Mystery Growth - Ask Extension
Can you identify what this growth is on my shrubs here in Windsor?
Knowledgebase
Mystery Growth #923142
Asked December 27, 2025, 2:38 PM EST
Can you identify what this growth is on my shrubs here in Windsor?
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Rick,
This is odd...but it looks like it could be at type of shelf fungus, perhaps Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)?
It's not as "shelfy" as some of the photos may look, but it's generally attached to decaying woody plants. Is this shrub alive?
This is odd...but it looks like it could be at type of shelf fungus, perhaps Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)?
It's not as "shelfy" as some of the photos may look, but it's generally attached to decaying woody plants. Is this shrub alive?
Yes the shrub was alive this summer. However, we did need to remove three adjoining identical shrubs. They were dying and the lawn care and tree professionals were unable to determine the reason why.
Hi again,
With the additional photos, it could also be a slime mold. The timing is unusual - usually it's something we see during the growing season, but with the very warm weather, it's not unsurprising. This fungus feeds on decaying matter. We tend to see it in fresh mulch - it's sometimes called "dog vomit fungus" because it looks like...dog vomit. As it ages, it will turn cream or white.
If it's the chicken of the woods fungus, this could kill plants, I don't know if it would be the primary cause. It's likely that the shrubs died from something else.
The shrubs are alpine currant? (They also look like they want to leaf out!)
A few questions:
1. Is there landscape fabric under the rock?
2. Are these shrubs irrigated with drip irrigation?
3. How old are they?
4. Have there been any changes to management of the shrubs in the last year or two?
Thanks!
With the additional photos, it could also be a slime mold. The timing is unusual - usually it's something we see during the growing season, but with the very warm weather, it's not unsurprising. This fungus feeds on decaying matter. We tend to see it in fresh mulch - it's sometimes called "dog vomit fungus" because it looks like...dog vomit. As it ages, it will turn cream or white.
If it's the chicken of the woods fungus, this could kill plants, I don't know if it would be the primary cause. It's likely that the shrubs died from something else.
The shrubs are alpine currant? (They also look like they want to leaf out!)
A few questions:
1. Is there landscape fabric under the rock?
2. Are these shrubs irrigated with drip irrigation?
3. How old are they?
4. Have there been any changes to management of the shrubs in the last year or two?
Thanks!
