Browse Mushrooms
Spring Mushrooms
Spring is a narrow, prized window. It is defined by one great edible and one serious hazard, and telling them apart is the season's whole lesson.
Morel season
As the ground warms after the first mild rains, true morels push up near ash, elm, and old orchards. The window is short, often only a few weeks.
The spring hazard
The false morels fruit at the same time and in the same places. Their toxin, gyromitrin, is not reliably removed by cooking.
Warning
Cut every spring morel lengthwise. A true morel is hollow from tip to base. A false morel is chambered or stuffed inside, and it can be deadly.
Beyond morels
A few other species appear in spring, but for most foragers the season is a focused morel hunt with the hollow test in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mushrooms grow in spring?
Spring is best known for true morels, which fruit for a few weeks as the ground warms. False morels appear at the same time, which is why spring foraging centres on telling them apart.
What is the main danger of spring foraging?
Confusing a true morel with a false morel. False morels contain gyromitrin, a toxin cooking does not reliably remove. Always check that a morel is completely hollow inside.