Finding Morel Mushrooms - Regions and Variations in North America

Fortunately for morel lovers, morels grow in nearly every state from the USA and province of Canada, as well as in part of Mexico. They officially are located in all from the USA aside from Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico, Florida & Georgia, Alaska and Hawaii and also the provinces of Saskatchewan and Newfoundland-Labrador. Yet, a minimum of three varieties are typical in Manitoba, two in Saskatchewan, one present in northern Georgia, and something in the eastern parts of Alaska.

Morels are recognized as at least 16 separate members of the family, from the common yellow morel and black morel towards the half-free and western blond morel. While are all specific to some region, most of the taxons identified are almost indistinguishable in the common yellow or black morel.

Generally, morels are located where winter temperatures reach near or below freezing on the sustainable basis, where deciduous forests allow filtered light throughout the late spring season, where daytime temperatures aren't above 80F throughout the fruiting season, and in which the spider-like rooting networks can penetrate and spread within the soil substrate.

For these reasons, hot, arid regions don't host morels. Similarly, deep, dark evergreen forests are inhospitable hosts. However, some types of mushrooms do grow beneath evergreens. Simultaneously, sandy, dry soils generally aren't welcoming hosts. But morels will grow during these soils where they adjoin more beneficial soil substrates. Thus, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, along with other low-population states produce morels.

Morels require a looser substrate by which to spread their root-like filaments. Theoretically, then, mountainous regions wouldn't be suitable terrain. Yet, morels are typical in the North american, where leafy mulch offers the needed soil conditions, and spring light, moisture and warmth is abundant.

Half-free morels appear to deviate from their morel cousins' preferred sites, growing well within the mossy shoulders of small creeks and drainage ditches. These morels are located from the Dakotas towards the maritime states and provinces, from Tennessee to Manitoba, and across the Pacific states.

The classic black morel grows abundantly within the Midwest, across the Pacific Northwest, Colorado & New Mexico, as well as Mississippi.

The classic yellow is much more wide-ranging, from the west, throughout Manitoba and central Canada, central and south central USA, as well as the eastern seaboard states, while its sister, the Western Blond, is often found in Wyoming, Oregon and Washington.

Even within the Yukon and eastern Alaska, a distinctive morel, the fuzzy footed morel, are available in abundance, venturing into British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado.

All varieties are distinctively cone-shaped, and equally delicious. Each one is welcome spring snacks across all North America, and may be found after some determination, and a lot of luck.

Morel mushrooms possess a rich, creamy flavor that's deliciously earthy, nutty, steak-like- and it is this awesome taste which makes the morel mushroom No.1 with wild mushroom hunters worldwide. Visit morelmushroom.info for tips about hunting, finding, and enjoying morels.