animal studies.
One study has demonstrated significant healing after a nerve crushing incident. Injured rats were given lion's mane extract made from fruiting bodies and showed marked improvement in their speed of recovery. The study indicated that there is a potential use for lion's mane in the early stages of nerve or spinal injuries, though human trials are needed to confirm these hypotheses.
May help with diabetes prevention and symptom treatment
Lion’s mane mushrooms, in addition to reishi and shiitake, may help regulate blood sugar by effectively blocking the enzyme alpha-glucosidase which breaks down carbohydrates into simpler sugars in the small intestine, and a 2013 study discovered that administering lion's mane extract to diabetic rats for 28 days resulted in lower glucose levels and higher insulin levels.
How to cook lion's mane mushrooms
Lion's mane mushrooms have a tender, spongy texture and a mildly sweet flavor making them an excellent vegetarian substitute for seafood dishes that call for crab or lobster. We like it in risotto, pasta, or soup, or simply slicing it into rounds and pan-frying it in olive oil or butter. Try ripping it up and making lion's mane “crab” cakes. With a tortilla press, they release their moisture and are prepped for the frying pan where, with plentiful butter and heat, they crisp into pancake sized discs, like mushroom latkes. They also yield a near gelatinous material when cooked and reduced, making them an underutilized tool in vegetarian sauces. Our friend and vegan chef Turnip Vegan has crafted plenty of creative meat-free recipes featuring homegrown lion's mane (and other) mushrooms.
Lion’s mane can also be enjoyed dried, extracted or steeped as tea. We always recommend thoroughly cooking your mushrooms in order to improve its texture, flavor, and digestibility. If it's your first time trying lion's mane, we recommend starting with a small amount to see how your body reacts, as some people can be allergic.
Turnip Vegan's ancho chili lime tacos with smokey lion's mane
Final thoughts on lion's mane
Lion's mane, with its shaggy appearance and shellfish-like flavor, continues to gain in popularity among foodies, mushroom growers, and wellness advocates. Whether discovered in the wild or cultivated at home, it offers remarkable promise in cognitive and immune system benefits alongside a rich nutritional profile, helping to secure its place among the pantheon of powerful culinary-medicinal fungi.