The morel,
around the world.

Canton of Valais

Species

Morchella esculenta (round morel)
Morchella conica (conical morel)
Morchella semilibera (half-free morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Calcareous, low-acid soil; found in lowlands and mountains.

Altitude

lowlands to mountains

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

April marks mid-season, according to Romandy practitioners.

Markets

Romandy gastronomic dining

Valais, like several cantons, sets no numerical daily picking limit. VAPKO reminds that the morel likes calcareous and non-acidic soils, that it thrives both in the lowlands and in the mountains, and that it shows three aspects: a round cap with wide pits, a darker pointed cap, and a half-free morel marked by a deep groove between cap and stem. Any mushroom destined for the table can be submitted for free inspection by a VAPKO specialist before cooking. This safety practice is entrenched in Swiss custom. In Romandy gastronomy, the morel heralds spring. It is commonly prepared with Madeira or vin jaune, with a hint of shallot, but never garlic according to local tradition. A resource for family picking and small-scale catering, it does not feed a structured, quantified trade.

Key facts

• Valais is one of the Swiss cantons with no numerical picking ceiling, whereas the Jura, Ticino and Grisons set one.^[9]
• VAPKO lists some fifteen types of morel in the country, including 4 to 5 easy-to-recognise varieties.^[10]
• The morel seeks out calcareous, low-acid ground; it grows indifferently in lowlands and at altitude.^[11]

Sources: ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Canton of Jura

Species

Morchella esculenta (round morel)
Morchella conica (conical morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Jura limestone lands, on both sides of the border.

Altitude

around 500 to 1000 m

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

Calendar similar to that of the neighbouring French Jura.

The Canton of Jura extends the French Jura massif. It shares with France calcareous lands suited to the round morel and the pointed form. Unlike cantons with no framework, it sets a strict limit: 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day. No seasonal protection period is reported by VAPKO. This regime illustrates the great diversity of Swiss rules: each canton freely decides its quotas, calendars and sometimes group size. As everywhere in Switzerland, any picker may submit his or her harvest for free examination by a VAPKO expert before consumption. No commercial supply chain or clearly established cantonal mycological society is to be found there. This territory is only a fraction of the great Jura massif, which spills over into neighbouring France and the canton of Neuchâtel.

Key facts

• The gathering limit is 2 kg per person per day in this canton; no special protection period is reported.^[9]

Sources: ^[9]

Canton of Ticino

Species

Morchella esculenta (spugnola comune)
Morchella conica (spugnola conica)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Southern slope of the Alps, temperate climate, scattered calcareous soils.

Altitude

lowlands to mid-mountain

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

The season may begin slightly earlier than on the northern slope, thanks to milder temperatures.

South of the Alps, Ticino applies specific rules. Each picker may gather up to 3 kg per day, a limit higher than that of several German-speaking cantons. On the other hand, picking is prohibited there between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., a time constraint unknown elsewhere in VAPKO prescriptions. The Italian name “spugnola” testifies to the canton's cultural ties with the Peninsula, where mushroom gathering enjoys an equally strong tradition in the neighbouring mountains and valleys. The mild climate of the southern slope may lead to slightly earlier appearances than on the north face of the massif. No mycological society, no dealer and no Ticino festival have been firmly recorded in the available literature.

Key facts

• Each person may collect a maximum of 3 kg per day in this canton; gathering is closed between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.^[9]

Sources: ^[9]

Canton of Grisons

Species

Morchella esculenta (round morel)
Morchella conica (conical morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Coniferous woods in mid- and high mountain; altitudes higher than the other regions mentioned.

Altitude

mid- to high mountain

Fruiting

April to June

Harvest

May to June

Calendar delayed compared with low-lying regions, linked to altitude and snow cover.

The Canton of Grisons, vast and very Alpine, applies the strictest picking legislation in Switzerland: 2 kg per person per day, a break from the 1st to the 10th of each month, and a ban on picking in groups of more than 3 outside the family circle. These measures reflect heavy pressure on resources in a highly touristic territory anchored in Alpine identity. Grisons forests lie on average higher than in the other cantons mentioned. The morel season there shifts towards the last weeks of spring and the first of summer, depending on snowmelt in coniferous woods. No-one lists a cantonal mycological association, dealer or dedicated event here with any certainty. On the other hand, the legal framework is clearly established and published by VAPKO.

Key facts

• In Grisons, the ceiling is 2 kg per person per day, harvesting is suspended from the 1st to the 10th of each month, and picking is forbidden for more than 3 people outside the family unit.^[9]

Sources: ^[9]

Swiss Trade and Market

Species

Morchella spp. (morels)

The trade in imported dried morels operates independently of local cycles.

Markets

Swiss fine-food shops, gastronomic dining, online B2B/B2C sales

Trade routes

Importation of dried morels from producer countries, then distribution by Romand traders.

The Swiss market has two faces. First, a recreational pick governed canton by canton by VAPKO, which has applied a two-tier control since 2002: professional self-inspection and public verification by sampling. Any harvester can have his or her produce checked free of charge before consuming it. Second, a trade very largely turned towards imported dried morels, reserved for fine-food shops and gastronomic tables. A family business in Vaud founded in 2011 and taken over in 2013 imports, packages and distributes dried morels as well as other mushrooms, for individuals, shops and restaurants. On the institutional side, a national union brings together regional mycological societies. The federal administration publishes official foreign-trade statistics. In principle, they would allow data on morels to be extracted thanks to their customs classification. However, the precise volumes and countries of origin of imports are not accessible here.

Key facts

• Since 2002, VAPKO has supervised a two-tier system for mushrooms sold in Switzerland: professional self-checking and public monitoring by sample survey.^[12]
• A family business in Vaud founded in 2011 and taken over in 2013 imports, packages and distributes dried morels as well as other mushrooms, for individuals, shops and restaurants.^[13]
• The federal administration publishes official foreign-trade statistics, which theoretically make it possible to trace each commodity by its customs classification.^[14]

Sources: ^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]}

Picking and selling in Switzerland

Fresh morels fall under heading 0709 of the Swiss customs tariff, dried morels under heading 0712 (dried mushrooms)^[22]. Import volumes can be consulted in Swiss-Impex, the foreign-trade statistics tool of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security^[14].

Where to Buy Dried Morels in Switzerland

The Swiss traders and outlets we have identified for this page, ourselves included.

Jura Massif

Species

Morchella esculenta (round morel / common morel)
Morchella conica (conical morel / pointed morel)
Morchella semilibera (half-free morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Mid-altitude limestone; broadleaf forest edges for the round morel, coniferous woods for the conical one. Cool soil, never waterlogged.

Altitude

lowlands to around 1500 m

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

The fir morel sometimes appears as early as late February; the blonde morel dominates in April–May. The year 2026 brought a late and subdued spring according to local records.

Markets

regional dining, recreational picking

The Jura Massif straddles the Franco-Swiss border. It ranks among the mycological jewels of France. The limestone soils of this mid-altitude range welcome the round morel near ash and elm at the woodland edge. Higher up, the conical morel frequents spruce and coniferous woods. The season stretches from March to late May. The first shoots appear in the lowlands; snowmelt delays emergence in the mountains. The Société Mycologique de France, founded in 1884 in eastern France and now established in Paris, leads research and field forays. In April 2026, Besançon launched its first Morel Festival, with tastings. Yet gathering in the Jura remains a family and gastronomic practice rather than a measured trade.

Key facts

• VAPKO distinguishes three silhouettes among morels: round cap, pointed cap and half-free morel with a deep groove.^[10]
• The Société Mycologique de France was founded in 1884 in eastern France; it presents itself as the first association of its kind in the world.^[23]
• The first Morel Festival took place in Besançon in April 2026.^[24]

Sources: ^{[10] [23] [24] [25] [26]}

Alps and Massif Central

Species

Morchella conica (conical morel)
Morchella esculenta (round morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Coniferous forests from 400 to 1800 m, rich and slightly acidic soils for the conical one; broadleaf limestone foothills for the round one. Massif Central: varied territory.

Altitude

400 to 1800 m

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to June

In the mountains, harvests follow snowmelt with a two- to three-week lag behind the lowlands.

Markets

recreational picking, local dining

The French Alps and the Massif Central are home to the conical morel in coniferous forests. It is found between 400 and 1800 m, on humus-rich soils, slightly acidic or neutral. The season begins in the lowlands in March, then moves up to the heights until June with the snowmelt. In limestone foothills, the round morel completes the picture at lower altitude. The Massif Central is far less documented than its neighbours: the morel certainly grows there, but its favoured spots still lack detailed mapping. Everywhere, gathering remains a matter of leisure and home cooking. No quantified commercial supply chain has been identified in this area.

Key facts

• The conical morel favours spruce, fir and pine woods between 400 and 1800 m, on slightly acidic or neutral soil.^[27]
• Gathering at altitude begins two to three weeks later than in the lowlands, because of the snowmelt.^[27]

Sources: ^{[25] [27]}

Landes de Gascogne, fire morels

Species

Morchella tomentosa (fire morel)

Main type

Burn morel

Habitat

Sands under maritime pines, after fire. A four-month gap between the fire and the first flush. Maximum abundance the first year, almost nothing the second.

Altitude

lowland

Fruiting

March to April, September to October

Harvest

April to May

The harvest follows the fire with a four-month latency; a late-winter or spring fire yields mushrooms by autumn, a phenomenon observed across the Atlantic.

Markets

online sales, imported harvests

Fire morels bear a velvety cuticle. They only develop after a fire has passed, on sand, often under pines. The phenomenon was first observed in western North America. Four months of mycelial growth separate the fire from the first harvest. Abundance peaks in the first year, then drops almost to nothing. In 2023, scientists detected these fungi in burned pines of northern and central Italy. This is the first record of the phenomenon outside North America. The huge fires of 2022 in the Landes de Gascogne naturally raised hopes of a local appearance on these sandy grounds covered with maritime pine. To date, no published observation confirms fruiting on the spot. Fire morels sold in France actually come from Canadian harvests.

Key facts

• Morchella tomentosa was described in 2008 from specimens of western North America.^[28]
• After a fire, these morels appear about four months later, at the end of a period of mycelial growth. Abundance is high in year one, almost absent in year two.^[29]
• In 2023, research spotted velvety morels in burned pines of northern and central Italy. This is the first record of the phenomenon outside North America.^[30]
• The fire morels sold in France come from Canada, not the Landes.^[31]

Sources: ^{[28] [29] [30] [31]}

Italian Alps and Prealps

Species

Morchella tridentina (Trentino morel)
Morchella elata (Spugnola slanciata)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Calcareous soils, under firs, ash, oaks, elms, chestnuts, planes and pines (Morchella tridentina); conifer litter (Morchella elata)

Altitude

about 600 m, occasionally in the lowlands, mainly mid-mountain

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

March to May

Val di Susa: March–April. Trentino: early April to late May.

Markets

Trade limited by scant volumes, not by demand

Trade routes

Partial export to France, Germany, Switzerland; Italy also imports non-European morels

In the Italian Alpine arc, the morel remains rare and localised. The Trentino morel, Morchella tridentina, can measure up to twenty centimetres and shows close genetic links to black morels. It prefers calcareous soils at medium altitude, among spruces, ash trees and pines. In Val di Susa, picking extends from March to April. The Bresadola Mycological Association, founded in 1957, is the country's largest. It perpetuates the work of the Trentino naturalist Giacomo Bresadola. Commercial supply remains limited, not from lack of interest, but because of scant production. A fraction of the harvest is exported to France, Germany and Switzerland.

Key facts

• Morchella tridentina reaches about 20 cm and grows from April to late May in calcareous mid-mountain areas.^[32]
• AMB was founded on 7 December 1957 in Trento; it has more than 10 000 members and 128 local groups.^[33]
• Giacomo Bresadola (1847-1929) published Fungi tridentini (1881-1892) and Iconographia Mycologica (1927-1933, around 25 volumes).^[34]

Sources: ^{[32] [33] [34] [35]}

Peninsular and Mediterranean Italy

Species

Morchella esculenta (Spugnola, Spungola)
Morchella dunalii
Morchella anthracophila

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Po riparian woodlands; coastal pine forests and Mediterranean oak woods; Etna's volcanic sands; alluvial soils in Calabria and Basilicata

Altitude

0 to 200 m on the plain and coast, higher on Etna

Fruiting

February to June

Harvest

February to June

Morchella dunalii from February in the Mediterranean zone; on Etna until May–June

Recorded price

Around 50 to 100 EUR/kg in 2026 for Romanian products marketed in Italy^[36]

Markets

All Morchella species are edible and marketable in Sicily; trade limited by low volumes

Trade routes

Partial export to France, Germany, Switzerland; complementary imports

Outside the Alpine arc, the Italian morel follows rivers and the coastline. In the Po plain, Morchella esculenta thrives in ash riparian woodlands on free-draining sandy soils. Further south, Morchella dunalii appears from February, from Liguria to Sicily, in Mediterranean oak woods. Etna, with its volcanic sands and high ground, extends fruiting until June. Morchella anthracophila favours ground that has experienced fire. The famous Borgotaro fair, in the Parma Apennines, covers only four porcini species recognised by a PGI, not the morel. Local trade remains limited by low volumes; prices shown on the web usually correspond to Romanian goods.

Key facts

• Morchella esculenta was described in 1794; its Italian names are spugnola, spungola, spugnola rotonda.^[37]
• Morchella dunalii fruits from February in Liguria, Sicily, north-western Sardinia, Tuscany, coastal Lazio, Salento and Gargano.^[38]
• The Fungo di Borgotaro PGI (Parma) covers only 4 Boletus species, not the morel.^[39]

Sources: ^{[36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41]}

Species

Morchella esculenta (Speise-Morchel / Echte Morchel)
Morchella elata (Spitzmorchel)
Gyromitra esculenta (Frühjahrs-Giftlorchel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Danube alluvial forests (softwood and hardwood riparian woodland), old oxbows, calcareous humus-rich soils; also mulched gardens and parks

Altitude

300 to 450 m

Fruiting

March to June

Harvest

April to May

Gyromitra esculenta appears as early as March, before morels (April–June)

Each spring, from March to June, two varieties of morel emerge on the calcareous, humus-rich soils of southern Germany. The Danube valley in Bavaria, around Neuburg, Dillingen and Augsburg, hosts numerous sightings. One of the species is particularly fond of wood-chip mulch in urban gardens and parks. Beware the false morel, Gyromitra esculenta, a toxic species whose sale is banned. Moreover, the entire true-morel family enjoys federal protection that restricts picking to personal use. No structured commercial network is therefore reported in this country.

Key facts

• The whole genus Morchella is protected in Germany by the Bundesartenschutzverordnung, limiting picking to personal use.^[42]
• The Spitzmorchel is described as Germany's most expensive wild mushroom.^[43]
• The Bayerische Mykologische Gesellschaft was founded on 27 September 2008 in Pegnitz.^[44]

Sources: ^{[42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47]}

Species

Morchella esculenta (Speise-Morchel)
Morchella vulgaris
Morchella semilibera

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Deciduous and alluvial woodlands (Auenwälder), calcareous humus-rich soils; lowland (Lower Austria, Vienna) and Alpine valleys (Tyrol, Salzburg)

Fruiting

March to June

Harvest

April to May

Peak in April; presence also in March, May and June

In Austria, the morel is well represented in naturalist inventories, with thousands of records spread across almost the entire territory. Its appearance peaks in April. The country has a strong amateur mycological tradition, structured by a historic association founded in Vienna in 1919 that has published a specialist journal since 1991. The Danube alluvial woodlands east of the capital offer an ideal setting for this species, even if the neighbouring park's official lists do not expressly mention it. On the commercial front, no structured network, no numerical harvesting regulations and no dedicated event have been identified.

Key facts

• 2201 occurrences of the genus Morchella are recorded in Austria, divided into 3 species.^[48]
• 1160 of these occurrences were recorded in April, i.e. the seasonal peak.^[48]
• The Österreichische Mykologische Gesellschaft was founded in 1919 in Vienna and has published the Österreichische Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde since 1991.^[49]

Sources: ^{[42] [48] [49] [50] [51]}

Aragon and Teruel

Species

Morchella elata (colmenilla negra, múrgula)
Morchella esculenta (colmenilla, tripa de ziza)
Morchella deliciosa (colmenilla pequeña)
Morchella conica (colmenilla puntiaguda)
Morchella rotunda (colmenilla dorada)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Riparian woodlands, pine forests, fir forests, burned or disturbed areas

Fruiting

March to June

Harvest

March to May

Morchella deliciosa mainly April–June; general season peak March–May

Recorded price

15 to 30 €/kg to the picker; 30 to 80 €/kg wholesale for dried morels^[52]

Markets

Sales from pickers to wholesalers

In Aragon, the morel is one of the first signs of spring. Picking extends from March to May along watercourses, under pines and on burned ground. Three different species inhabit the Sierra de Albarracín, each in its own habitat; the nearby Pyrenees add fir forests to this picture. The commercial circuit is well established: the picker receives between fifteen and thirty euros per kilo, while the dried product trades wholesale from thirty to eighty euros per kilo. The Mico Aragón association, along with the Albarracín mycological society, preserve local knowledge. No overall tonnage or export route to France has been published.

Key facts

• Aragonese pickers receive 15 to 30 €/kg, and wholesalers resell dried morels for 30 to 80 €/kg.^[52]
• The Sierra de Albarracín is home to at least three species: Morchella deliciosa, M. conica and M. rotunda.^[53]

Sources: ^{[52] [53]}

Soria and Tierras Altas

Species

Morchella esculenta (Tripa ziza, múrgula)
Morchella elata (Karigany)
Morchella vulgaris (colmenilla)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Broad-leaved woodlands, poplar riparian woods, burnt pine woods

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

Markets

harvest permits managed by the local association

In this province of Castile and León, morels known locally as colmenillas mark the return of spring. Picking is managed by a local association that issues permits to amateurs. Two species dominate: one is known locally as tripa ziza, the other as karigany. The village of Fuentes de Magaña hosts a mycological fair each May that puts these mushrooms in the spotlight. The 2024 edition was the third staging of this event. At this stage, no production figures or local prices are currently available.

Key facts

• The Feria Micológica de Tierras Altas is held in May in Fuentes de Magaña (Soria); the 17–19 May 2024 edition was the 3rd.^[54]
• In Soria, local names distinguish tripa ziza (Morchella esculenta) and karigany (Morchella elata).^[55]

Sources: ^{[54] [55] [56]}

Galicia and its rivers

Species

Morchella elata (cogomelo, morilla)
Morchella esculenta (colmenilla)
Morchella dunensis / Morchella fluvialis (colmenilla de ribera)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Riparian woodlands (poplars, alders, ashes, elms, hazels), montes vecinales (communal woodlands)

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

March to May

Linked to January rainfall; 2021 poor in Ourense (drought)

Markets

individual sale or via the montes vecinales, some communities sell directly to organic shops in Lugo

Galicia counts the morel, or colmenilla, at the heart of its spring calendar. It grows along the rivers of Lugo, Pontevedra and Ourense. Its fruiting depends heavily on January rainfall; 2021 was thus disappointing in Ourense due to winter drought. The local association movement is very active there: a historic association founded in 1983 in this port city has staged a mushroom festival since 1991. Economically, some communal woodlands in the region sell their harvest directly to organic shops in Lugo. These volumes concern autumn, however; no specific morel figures are available.

Key facts

• The 2021 season was poor in Ourense due to insufficient rain in January.^[57]
• A Cantarela was founded in 1983 and has organised the Festa dos Cogomelos since 1991.^[58]
• Some montes vecinales (communal woodlands) sell their harvest directly to organic shops in Lugo.^[59]

Sources: ^{[57] [58] [59] [60]}

Mainland Portugal and the islands

Species

Morchella esculenta (morilha comum)
Morchella elata (morilha preta)
Morchella rufobrunnea
Morchella castaneae

Main type

Black and yellow

Fruiting

March to April

Harvest

March to April

The morel remains very poorly documented on Portuguese territory. No commercial supply chain or active mycological association is known there. A few naturalist reports nevertheless suggest a scattered presence on the mainland and islands. These traces concern mountainous areas in the north-east, the vicinity of the Serra da Estrela, a central limestone region, as well as isolated spots around Lisbon, Madeira and the Azores. The idea of post-fire fruiting remains pure conjecture. For now, no supporting evidence underpins this hypothesis.

Key facts

• 31 occurrences of the genus Morchella are recorded for Portugal.^[61]
• 41 citizen observations of the genus Morchella are recorded for Portugal (recorded on 3 October 2026).^[62]

Sources: ^{[61] [62] [63] [64]}

Species

Morchella esculenta (morielje)
Morchella dunensis (Duinmorielje)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Open coastal dunes with bare sand (Morchella dunensis); parks, mulched gardens, wood chips (Morchella esculenta)

Altitude

0 to 200 m

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April

Late March to late April in the Netherlands and Belgium; April to early May in Luxembourg

In the Benelux, the wild morel is a curiosity rather than a commercial product. Naturalist inventories show numerous records of the classic species, especially in mulched urban parks and gardens. The coastline harbours a particular variety, the dune morel, discovered in 1996 and elevated to species rank the following year. The latter favours bare sand and remains rather scarce in the Netherlands. On the Belgian side, no active mycological association is reported. By contrast, a Dutch club and a Luxembourgish group continue their activities. No structured market, dedicated event or specialist book seems to exist for this region.

Key facts

• Morchella dunensis was described as a form in 1996, then elevated to species rank in 1997 by Philippe Clowez.^[65]
• The Duinmorielje is described as 'vrij zeldzaam' (rather rare) in the Netherlands and confined to bare-sand dunes.^[66]
• 2064 occurrences of Morchella esculenta are recorded in the Netherlands, 584 in Belgium and 22 in Luxembourg.^[67]

Sources: ^{[65] [66] [67] [68] [69]}

Species

Morchella esculenta (Common / Yellow morel)
Morchella elata (Black morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Calcareous undergrowth, gardens and parks with bark mulch, disturbed ground, wasteland, verges, pastures, coastal dunes; poor alkaline soils

Fruiting

March to June

Harvest

March to May

Appearance varies from one year to the next

The morel grows well in the United Kingdom, without constituting a commercially exploited resource. The classic species fruits in the wild in calcareous undergrowth, but remains an occasional find. The black morel, by contrast, is spreading in the green spaces of southern and central England, as well as in southern Wales, where bark mulch suits it perfectly. It becomes scarcer towards the north and in Scotland. Foraging manuals consider it uncommon and its appearances irregular from one year to the next. To date, no structured supply chain has developed in this country.

Key facts

• The Black Morel (Morchella elata) is described as increasingly common in southern England and the Midlands, where bark mulch forms its preferred habitat.^[70]
• 719 occurrences of Morchella esculenta, 175 of Morchella elata and 2121 for the genus are recorded in the United Kingdom.^[71]

Sources: ^{[70] [71] [72] [73]}

Forests of Sweden

Species

Morchella elata / Morchella conica (Toppmurkla)
Morchella esculenta / Morchella rotunda (Rund toppmurkla)
Morchella semilibera (Hättmurkla)
Gyromitra esculenta (Stenmurkla)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

deciduous and mixed forests, burnt areas, recent timber cuts

Fruiting

April to May

Harvest

April to May

fruiting observed in April and May

Several morel species grow in Sweden from April onwards, among grass or moss in the undergrowth. They are found in deciduous woods and mixed forests, often on recently burnt or felled ground. The national mycological society records three types of murklor in particular. Careful: the stenmurkla is a highly toxic false morel when raw. The Swedish Food Agency now advises against consuming it even after prolonged boiling. This strict approach clearly distinguishes it from the neighbouring Finnish practice.

Key facts

• The Swedish Mycological Association was founded in August 1979 in Femsjö.^[74]
• The Swedish Food Agency advises against eating the stenmurkla even after traditional double-boiling.^[75]

Sources: ^{[74] [75] [76] [77]}

Forests of Norway

Species

Morchella deliciosa (Spissmorkel)
Morchella esculenta / Morchella rotunda (Rundmorkel)
Morchella pseudoviridis (grønnlig rundmorkel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Fruiting

April to May

The Norwegian forests hold several morel species, including the spissmorkel and the rundmorkel. The former is classed as edible with reservation: mild discomfort has been reported after heavy meals or insufficient cooking. According to field reports, gathering seems uncommon in the country, which probably limits the volumes put on sale. A greenish variant adds further local diversity. Spring marks the start of the season, without national statistics specifying volumes. As everywhere in Scandinavia, vigilance is needed regarding lookalikes.

Key facts

• The spissmorkel is classed as edible with caution by the NSNF; mild discomfort has been reported after heavy meals or incomplete preparation.^[78]
• Morels are rarely picked in Norway.^[79]

Sources: ^{[78] [79] [80]}

Forests of Finland

Species

Morchella esculenta (Pallohuhtasieni)
Morchella elata (Kartiohuhtasieni)
Morchella semilibera (Kellohuhtasieni)
Gyromitra esculenta (Korvasieni)

Main type

Black and yellow

Fruiting

May to June

Harvest

May to June

The Finnish woods are home to several morels that enthusiasts call huhtasienet. The national mycological society has monitored these species since 1948. While the cep is the subject of structured trade towards southern Europe, no equivalent supply chain is documented for the morel. The most sensitive issue remains the korvasieni, a false morel still mistakenly picked by foragers. It remains toxic even after prolonged cooking: the Finnish food safety authority reminds that part of the poison persists in the mushroom. This substance is regarded as carcinogenic.

Key facts

• Founded in 1948 in Helsinki, the Finnish Mycological Society is also interested in mushroom economics.^[81]
• The Arctic Flavours Association dates from 1993 and promotes the country's non-timber forest products.^[82]
• The Finnish food safety authority states that part of the poison remains after double boiling and that gyromitrin is possibly carcinogenic.^[83]

Sources: ^{[81] [82] [83] [84]}

Poland

Species

Morchella esculenta (smardz jadalny)
Gyromitra esculenta (piestrzenica kasztanowata)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

broad-leaved woodland edges, moist calcareous soils, near ashes and elms, wastelands, gardens, old orchards, burnt ground

Fruiting

March to July

Harvest

April to May

early appearances from late March, peak in April and May

Recorded price

up to 4000 PLN/kg for whole fresh or dried produce; around 650 PLN/kg for dried broken pieces^[85]

Markets

HORECA market

In Poland, the morel season runs from spring to summer with strong activity in April and May. They are found on the edges of limestone woods, near certain broad-leaved trees, but also in gardens and orchards. Regulations ban picking in state forests and nature reserves; only private land and authorised cultivation allow gathering. Prices reach several thousand zloty per kilo for whole produce, and far less for broken pieces. A farm in Masovia now cultivates the species under controlled conditions for restaurants. The false morel, once dried and exported until 1986, is now banned as it is deadly.

Key facts

• The piestrzenica kasztanowata (Gyromitra esculenta) was harvested, dried and exported from Poland on a massive scale until 1986, when it was removed from the list of mushrooms authorised for sale.^[86]
• Smardze.pl operates the first Polish controlled morel farm in Masovia, serving the HORECA sector.^[87]
• Polskie Towarzystwo Mykologiczne was founded in 2011.^[88]

Sources: ^{[85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90]}

Czechia

Species

Morchella esculenta (smrž obecný)
Verpa bohemica (kačenka česká)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

forest edges and paths, deciduous woods, riparian woodlands, meadows, gardens, parks, former wood or ash dumps

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

season triggered by weather, sometimes as early as March

Czechia is home to the smrž obecný, the most common morel on the territory. Its season runs from March to May, with a peak in April. It favours edges, riverside hedgerows, parks and even wood or ash piles. Enthusiasts use a knife to preserve the mycelium. It is sometimes found with the kačenka česká, a close relative. The country's learned society dates from 1921. Despite this long tradition, no harvest or export figures are available: gathering appears to be mainly a family affair.

Key facts

• The Czech Mycological Society was founded in 1921 by František Smotlacha and Rudolf Veselý.^[91]
• The smrž obecný is the most abundant representative of the genus Morchella in Czechia.^[92]

Sources: ^{[91] [92] [93]}

Slovakia

Species

Morchella spp. (smrčok jedlý)
Gyromitra esculenta (ušiak obyčajný)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

wet alluvial forests, rich meadows, scrub

Fruiting

April to June

Harvest

April to May

short season, from April to late May or early June

Slovakia is home to the smrčok jedlý, a morel that appears from April to June in lowland moist woods and rich meadows. Like all morels, it is toxic when raw and requires thorough cooking. The most common pitfall is the ušiak obyčajný, a false morel to be absolutely avoided. Local mycologists organise regular exhibitions; the thirty-sixth was held in Bratislava in 2021. No volume, price or export flow is published: the product remains confined to the family basket.

Key facts

• The Slovak Mycological Society held its 36th exhibition in Bratislava in 2021.^[94]

Sources: ^{[94] [95]}

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Species

Morchella esculenta (Smrčak)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Riverbanks, old orchards, ash forests, low valleys favoured by snowmelt

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

March to June

Commercial harvesting until June

Quantity

175221.66 kg exported in 2024 (HS 071239)^[5]
192 t of dried wild mushrooms, all species combined (2022)^[96]

Recorded price

6 950 406.67 USD for 175 221.66 kg exported in 2024^[5]

Markets

Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, France, North Macedonia

Trade routes

Bosnian wild mushroom exports rising from 10 to 12.5 million euros between 2020 and 2025; 2022 shares: Switzerland 26 %, Italy 20 %, Germany 16 %, France 14 %

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks fourth worldwide among dried morel exporters. In 2024, its sales reached around 175 tonnes for nearly seven million dollars. The sector relies on family businesses, including one based in Visoko since 2005, which handle processing and export. Morels grow from March to May along waterways, among old orchards and ash woodlands in the lower valley, with harvesting sometimes extending into June. Regulations distinguish personal picking, capped at one or two kilograms depending on the region, from commercial sale, which requires a forestry permit. Part of the trade escapes the official framework. Western Europe is the main outlet.

Key facts

• Bosnia and Herzegovina was the 4th largest exporter of dried morels worldwide in 2024 (175 221.66 kg, 6 950 406.67 USD).^[5]
• Frutti-Funghi d.o.o. (Visoko) has been buying, processing and exporting morels since 2005.^[97]
• Personal mushroom picking is limited to 1 kg/day in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 2 kg/day in Republika Srpska; a forestry permit is required for commercial sale.^[98]

Sources: ^{[5] [96] [97] [98] [99]}

Serbia

Species

Morchella esculenta (Smrčak)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Riverbanks, old orchards, ash forests of the low valleys

Fruiting

April to May

Harvest

April to May

Marks the beginning of the wild mushroom season, before the summer and autumn peaks

Quantity

285 t of dried wild mushrooms, all species combined (2022)^[96]

Recorded price

10.4 million euros for 285 t of dried wild mushrooms, all species, in 2022^[96]

Markets

Italy (39%), Germany (16%), Poland (11%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (11%), France (9%), USA (8%)

Trade routes

Multiple destinations in 2022, all species combined

Serbia dominates the dried wild mushroom trade in South-East Europe. In 2022, it sold 285 tonnes for 10.4 million euros, but this figure mixes porcini and chanterelles, morels not being counted separately. Smrčak is found from April to May along waterways, in old orchards and ash woods of the low valleys; its commercial harvesting depends on licences and quotas. The Mycological Society of Serbia, active in Belgrade, organises spring and autumn exhibitions and publishes the journal “Svet gljiva”. No player appears to focus solely on the morel.

Key facts

• Serbia exported 285 tonnes of dried wild mushrooms (all species) for 10.4 million euros in 2022.^[96]
• The Mycological Society of Serbia organises spring exhibitions (Kalemegdan) and autumn exhibitions (Jevremovac) and publishes the journal Svet gljiva.^[100]

Sources: ^{[96] [100] [101] [102]}

Bulgaria

Species

Morchella esculenta (Смърчок (Smarchok))

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Riverbanks, old orchards, ash forests

Fruiting

April to May

Harvest

April to May

Start of the lowland and valley mushroom season

Quantity

97503 kg exported in 2024 (HS 071239)^[103]
364803 kg exported in 2023 (HS 071239)^[104]
284611 kg exported in 2022 (HS 071239)^[104]
35988 kg imported in 2024 (Italy, China, Serbia)^[104]

Markets

Italy (61 817 kg, 2.88 M$ in 2024), Spain (14 347 kg, 662 871 $), France (11 847 kg, 366 467 $)

Trade routes

8th worldwide in 2024 (4 303 206 USD)

Bulgaria is among the world's leading exporters of dried morels, ranking eighth in 2024 with some 97.5 tonnes sold for around 4.3 million dollars. The years 2023 and 2022 had seen larger volumes: 365 t and 285 t respectively. Italy is the main destination, ahead of Spain and France. Specialised businesses, long-established or certified, centralise processing. Smarchok develops in April–May near rivers, in old orchards and under ash trees. Toxic when raw, it requires thorough cooking. A Bulgarian mycological society is mentioned in the literature, but no active website is confirmed today.

Key facts

• Bulgaria was the 8th largest exporter of dried morels worldwide in 2024 (97 503 kg, 4 303 206 USD), after 364 803 kg in 2023 and 284 611 kg in 2022.^[103]
• In 2024, Italy was the top destination for Bulgarian dried morel exports (61 817 kg), followed by Spain and France.^[104]
• Fungorobica (Plovdiv) has been active since 1991 and is ISO 22000:2005 certified; Paris Direkt (Dobrovnitsa) has been TÜV NORD certified since 2018.^[105]

Sources: ^{[103] [104] [105] [106] [107]}

North Macedonia

Species

Morchella esculenta / Morchella spp. (смрчок (smrčok))

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Forests of the Balkan fungal biodiversity hotspot

Quantity

99855 kg exported in 2024 (HS 071239)^[5]

Recorded price

4 476 355.97 USD for 99 855 kg exported in 2024^[5]

Markets

International export, more than 75 active customers

North Macedonia is a notable exporter of dried morels. In 2024, it ranked seventh worldwide with 99 855 kg sold for nearly 4.5 million dollars. Processing relies on family-run operations, notably in the Kočani region, which gather harvests from many pickers before shipping them abroad. The country has no dedicated festival and local mycological life remains poorly documented online.

Key facts

• North Macedonia was the 7th largest exporter of dried morels worldwide in 2024 (99 855 kg, 4 476 355.97 USD).^[5]
• A processing company in Kočani (founded in 2005, around 35 employees) buys the harvest from some thirty local pickers.^[108]

Sources: ^{[5] [108]}

Albania

Species

Morchella esculenta (Morkela)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Riverbanks and old orchards

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

March to May

Coincides with the warming of coastal plains and river valleys

Markets

Italy and the EU for wild mushrooms (porcini, truffles)

In Albania, the morel is found from March to May along waterways and in old orchards. It is recognised by its honeycombed cap and hollow stipe. It requires thorough cooking before being consumed and is frequently sold dried in local bazaars. The country sends wild mushrooms to Italy and the European Union, mainly porcini and truffles, but no figures relating to morels are available. No national mycological association or complete fungal inventory is reported; species lists were compiled partly with the help of a neighbouring group.

Key facts

• The morel is frequently sold dried in local bazaars.^[109]
• Albania is documented as an exporter of wild mushrooms (porcini, truffles) to Italy and the EU.^[109]

Sources: ^[109]

Aegean and Mediterranean Anatolia

Species

Morchella esculenta (kuzugöbeği)
Morchella anatolica

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Pines, oaks, old orchards and mossy streams of the Aegean and Mediterranean hinterland

Fruiting

February to May

Harvest

February to May

Mid-February to late May depending on rainfall; earlier on the Aegean coast, later in the east

Recorded price

250 EUR (284 USD) per kg, international market, 2019^[110]

Markets

Europe, main outlet

Trade routes

Bergama, Fethiye: fresh, dried or frozen export to Europe

The Turkish morel, nicknamed “lamb’s navel”, ranks among the most traded wild mushrooms in the country. It fruits in spring beneath the pines and oaks of the Aegean and the Mediterranean. Kozak, in the hinterland of Bergama, and the environs of Fethiye are renowned terroirs. Villagers pick on behalf of exporters. In 2019, eight Turkish firms supplied these mushrooms fresh, dried or frozen to Europe. The international price then stood at around 250 euros per kilo. The harvest follows the rains: it begins in mid-February on the Aegean coast and continues until the end of May in eastern Anatolia. Each April, the village of Yeşilüzümlü, near Fethiye, celebrates the morel and the weaving of the dastar. Turkey also hosts Morchella anatolica, a rare species described in 2010, with no market value. Commercial activity is mainly tracked by the press, owing to a lack of directly accessible official statistics.

Key facts

• In 2019, eight Turkish companies traded wild mushrooms internationally^[111]
• In 2019, the kilogram traded at 250 EUR (284 USD) on the world market^[111]
• Morchella anatolica, described in 2010, is a Mediterranean endemic^[112]
• Yeşilüzümlü Festival, near Fethiye, 10 to 12 April 2026; fifteenth edition planned^[113]

Sources: ^{[110] [111] [112] [113] [114] [115]}

Black Sea Coast

Species

Morchella esculenta (kuzugöbeği)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Mixed forests and humid environments of the Black Sea coast

Fruiting

March to May

The southern fringe of the Black Sea, in Turkey, is cited as a spring morel habitat. Details of exact sites, altitude and local supply chains remain unknown. The humid coastline, covered in dense forests and steep-sided valleys, provides a setting of lush vegetation. No structured market or festive gathering is linked to this mushroom on these coasts. The region thus appears as a poorly documented extension of the morel areas of the Aegean and the Mediterranean, which receive far more media coverage.

Sources: ^[116]

Foothills and valleys of the Caucasus

Species

Morchella esculenta (khokhobina)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Riverbanks, floodplains and low-altitude mixed woods

Fruiting

April to June

April to June

Trade routes

In transit from Stavropol Krai in 2024, fresh mushrooms (species undetermined)

In Georgia, the morel is known as khokhobina and appears in spring. It thrives on riverbanks, in floodplains and low-altitude mixed woodlands. Local gastronomes cook it carefully before eating. No mycophile association or cultural event dedicated to this mushroom is recorded in accessible documents. The country does, however, see cross-border traffic: in early 2024, the Russian region of Stavropol delivered tonnes of fresh mushrooms to Georgia. This flow, the first since 2019, concerns unidentified mushrooms and cannot be taken as a morel export figure. The local supply chain remains to be documented.

Key facts

• Khokhobina denotes Morchella esculenta in Georgia^[117]
• 25.9 tonnes of fresh mushrooms (no species indicated) left Stavropol for Georgia between January and 19 April 2024^[118]

Sources: ^{[117] [118]}

Low forests, South Caucasus

Species

Morchella esculenta (khurj)
Morchella tridentina

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Open woods, orchards, mountain forests and maquis

Fruiting

April

From April onwards

Trade routes

Via Stavropol: 4.7 tonnes of fresh mushrooms (unidentified) to Armenia, January–19 April 2024

Armenia is home to Morchella esculenta, known as khurj, in its open woods and orchards from April onwards. Low woodland edges and tree-covered spaces suit it. The country also harbours Morchella tridentina, detected in the mountains through molecular analysis; this species is also found around the Mediterranean basin. No market price, festival or specific export network is attributed to the Armenian morel. Fresh mushrooms transit through the Stavropol region in Russia: 4.7 tonnes were directed to Armenia in early 2024. This commercial movement does not involve a specific species and therefore provides no morel statistics.

Key facts

• Khurj is the local name for Morchella esculenta; it is picked in April^[119]
• Presence of Morchella tridentina confirmed by analysis in Armenia^[120]
• 4.7 tonnes of mushrooms (no species indicated) left Stavropol for Armenia between January and 19 April 2024^[118]

Sources: ^{[118] [119] [120]}

Stavropol Krai

Main type

Species not determined

Quantity

30.6 t of fresh mushrooms, all species, from 1 January to 19 April 2024^[118]

Markets

Georgia (25.9 t), Armenia (4.7 t)

Trade routes

Stavropol Krai to Georgia and Armenia, North Caucasus phytosanitary control

Stavropol Krai, located in the north of the Russian Caucasus, is a dispatch hub for fresh mushrooms. Between January and 19 April 2024, Rosselkhoznadzor services recorded 30.6 tonnes destined for Georgia and Armenia. This volume breaks down as 25.9 tonnes to Georgia and 4.7 tonnes to Armenia. It is the first flow of this kind since 2019. The official article does not specify the fungal species concerned, so it cannot be established that these are morels. No dedicated supply chain for this mushroom is described in this region. Stavropol Krai therefore remains an interesting commercial transit point, with no proven link to local morel production.

Key facts

• 30.6 t of fresh mushrooms shipped to Georgia (25.9 t) and Armenia (4.7 t) between 1 January and 19 April 2024, first flow of this kind since 2019^[118]

Sources: ^[118]

Western Ukrainian Carpathians

Species

Morchella esculenta

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Broadleaved woodland, sandy soils, previously burnt areas and abandoned orchards

Fruiting

April to May

April to May, after the snow melt

The Ukrainian Carpathians form a mycological sanctuary where the morel emerges from April to May, after the snow melts. It favours broadleaved woodland, sandy soils, previously burnt areas and abandoned orchards. Picking demands care, because the false morel Gyromitra esculenta, a toxic species, shares the same sites and season. Available reports deal mainly with the western oblasts, considered safer. No local association, market rate or export flow is described for this area. Current circumstances restrict the spread of information on the other provinces. The harvest there remains an ancient tradition, distinct from a structured commercial supply chain.

Sources: ^[121]

Ukrainian steppe and Crimea

Species

Morchella steppicola (Зморшок степовий)

Main type

Species not determined

Habitat

Steppe and virgin meadow, clay soils, in the company of wormwood

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

March to May

Ephemeral fruiting body, three to five days; absent in arid springs

Ukraine is home to a singular morel: Morchella steppicola, described in 1941 from unploughed steppes. This species shuns forests; it prefers virgin clay soils, open meadows and the company of wormwood. Its cap, bumpy and tangled, looks more like a cauliflower than a honeycomb. Its flesh is dense and scarcely honeycombed. The fruiting body lives only three to five days and declines during arid springs. Naturalists have immortalised this curiosity in Donetsk and on Khortytsia Island, near Zaporizhzhia. No structured trade or popular festival is dedicated to it. It remains a roadside treasure, far from international circuits.

Key facts

• Morchella steppicola described in 1941 in Ukrainian steppe meadows^[122]
• Morchella steppicola confined to virgin steppes, absent from forests^[123]
• The fruiting body lives only three to five days^[123]
• Confirmed photographs in Donetsk and on Khortytsia Island (Zaporizhzhia)^[124]

Sources: ^{[122] [123] [124]}

Central and northern Russia

Species

Morchella esculenta / groupe conica (сморчок)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Open high forests of broadleaved and mixed species, poplar stands, oak woods, elm woods, alder woods, former peat bogs and drained ditches east of Moscow

Fruiting

April to June

Two to three weeks per sector; late March in the south, April–May in the centre, May–June in the north

In central and boreal Russia, the morel, known as сморчок, announces spring. It develops in open high forests, poplar stands, oak, elm and alder woods, as well as on former peat bogs and drained ditches located east of Moscow. The season follows a very clear calendar: it begins in late March in the south, continues from April to May in the centre, then from May to June in the north. Each area keeps this treasure for only two or three weeks. Culturally, picking remains marginal: most Russian enthusiasts favour other mushrooms, although the morel is held in high gastronomic esteem. No export business structure, indicative price or specialised association is reported for this vast area.

Key facts

• North–south gradient: harvest from late March in the south, April–May in the centre, May–June in the north^[125]
• Most Russian foragers ignore morel gathering^[125]

Sources: ^{[125] [126]}

Southern Russian Steppe

Species

Morchella steppicola (степной сморчок)

Main type

Species not determined

Habitat

steppe and semi-desert, virgin clay soils, association with wormwood

Fruiting

April

Harvest

April

presence limited to April, fruiting unpredictable

This steppe morel is found in southern European Russia, on open clay soils, well away from dense woodlands. It grows alongside wormwood in semi-desert environments. Harvesting only takes place in April and remains unpredictable from one year to the next, as a dry spring can prevent any growth. March and April rains therefore determine the presence or absence of the fungus. No figures are published on harvest volumes, prices or trade circuits. This territory remains to this day a poorly documented area in mycological directories.

Key facts

• Rostov, Volgograd, Saratov and Kalmykia constitute the distribution zone.^[125]
• Fruiting does not occur every year; harvest is concentrated in April.^[125]

Sources: ^{[122] [125]}

Forests of Belarus

Species

Morchella spp. (сморчок)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

forests, under leaf litter of the previous year, sunny areas after rain

Fruiting

April

Harvest

April

appearance after warm spring rains, window of 2 to 3 weeks

In Belarus, the morel emerges in April for a short season of two to three weeks. It likes soils warmed by the sun after a spring downpour, often hidden beneath the previous year's litter. Local regulations class the mushroom as edible if picked in a clean area, but formally prohibit false morels, considered toxic. These health precautions aim to protect the consumer. No tonnage, price or dedicated festival is known at present.

Northern Michigan

Species

Morchella americana (yellow morel / Eastern blonde)
Morchella angusticeps (black morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Mixed forests, abandoned apple orchards and fringes of the Huron-Manistee National Forest; dying elms, ashes, poplars and old apple trees as landmarks

Altitude

Low altitude, less than 400 m

Fruiting

April to June

Harvest

May to June

Peak the weekend after Mother's Day, mid-May

Markets

Direct sales at festivals, Regional catering

Trade routes

No export supply chain; local and festive market only

Northern Michigan is prime territory for morel hunting in the United States. Mesick calls itself the Mushroom Capital, while Boyne City has hosted the National Morel Mushroom Festival since the 1960s. The season follows the thaw, from late April to June, with a traditional peak the weekend after Mother's Day. Pickers explore dying elms, old orchards and the fringes of the Huron-Manistee National Forest. Two types dominate: a blonde morel and a black morel. Unlike the American West, there is no structured export trade here. Harvesting remains a family and community tradition, marked by parades, contests and stalls of mushrooms prepared on site. Mycology clubs and reference works animate the local scene.

Key facts

• The Boyne City festival takes place the weekend after Mother's Day and funds local scholarships^[143]
• The Mesick festival celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2024, placing its founding around 1960^[144]
• Michael Kuo, author of a book on morels published in 2005, draws on more than 30 years of North American forays^[145]

Sources: ^{[143] [144] [145] [146] [147] [148] [149] [150]}

Wisconsin River Valley

Species

Morchella americana (yellow morel)
Morchella angusticeps (black morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Woods along the Wisconsin River, old orchards, dying elms and ashes, sandy alluvial soils

Altitude

Low altitude, less than 350 m

Fruiting

April to May

Harvest

May

May, during the weekend following Mother's Day

Markets

Direct sales at the festival; fresh produce in the morning, prepared in the afternoon

Trade routes

No export supply chain; local and tourist market only

Since 1982, Muscoda has claimed the title of regional morel capital. Every year, on the weekend following Mother's Day, the town organises a festival with a parade, games and sales of fresh morels in the morning, then cooked in the afternoon until stocks run out. Picking takes place mainly in woods along the Wisconsin River, where floods deposit alluvial soils, and near elms and ashes dying at the edge of old orchards. It is not a trade geared towards export: the morel remains here a family and village resource. The festival gathers enthusiasts from across the Midwest each year.

Key facts

• Muscoda has claimed the title of regional morel capital in Wisconsin since 1982; the festival is in its 45th edition^[151]

Sources: ^{[148] [149] [151]}

Illinois Valley

Species

Morchella americana (yellow morel)
Morchella angusticeps (black morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Floodplain woods along the Illinois River, dead elms, ash, poplars and sycamores.

Altitude

low altitude (<250 m)

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

Generally from late March to mid-May in the centre of the state, lasting four to eight weeks depending on spring weather.

Recorded price

$5 to $80 per half-pound (593 g) at competition auctions^[152]

Markets

Morel auctions at local competitions, Regional restaurants

Trade routes

Local and festive sales, with no known export circuit.

The centre of the state is home to a former picking competition founded in 1996. For about ten years, this gathering attracted mushroom hunters and the curious alike with auctions and tastings. Fresh morel lots were seen selling for between 5 and 80 dollars per half-kilo. Pickers mostly explore the wet woods bordering the Illinois River, near weakened elms and ash trees. The activity remains local and informal. The season bursts forth from late March until mid-May, sometimes reduced to a few days if the spring is dry, or prolonged by cool weather.

Key facts

• The state's official competition was founded in 1996 in a small central village, then moved to a different town twice.^[152]
• At auction sales, a half-kilo sells for between 5 and 80 dollars.^[152]

Sources: ^{[152] [153]}

Missouri and the Ozarks

Species

Morchella americana (yellow morel)
Morchella angusticeps (black morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Lowland wet woods and river valleys, often associated with ash, dying elms and old apple trees.

Altitude

low altitude, including the Ozark hills (<600 m)

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April

From March to early May, according to official estimates.

Markets

Local and family market

Trade routes

No known export circuit.

This Midwestern state maintains an active mycological tradition. Every spring, an entire weekend is devoted to the morel by a lake, with forays, talks and evening gatherings. An unusual certification trains volunteers to recognise the species across several neighbouring states. In the wild, picking runs from March to early May in the wetlands, valleys and old orchards, especially near ash, declining elms and apple trees. The official guide helps avoid toxic lookalikes. No export supply chain is established: gathering remains first and foremost a family and community affair.

Key facts

• A major picking weekend is scheduled for 17 to 19 April 2026 by the lake.^[154]
• The certification applies in the state and four neighbours.^[155]

Sources: ^{[154] [155]}

Species

Morchella angusticeps (black morel)
Morchella americana (yellow morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Valley bottoms and watercourse banks beneath tulip trees, sycamores, elms and wild apple trees early in the season; ridges and high forested hollows above 900 m late in the season.

Altitude

from valley bottom to over 900 m (3000 feet) late in the season

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April

From valley bottom in mid-March to the ridges in early May, progressing through Tennessee in April and Kentucky slightly later.

Markets

Local and family market

Trade routes

No structured trade to the outside.

The mountains of the South-East offer a season that climbs with altitude. Picking begins in the valley bottoms from mid-March, beneath tulip trees and sycamores. As the weeks go by, pickers move up to the slopes and ridges above 900 metres, still productive in early May. This vertical shift allows the morel to be followed for nearly two months simply by changing elevation. Tennessee marks a first peak around 1 April, while Kentucky experiences its season later, from mid-April to mid-May. The region hosts no large dedicated public gathering: a few naturalist clubs schedule spring outings for their members. No structured export supply chain exists there.

Key facts

• In Tennessee, 1 April serves as a benchmark for the season, two weeks either side depending on the year.^[156]
• A naturalist club founded in 1983 organises spring outings for some 150 members.^[157]

Sources: ^{[156] [157]}

Pacific North-West

Species

Morchella eximia (fire morel)
Morchella tomentosa (grey fire morel)
Morchella septimelata (western fire morel)
Morchella americana (natural morel)

Main type

Burn morel

Habitat

Coniferous forests (Douglas fir, spruce, ponderosa pine); areas burnt by forest fires in the previous one to two years are the prime commercial hunting ground, as fires release nutrients that trigger massive fruiting.

Altitude

variable with altitude, from valley floor up to the subalpine forests of the national forests (often 900 to 1800 m)

Fruiting

April to July

Harvest

May to July

From mid-April to early July depending on altitude; forest administration permits run from 1 May to 31 July.

Quantity

Around 3.9 million pounds of wild mushrooms sold in the region in 1992, including 1.3 million of morels^[158]

Recorded price

$4.14/lb paid to pickers in 1992; $5.60/lb on average in 1996; quality dried morels at $125-175/lb, lower quality around $50/lb^[158]

Markets

Itinerant buyers at burn sites, Export to Europe and Asia (dried morels), North American gourmet dining

Trade routes

The majority of the dried product passes through the great port of the north-west coast bound for Europe and Asia.

Since the 1980s, this region has formed the centre of North American commercial activity. Harvesting focuses on areas ravaged by wildfires: in the first year after a fire, sometimes the second, so-called 'fire' morels grow in profusion on burnt ground. This abundance attracts hundreds of nomadic pickers who follow the burn maps published each spring. The forest administration requires a permit for commercial picking, from $30 to $100 depending on duration, while personal gathering remains free up to five gallons daily. In 1992, nearly 1.3 million pounds were picked for roughly $5.2 million paid out to pickers, with the producer price ranging between $4 and $6 per pound fresh. The bulk of the dried product passes through the great port of the north-west coast bound for Europe and Asia.

Key facts

• In 1992, around 3.9 million pounds of wild mushrooms were sold in the region, including 1.3 million of morels, for roughly $5.2 million paid out to pickers.^[158]
• The price paid to pickers rose from $4.14/lb in 1992 to $5.60/lb on average in 1996.^[158]
• The commercial harvest season on burnt areas runs from 1 May to 31 July, with permits from $30 (2 days) to $100 (season).^[159]

Sources: ^{[158] [159] [160] [161]}

Californian Sierra Nevada

Species

Morchella tomentosa (grey fire morel)
Morchella eximia (fire morel)
Morchella rufobrunnea (blushing morel)

Main type

Burn morel

Habitat

Sierra Nevada coniferous forests (fir, pine, mixed conifers), particularly sectors burnt by recent major fires (Caldor, Dixie, Rim Fire).

Altitude

around 1220 to 1830 m (4000 to 6000 feet) in the most productive conifer zones

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

The season runs from mid-March to mid-May depending on altitude; the best burn years follow the spring after the fire, sometimes with a year's delay if the fire year was drought-stricken.

Recorded price

No price specific to this region is established.^[158]

Markets

Itinerant commercial pickers on burnt areas, Fine dining

Trade routes

Flow through regional wholesalers to restaurants and export.

The state's mountain range saw a veritable mushroom rush in spring 2022, after the record fires of the previous year. More than 221 835 acres of scorched forest then offered ripe conditions for morels, attracting professional and amateur pickers. These fungi favour fire-warmed soils: they appear mostly in the first year after a moderate to major fire, sometimes with a year's delay if drought blocked their emergence in the very season of the blaze. This is what happened in 2021, part of the crop having been postponed to 2022. Some experts fear, however, that the most violent megafires may carbonise the soil beyond the threshold tolerated by the species. Forest rangers issue picking permits. The blushing morel, initially known from Mexico, is also found here, notably in freshly turned gardens and on wood chips.

Key facts

• In 2021, a fire ravaged 221 835 acres of national forest; morels proliferated in spring 2022, attracting professional and amateur pickers.^[162]
• The 2021 fire season was exceptional; a heavy morel flush on burns was expected from the following spring.^[163]
• Specialists observe that the most intense megafires can char an area to the point of preventing any morel fruiting, unlike moderate fires.^[163]

Sources: ^{[150] [158] [160] [162] [163]}

Interior Alaska

Species

Morchella (blonde, grey and black morels)

Main type

Burn morel

Habitat

Boreal forest of the Alaska Interior (north of the Alaska Range, south of the Brooks Range), covering more than 108 million acres; morels fruit mainly in areas burnt by large forest fires in the previous one to two years.

Altitude

low altitude, boreal forest of the interior valleys

Fruiting

June to July

Harvest

June to July

Very compressed season owing to the high latitudes: certain putative species fruit for only two weeks, and the total season may last only four weeks, unless revived by rain.

Quantity

Around 175 000 pounds of fresh morels harvested in 2005, after the record fire year of 2004^[158]

Recorded price

300 000 pounds bought by nine buyers after the 1990 fire, at $2-3/lb fresh in 1991; royalty of $0.25/lb levied by the local corporation^[158]

Markets

Itinerant buyers during big fire years

Trade routes

Access to burnt areas is hampered by the near-absence of roads: 0.02 mile of road per square mile, whereas California exceeds one.

This region experiences immense forest fires every year: on average 708 700 acres were ravaged in the interior between 1961 and 2000, and more than 6.7 million acres burned in the record year of 2004. Such frequency could make this state a major hub for commercial morels, yet activity there remains very secondary. The only great wave of pickers dates to 1991, following the 1990 fire: up to 150 people camped for nearly two months along the rivers, harvesting more than 300 000 pounds bought by nine traders. The local corporation then received $0.25 per pound. After the 2004 fires, a study put the 2005 harvest at around 175 000 pounds fresh. The real obstacle remains the lack of roads: the interior has only 0.02 mile of road per square mile, whereas California exceeds one. Most burnt areas therefore remain inaccessible to outside buyers.

Key facts

• On average 708 700 acres were ravaged each year in the interior between 1961 and 2000; in 2004, more than 6.7 million acres burned, a record since the 1950s.^[158]
• A 1990 fire covering 90 000 acres attracted up to 150 pickers in 1991, for more than 300 000 pounds bought by nine buyers at $2-3/lb.^[158]
• A study estimated the 2005 fresh harvest at around 175 000 pounds, following the record fire year of 2004.^[158]

Sources: ^[158]

British Columbia, Yukon and the Canadian Northwest

Species

Morchella eximia (fire morel)
Morchella septimelata (Western fire morel)
Morchella tomentosa (grey fire morel)

Main type

Burn morel

Habitat

Boreal and montane coniferous forests. Jack pine, white spruce, balsam poplar and paper birch in the Northwest. Post-fire burn areas form the harvesting grounds.

Altitude

From boreal valley floors to montane burn areas in British Columbia.

Fruiting

May to July

Harvest

June to July

From 1 June to 30 July in the Northwest Territories. In southern British Columbia, the season begins earlier.

Quantity

British Columbia: on average 123 649 kg per year of wild mushrooms — chanterelles, morels and boletes — exported to Europe from 1997 to 2001, for roughly 2.1 million Canadian dollars. Northwest Territories: 33 000 to 66 000 pounds of dried morels sought per year in 1999.^[164]

Recorded price

Kelowna: more than 10 dollars per pound for fresh morels in April 2004, then around 3.35 dollars later in the season. Northwest Territories: 3.70 dollars per pound fresh to pickers in 1999; resale of dried morels from 64 to 323 dollars per pound depending on the summer. British Columbia: 16.75 Canadian dollars per kilo on average for 1997–2001.^[158]

Markets

itinerant buyers in burn camps, export to Europe, Canada and the United States, specialist North American wholesalers

Trade routes

Production from British Columbia and Yukon is sold dried for export. In 1999, ten buyers from Canada, Europe and the United States travelled to Yellowknife.

The forests of Western Canada yield a large fire-morel harvest each summer. In the Northwest Territories, a 1999 study near Yellowknife recorded a presence from 1 June to 30 July. Buyers from Europe, Canada and the United States then sought roughly 66 000 pounds of dried morels annually. In British Columbia, shipments of wild mushrooms destined for Europe — chanterelles, morels and boletes combined — averaged 123 649 kg per year from 1997 to 2001, for a total of 2.1 million Canadian dollars. The average price stood at around 16.75 Canadian dollars per kilo. Near Kelowna, pickers initially sold at more than 10 dollars per pound, then around 3.35 dollars in summer 2004. Swiss dealers import these dried morels into French-speaking Switzerland.

Key facts

• Near Yellowknife, morels are present from 1 June to 30 July; in 1999, the volumes demanded ranged from 33 000 to 66 000 pounds of dried morels annually, at 3.70 dollars per pound fresh to pickers.^[158]
• In April 2004 near Kelowna, a pound of fresh morels initially fetched more than 10 dollars, then around 3.35 dollars a few weeks later.^[158]
• Between 1997 and 2001, average annual exports of wild mushrooms from British Columbia to Europe — chanterelles, morels and boletes — reached 123 649 kg, amounting to 2.1 million Canadian dollars.^[164]

Sources: ^{[158] [164] [165] [166] [167] [168]}

Species

Morchella esculenta / americana (yellow morel)
Morchella angusticeps (black morel)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Old orchards, withering elms and alluvial plains of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers for the yellow morel; mixed and boreal forests of Quebec (Laurentians, North Shore, Abitibi) and northern Ontario for burn morels.

Altitude

low altitude (St. Lawrence valley, boreal plateau)

Fruiting

April to June

Harvest

May to June

Late April in southern Ontario, early May in southern Quebec, then June in the Laurentians and the neighbouring province's north.

Markets

Local and amateur market

Trade routes

Commercial sale requires an official permit in each province, organised activity remaining concentrated in the West.

In the east of the country, the yellow morel is simply called 'morel'. It favours old orchards, wet lowlands and declining elms. Its season progresses from south to north: late April in southern Ontario, early May in southern Quebec, then June in the Laurentians and northern Ontario. These provinces also see post-fire flushes: the great forest fires of northern Quebec produce remarkable colonies of black morels the following summer. But unlike Western Canada, no structured commercial supply chain exists there. Harvesting for sale requires an official permit in each province, and Ontario provincial parks prohibit picking. The activity therefore remains essentially a family affair.

Key facts

• In Ontario, the morel season begins in late April in the south and moves northward in May-June.^[169]
• In Quebec, commercial harvesting requires an official permit; personal picking is allowed on public lands, which cover roughly 92% of the territory.^[170]
• In Ontario, wild mushroom picking is prohibited in provincial parks and most nature reserves; it is permitted only on private land and on Crown lands where food gathering is authorised.^[169]

Sources: ^{[169] [170]}

Species

Morchella rufobrunnea (morilla / colmena / elotito / mazorca / olote)
Morchella angusticeps (morilla negra)
Morchella guatemalensis (morilla)
Morchella costata / elata / esculenta / umbrina (complexe) (morilla)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Pine, oak and fir forests between 2500 and 3500 m in the central highlands; orchards and ash woods in spring. Pine forests in the Sierra Tarahumara.

Altitude

2500 to 3500 m

Fruiting

March to May

Harvest

April to May

Spring, before the heavy summer rains.

Markets

Europe and United States

Mexico is home to an endemic species described by science in 1998, Morchella rufobrunnea, among seven recorded in the country. Harvesters give morels evocative names drawn from Nahuatl or Spanish: colmenitas, mazorquitas, elotitos, pancitas, or morilla in the markets. They emerge in spring, before the summer rains, in the temperate woods of pine, oak and fir located between 2500 and 3500 metres. The Sierra Tarahumara, further north, also hosts them, although local people recognise them less than other mushrooms. The literature records shipments to Europe and the United States, but no specific commercial intermediary is known.

Key facts

• Scientifically described in 1998 in the state of Veracruz; seven Morchella species recorded in Mexico.^[171]
• Local names for morels include colmenitas, mazorquitas, elotitos and pancitas; they are also called morilla in the market.^[171]
• Sierra Tarahumara: of 197 people surveyed, only 4 identified the morel from a photograph, and none consumed it, whereas other local mushrooms are far more prized.^[172]
• The morels of the central highlands grow between 2500 and 3500 metres, beneath pines and oaks, before the summer rains arrive.^[173]

Sources: ^{[171] [172] [173]}

Middle Atlas and High Atlas

Species

Morchella esculenta (morille)

Main type

Yellow morel

Habitat

Temperate forests of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), green oaks, and margins of mountain lakes, between 1 200 and 2 000 m altitude; some appearances on post-fire ground.

Altitude

1200-2000

Brief appearance of a few weeks, precursor sign of spring, without fixed months.

The Middle Atlas, around Ifrane and Azrou, hides its morels in the shade of Atlas cedars and on the edge of green oak woods, near mountain lakes. The zone lies between 1 200 and 2 000 m. According to the Ifrane National Park fact sheet, the mushroom shows only the tip of its cap for a few weeks each year, as a harbinger of spring, with no fixed calendar. It is a luxury ingredient, used in sauces and stews. It is credited with richness in protein, iron, potassium, zinc, as well as vitamins B and D. It also plays an ecological role in decomposing plant matter and fertilising the forest soil. Some fruitings appear on ground that has experienced a fire. No harvest figure, price or export volume is available for this area. The Rif is not mentioned by the sources.

Key facts

• The Moroccan morel grows in the temperate forests of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas, between 1 200 and 2 000 m altitude, near Atlas cedars, green oaks and mountain lakes.^[191]
• Some morels emerge on ground that has suffered a fire, according to the same fact sheet.^[191]

Sources: ^[191]

Kabylie Region

Species

Morchella spp. (Ibertchetcha, Ivertchetcha, Ikerchiwen n lekhla)

Main type

Black and yellow

Habitat

Shaded, humid Kabyle villages, notably near springs such as Thala uzar, called the fountain of the root.

Fruiting

March

Harvest

March to April

Last days of March.

Trade routes

Subsistence and traditional village harvesting.

In Kabyle villages, the morel bears several names in Tamazight: Ibertchetcha, Ivertchetcha and Ikerchiwen n lekhla. Its arrival, around late March, announces spring to the inhabitants. Gatherers, nicknamed 'morel sniffers' in oral tradition, read microclimates to guess where the mushroom is appearing. They go mainly to Thala uzar, called the fountain of the root, a shaded, damp nook sheltering lively water all year. The forest there remains thick. The idea of a village festival around this mushroom is sometimes raised, along the lines of those celebrating the cherry in neighbouring communes.

Key facts

• In Tamazight, the morel is called Ibertchetcha, Ivertchetcha or Ikerchiwen n lekhla; it is found during the last days of March.^[192]
• Thala uzar, meaning fountain of the root, designates the favourite site, shaded and damp in every season.^[192]

Sources: ^[192]

Species

Morchella capensis (Fynbos morel)

Main type

Black morel

Habitat

Fynbos on sand, between the Cape and Cape Agulhas, where the dune conebush (Leucadendron coniferum) grows.

Trade routes

Traditional local use, without a commercial supply chain.

From the Cape to Cape Agulhas, the fynbos dunes are home to Morchella capensis, nicknamed “Fynbos morel”. It is the only endemic morel currently known in Africa. Discovered in 2015, it lives in close association with the dune conebush (Leucadendron coniferum), a Proteaceae shrub unique to this coastline. Genetic studies have shown that it forms a separate lineage, distinct from other morels worldwide. Its closest relative lies across the Atlantic: Morchella kaibabensis. The presence of this fungus on the peninsula is long-standing, but details of its local use remain scarce.

Key facts

• Morchella capensis (“Fynbos morel”) is the first endemic morel described in Africa; it grows with the dune conebush (Leucadendron coniferum, Proteaceae) in coastal fynbos.^[193]
• Discovered in 2015 in the fynbos dunes between Fish Hoek and Cape Agulhas, this morel constitutes a distinct genetic lineage, related to Morchella kaibabensis.^[193]

Sources: ^[193]