West Coast Morels

Morels on the West Coast of the U.S., including California, Oregon and Washington, look slightly different than those found in the Midwestern U.S. However, they are genetically related to the three True morels found in the Midwest, though one black morel may be genetically separate.The categories are Landscaping, Burn Site, Orchard and Naturals.

Landscaping Morels

Landscaping morels are just that: they appear in residential landscaping. They are usually yellow. They do not appear after the first year, but they can be found almost year-round, particularly in higher elevations. Burn site morels are usually black. They are the most commonly hunted by West Coast residents. As in other areas of the U.S., old West Coast apple orchards produce yellow morels. Naturals are very rare in comparison to naturally growing morels in other areas of the U.S. They are so rare that it’s not worth one’s time to even look for them. However, in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades, black morels sprout in large numbers in Douglas Fir forests.