What Are the Growing Regions and Locations for Morel Mushrooms?

Commercial mushroom producers have been unable to produce a commercial morel crop, so individuals must hunt morels themselves in specific growing regions. Although morel mushroom hunting can be difficult, because the morels are difficult to see in the landscape, there are specific areas and requirements for morel growth.

Although they require moist areas, the soil still should be well-drained, because morels do not like standing water. In these locations, many types of other mushrooms may be growing, signaling the existence of morels in the area. They are usually found on south-facing hills throughout the Midwest.

Moist areas around dead or dying trees, such as elm, sycamore, and ash trees, or in former apple orchards, are locations where morel mushrooms can be found. Because morel mushrooms use the minerals from tree roots, they require dead or dying trees and plants to thrive. Areas that were recently burned or logged are common locations. Dead trees are necessary for morel mushrooms to grow and thrive.

In Oregon, blond-colored morels can be found on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and they are some of the most sought in the United States, because they have exceptional flavor and a long shelf life. Spread throughout the Midwest, small gray, white, and yellow morels can be found. Black morels are located near ash, aspen, pine and poplar trees. Eastern cottonwood trees can also signify black morels. Dead elm trees produce white, yellow, and gray morels. Poplars and aspen trees produce black morels early in the season in northern Michigan. Black, gray, white, and yellow morels can be plentiful near white ash trees. Yellow morels are found in former apple orchards. Fire morels also grow in the Pacific Northwest in areas that have been burned by forest fires.

If a patch of morels is found, the direction the wind is blowing has an effect on where more can be found. Because mushroom growth is spread by spores, the wind picks up the spores and spreads them in the direction of the wind. Also, if there is sustenance for the morels on the sides of trails, this may be a great place to find them. As hunters pick morels, as long as they are not placed in plastic bags, the morels will release spores along the trail. If dead and dying trees or other vegetation exist along the trail, morels will grow there.

The morel season starts in the spring, when ground and air temperatures begin to warm and the snow turns to rain. In the Pacific Northwest, morel season begins in late March, but in higher elevations, the season begins in August. In the Midwest, because the climate is much milder, morel season begins at the beginning of spring from March through May.