Morels: where they grow now and when

A honeycomb on a stem. It comes up where nobody expects it and is gone in two weeks.

Yellowish morels among the leaf litter by a river, in spring
Morels in spring, among the leaf litter of a riverside grove: a cap of cells like a honeycomb and a hollow white stem.

The morel (Morchella esculenta / M. elata) comes out from March to May, at its best in April, in woods of black poplar, white poplar, narrow-leaved ash, field elm, holm oak, downy oak and beech, and also among Aleppo pine, maritime pine, Scots pine and black pine, from low ground up to the middle mountains. It is also known as yellow morel, common morel.

See where it is ready this week

No area is ready for morels this week: the forest is still asleep.

The morel is the mushroom of early spring: poplar groves and riverbanks, clearings in pine woods, disturbed ground and woods burnt the year before. It changes place every spring, and that is why finding it is as much an art as a stroke of luck.

It responds to March and April rains on soil that is starting to warm up. Its window is short: when the heat arrives, it is over until next year. Always cooked, never raw.

What it needs to come out

First, a good rain, the kind that soaks the ground. Then patience: it usually appears one or two weeks later, as long as the soil holds on to that moisture and stays cool. If a frost, too much water or a drying wind comes in between, the flush is aborted and never shows.

Where to look

It comes out in woods of black poplar, white poplar, narrow-leaved ash, field elm, holm oak, downy oak and beech, and also among Aleppo pine, maritime pine, Scots pine and black pine, from low ground up to the middle mountains, without being fussy about the soil.

Morels by province: Andalusia: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, Sevilla · Aragon: Huesca, Teruel, Zaragoza · Asturias · Basque Country: Álava, Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya · Cantabria · Castile and León: Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid, Zamora · Castilla-La Mancha: Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Toledo · Catalonia: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona · Extremadura: Badajoz, Cáceres · Galicia: A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense · Illes Balears · La Rioja · Madrid · Murcia · Navarra · Valencian Community: Alicante, Castellón, Valencia

Where to find Morels in Andalusia

Morels in Almería

Almería has 139 zones with the woodland morels need, from 600 to 1,600 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Lúcar, María, Paterna del Río and Vélez-Blanco.

Where to find Morels in Cádiz

We count 50 zones in Cádiz where morels can come up, between 100 and 850 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Coripe, Zahara, El Bosque and Setenil de las Bodegas.

Finding Morels in Córdoba

In Córdoba we follow 245 zones with woodland for morels, between 200 and 700 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Doña Mencía, Algarinejo, Villaviciosa de Córdoba and Montoro.

Morels season in Granada

Granada has 301 zones with the woodland morels need, from 700 to 1,600 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Algarinejo, Montefrío, Zagra and Lugros.

When to look for Morels in Huelva

We count 304 zones in Huelva where morels can come up, between 100 and 550 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near El Ronquillo, Cabezas Rubias, Rosal de la Frontera and Aroche.

Morels in Jaén: where and when

In Jaén we follow 327 zones with woodland for morels, between 450 and 1,400 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Villaverde de Guadalimar, La Iruela, Orcera and Chilluévar.

Foraging for Morels in Málaga

Málaga has 159 zones with the woodland morels need, from 200 to 1,050 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Villanueva de Tapia, Málaga, Cuevas de San Marcos and Yunquera.

Morels spots in Sevilla

We count 189 zones in Sevilla where morels can come up, between 100 and 600 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Algámitas, Villanueva del Río y Minas, Malcocinado and Morón de la Frontera.

Morels in Aragon, province by province

Morels in Huesca

In Huesca we follow 461 zones with woodland for morels, between 400 and 1,500 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Arén, Fiscal, Jaca and Graus.

Where to find Morels in Teruel

Teruel has 478 zones with the woodland morels need, from 550 to 1,550 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Monroyo, Valjunquera, Fuentespalda and Ariño.

Finding Morels in Zaragoza

We count 404 zones in Zaragoza where morels can come up, between 300 and 1,000 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Arén, Cosuenda, Zuera and Luesia.

Morels season in Asturias

In Asturias we follow 267 zones with woodland for morels, between 100 and 1,400 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Oseja de Sajambre, Campo de Caso, Cármenes and Amieva.

Morels season in the Basque Country

When to look for Morels in Álava

Álava has 118 zones with the woodland morels need, from 500 to 1,000 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Villanueva de Valdegovía, Arana, La Puebla de Arganzón and Berantevilla.

Morels in Guipúzcoa: where and when

We count 27 zones in Guipúzcoa where morels can come up, between 250 and 1,150 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Araia, Eskoriatza, Oñati and Altsasu.

Foraging for Morels in Vizcaya

In Vizcaya we follow 42 zones with woodland for morels, between 50 and 700 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Urduña / Orduña, Zeanuri, Mañaria and Villasana de Mena.

Morels spots in Cantabria

Cantabria has 183 zones with the woodland morels need, from 150 to 1,200 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Potes, San Martín de Elines, Pesaguero-La Parte and Valdeprado del Río.

Where to find Morels in Castile and León

Morels in Ávila

We count 246 zones in Ávila where morels can come up, between 700 and 1,450 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Santa Cruz del Valle, Pedro Bernardo, El Hornillo and Mombeltrán.

Where to find Morels in Burgos

In Burgos we follow 443 zones with woodland for morels, between 700 and 1,200 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Oña, Villanueva de Valdegovía, Trespaderne and Huerta del Rey.

Finding Morels in León

León has 529 zones with the woodland morels need, from 750 to 1,550 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Guardo, Cistierna, Almanza and Vegaquemada.

Morels season in Palencia

We count 197 zones in Palencia where morels can come up, between 750 and 1,400 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Guardo, Santibáñez de la Peña, Buenavista de Valdavia and Villota del Páramo.

When to look for Morels in Salamanca

In Salamanca we follow 346 zones with woodland for morels, between 700 and 950 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Sotoserrano, Lagunilla, Mozárbez and Barbadillo.

Morels in Segovia: where and when

Segovia has 227 zones with the woodland morels need, from 800 to 1,250 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Coca, Sanchonuño, Cantalejo and Samboal.

Foraging for Morels in Soria

We count 354 zones in Soria where morels can come up, between 950 and 1,300 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near San Leonardo de Yagüe, Navaleno, Cabrejas del Pinar and Hontoria del Pinar.

Morels spots in Valladolid

In Valladolid we follow 144 zones with woodland for morels, between 700 and 850 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Montemayor de Pililla, Viana de Cega, Pozal de Gallinas and Quintanilla de Onésimo.

Morels in Zamora

Zamora has 286 zones with the woodland morels need, from 700 to 1,050 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near San Esteban de Nogales, Venialbo, Peleagonzalo and Villalpando.

Morels in Castilla-La Mancha, province by province

Where to find Morels in Albacete

We count 316 zones in Albacete where morels can come up, between 600 and 1,250 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Salobre, Riópar, Villaverde de Guadalimar and Paterna del Madera.

Finding Morels in Ciudad Real

In Ciudad Real we follow 283 zones with woodland for morels, between 550 and 900 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near El Robledo, Arroba, Saceruela and Viso del Marqués.

Morels season in Cuenca

Cuenca has 468 zones with the woodland morels need, from 750 to 1,350 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Villar del Humo, Cañizares, Priego and Aliaguilla.

When to look for Morels in Guadalajara

We count 461 zones in Guadalajara where morels can come up, between 800 and 1,400 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Pareja, Trillo, Corduente and Priego.

Morels in Toledo: where and when

In Toledo we follow 258 zones with woodland for morels, between 400 and 950 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Ballesteros, Marjaliza, Pelahustán and Robledo del Mazo.

Morels season in Catalonia

Foraging for Morels in Barcelona

Barcelona has 316 zones with the woodland morels need, from 150 to 900 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Castellar del Vallès, Sant Maurici de la Quar, Matadepera and Sant Vicenç de Castellet.

Morels spots in Girona

We count 220 zones in Girona where morels can come up, between 50 and 1,250 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Besalú, Lladó, Campdevànol and Sant Maurici de la Quar.

Morels in Lleida

In Lleida we follow 345 zones with woodland for morels, between 400 and 1,650 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Olius, Montmajor, Bagà and Sort.

Where to find Morels in Tarragona

Tarragona has 192 zones with the woodland morels need, from 100 to 800 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Montblanc, Beseit / Beceite, Mas de Barberans and Flix.

Where to find Morels in Extremadura

Finding Morels in Badajoz

We count 355 zones in Badajoz where morels can come up, between 250 and 650 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Helechosa, Herrera del Duque, Fuenlabrada de los Montes and Puebla de Don Rodrigo.

Morels season in Cáceres

In Cáceres we follow 456 zones with woodland for morels, between 300 and 850 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Bohonal de Ibor, Deleitosa, Cañamero and Guadalupe.

Morels in Galicia, province by province

When to look for Morels in A Coruña

A Coruña has 24 zones with the woodland morels need, from 0 to 150 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Corcubión, Mugia, Camariñas and Carnota.

Morels in Lugo: where and when

We count 6 zones in Lugo where morels can come up, between 0 and 100 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Foz, Cervo, Vegadeo and Ribadeo.

Foraging for Morels in Ourense

In Ourense we follow 26 zones with woodland for morels, between 650 and 1,300 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Oencia, O Barco de Valdeorras, Lubián and Petín.

Morels spots in Illes Balears

Illes Balears has 174 zones with the woodland morels need, from 50 to 400 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Esporles, Estellencs, Alaró and Sóller.

Morels in La Rioja

We count 172 zones in La Rioja where morels can come up, between 500 and 1,450 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Autol, Ábalos, Ezcaray and Baños de Río Tobía.

Where to find Morels in Madrid

In Madrid we follow 172 zones with woodland for morels, between 600 and 1,450 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Guadarrama, Cercedilla, Villa del Prado and Patones.

Finding Morels in Murcia

Murcia has 260 zones with the woodland morels need, from 250 to 1,150 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Moratalla, Cehegín, Bullas and Alhama de Murcia.

We count 294 zones in Navarra where morels can come up, between 350 and 1,100 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Liédena, Isaba, Escároz and Ansó.

Morels season in the Valencian Community

When to look for Morels in Alicante

In Alicante we follow 110 zones with woodland for morels, between 50 and 1,050 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Penáguila, Polop, Castalla and Fontanars dels Alforins.

Morels in Castellón: where and when

Castellón has 179 zones with the woodland morels need, from 300 to 1,150 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Cirat, Rosell, Chert/Xert and Caudiel.

Foraging for Morels in Valencia

We count 281 zones in Valencia where morels can come up, between 200 and 1,000 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Bicorp, Enguera, Teresa de Cofrentes and Mogente.

How the forest is doing this week

Forecast of 26 October, updated every day.

Mushrooms that share its woods

How we know when the forest wakes up.