Sparassis crispa grows in sandy soils at the base of trees or pines in open forests.
It prefers Douglas fir, pine, and spruce. The fungus can be found from July to December inclusive, with a peak in September and October.
Sparassis crispa look like large, old-fashioned bath sponges and have a cauliflower-like structure with many lobed branches. They can grow to 40 cm wide and 15 cm high and weigh up to 5 kg. S. crispa is an edible mushroom, but it is forbidden to picked it in the park.