Summer 1995

Tree and Shrub Seeds Needed by State Nurseries

Mark V. Coggeshall

Tree Improvement Specialist Indiana Division of Forestry

As most readers know, the Indiana Division of Forestry operates 2 state nurseries - the Jasper-Pubski Nursery near Medaryville, and the Vallonia Nursery in southern Jackson County. All nursery employees at both facilities work very hard to produce approximately 5 million high quality seedlings per year of about 40 species. Historically, these efforts have resulted in a great number of satisfied customers, and it is our intent to maintain this high level of seedling quality and customer satisfaction in the future.

 

One of the most critical components in our nursery operations each year is the acquisition of tree and shrub seeds each fall. It is not by accident, that the quality seedlings our customers have come to expect over the years is due in large part to the precise sowing of high quality seed lots that are adapted to growing in Indiana's climate.

 

So, how do we obtain all of the seeds needed to produce these 5 million tree and shrub seedlings each year? For most of the deciduous tree species we grow, and especially oaks, both nurseries purchase seed from local individuals who collect seeds in fairly close proximity to each nursery. In some years however, there can be a seed crop failure throughout the state or near one of the nurseries for a certain species. In this case, we must quickly decide to either totally abandon our plans to grow the species and adjust our seed purchases with a substitute species, or else obtain the desired volume of seed from commercial seed vendors in other Midwestern states. This alternative is not desirable, since we strive to favor Indiana-origin seeds whenever possible. We felt that it might be helpful to provide a list of species for which we will be purchasing seed this fall (Table 1). We hope that this list might serve two functions. First, to inform any of our customers that may be planning to purchase seedlings in the summer, 1997 of our potential species list and secondly, to notify any individual who may be interested in collecting seed for the nurseries of the species we desire this fall.

 

Potential seed collectors should review this list and contact us for further information on the prices we will pay for certain species. Please be aware that we purchase seed on a "good seed" basis, rather than by volume or weight. We test each seedlot upon delivery to the nursery and determine both the percent sound seed and total number of seeds in the lot, and then pay the collector on that basis. We feel that this approach is the fairest method to purchase seed - for both the nurseries and the collector. We are willing to pay a good price for high quality seeds from accurately identified species on our list.

 

Seed acquisition at the state nurseries is a time critical operation. The vast majority of the species listed are large-seeded hardwoods. The seeds of these species have a high moisture content and are thus prone to degradation due to moisture loss. In addition, the acorns for most of the white oak species actually germinate in the fall. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to collect and deliver seed to the nurseries as soon as possible. This biological constraint, coupled with the pressure to purchase, accurately test and then sow enough seed to meet our production targets, makes for a very busy fall season. In addition to those listed in Table 1., there are seeds for a number of other deciduous species that we normally acquire from either commercial seed vendors, or from our own seed orchards. Seeds of these species are usually not commonly found in Indiana, or are very difficult to collect. A listing of these species is given in Table 2.

 

The seed acquisition program at the state nurseries is very important. From experience, we know that the precise sowing of high quality seedlots is the major factor used to produce quality hardwood planting stock' for our Indiana customers.

 

 

Table 1. Seed requirements for deciduous tree and shrub species for Indiana state nurseries in the fall, 1995.

 

Total # Good Seed

Common Name                      Scientific Name                                  Needed (Thousands)


Black Cherry                          Prunus serotina                                                  1,000
Black Gum                             Nyssa sylvatica                                                     500
Black Oak                              Quercus velutina                                                   120
Black Walnut                          Jugtans nigra                                                      3,500 (Bushels)
Bur Oak                                 Quercus macrocarpa                                              315
Cherrybark Oak                      Quercus pagoda                                                    250
Chinkapin Oak                        Quercus mueh!enbergii                                          205
Green Ash                              Fraxinus pennsylvanica                                       1,500
Hazelnut                                 Corylus americana                                                  40
Overcup Oak                          Quercus lyrata                                                      150
Pawpaw                                 Asimina triloba                                                      100
Pecan                                    Carya illinoensis                                                     125
Persimmon                             Diospyros virginiana                                               225
Pin Oak                                 Quercus palustris                                                   150
Red Oak                                Quercus rubra                                                       570
Scarlet Oak                           Quercus coccinea                                                    89
Shagbark Hickory                   Carya ovata                                                            40
Shingle Oak                           Quercus imbricaria                                                   87
Shumard Oak                        Quercus shumardii                                                  200

Swamp Chestnut Oak             Quercus michauxii                                                   340

Swamp White Oak                  Quercus bicolor                                                        240
Tulip Tree                               Liriodendron tutipifera                                             1,000
White Ash                               Fraxinus americana                                                 1500
White Oak                              Quercus alba                                                            550

 

 

Table 2. List of deciduous tree and shrub species to be grown by the Indiana state nurseries in the fall, 1995 from commercial seed vendors or state seed orchards.

 

Common Name             Scientific Name

Black Locust                      Robinia pseudoacacia

Buttonbush                        Cephalanthus occidentalis

Callary Pear                      Pyrus communis

Chokeberry                       Aronia melanocarpa

Eastern Chinkapin              Castanea pumila

European Black Alder        Alnus glutinosa

Highbush Cranberry           Viburnum opulus

Ninebark                            Physocarpus opulifolius

Northern Bayberry              Myrica pennsylvanica

Silky Dogwood                  Cornus ammomum

Silver Maple                      Acer Saccharinum

Sycamore                         Platanus occidentalis

Red Maple                        Acer ruburm

River Birch                        Betula nigra

Washington Hawthorn       Crataegus phaenopyrum

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