Tree & Shrub Seeds

Botanical name: Picea abies
Common name(s): Norway spruce, European spruce
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 2 – 7
Height range: 40′ – 100′
Growing information: Prefers full sun
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 55000
Comments: Common choice for windbreaks and shelters

Botanical name: Picea glauca
Common name(s): White spruce, Canadian spruce, skunk spruce, cat spruce
Source: New Brunswick
Hardiness zone: 2 – 6
Height range: 40′ – 60′
Growing information: Transplants readily; tolerates wind, heat, cold, & drought
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 230000
Comments: Useful as a specimen tree and for masses, hedges, and windbreaks

Botanical name: Picea mariana
Common name(s): Black spruce
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 2 – 5
Height range: 30′ – 40′
Growing information: Prefers moist, well-drained soils
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 370000
Comments: Small to medium-sized tree; conical shape

Botanical name: Picea pungens
Common name(s): Blue spruce, green spruce, Colorado spruce
Source: Colorado
Hardiness zone: 2 – 7
Height range: 30′ – 60′
Growing information: Prefers rich, moist soil and full sun
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 104420
Comments: Popular as a specimen tree

Botanical name: Picea pungens
Common name(s): Blue spruce, green spruce, Colorado spruce
Source: Kaibab, Arizona
Hardiness zone: 2 – 7
Height range: 30′ – 60′
Growing information: Prefers rich, moist soil and full sun
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 104420
Comments: Popular as a specimen tree

Botanical name: Picea rubens
Common name(s): Red spruce, yellow spruce, eastern spruce
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 2 – 5
Height range: 60′ – 70′
Growing information: Prefers high humidity and high rainfall
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 140000
Comments: Used in a wide variety of applications, from Christmas trees to the production of paper pulp and tonewood

Botanical name: Pinus banksiana
Common name(s): Jack pine, grey pine, scrub pine
Source: New Brunswick
Hardiness zone: 2 – 6
Height range: 35′ – 50′
Growing information: Prefers acidic, sandy soils and full sun
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 101400
Comments: Useful for windbreaks and mass plantings; very hardy

Botanical name: Pinus nigra
Common name(s): Austrian pine, black pine
Source: Prince Edward Island
Hardiness zone: 4 – 7
Height range: 50′ – 60′
Growing information: Very hardy; tolerates salty conditions
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 26000
Comments: Useful as a specimen tree and for windbreaks and mass plantings

Botanical name: Pinus resinosa
Common name(s): Red pine
Source: Ontario & Prince Edward Island
Hardiness zone: 2 – 5
Height range: 50′ – 125′
Growing information: Prefers colder climates; tolerates poorer soil
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 45000
Comments: Hardy; picturesque; useful for windbreaks and groves

Botanical name: Pinus strobus
Common name(s): White pine, soft pine
Source: New Brunswick
Hardiness zone: 3 – 8
Height range: 50′ – 80′
Growing information: Prefers full sun; does not tolerate salt, wind, or pollution
Pretreatment of seed: Cold stratify for 60 days
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 27000
Comments: Handsome and ornamental; useful for hedging

Botanical name: Pinus sylvestris
Common name(s): Scotch pine, Scots pine
Source: Ontario
Hardiness zone: 2 – 8
Height range: 30′ – 60′
Growing information: Prefers well-drained soil; tolerates dry, acidic conditions
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 65000
Comments: Unique form and colour; popular Christmas tree choice

Botanical name: Larix laricina
Common name(s): Tamarack larch, eastern larch, hackmatack, black larch, red larch, American larch
Source: Prince Edward Island
Hardiness zone: 1 – 5
Height range: 40′ – 80′
Growing information: Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 318000
Comments: Useful as a specimen tree and for screens; good fall colour

Botanical name: Thuja occidentalis
Common name(s): Eastern white cedar, swamp cedar, arborvitae
Source: New Brunswick
Hardiness zone: 2 – 7
Height range: 40′ – 60′
Growing information: Prefers deep, well-drained soils, full sun, and atmospheric moisture
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 300000
Comments: Useful as a specimen or accent tree and for hedges

Botanical name: Tusga canadensis
Common name(s): Eastern hemlock, eastern hemlock-spruce, Canadian hemlock
Source: Upper Stewiacke, Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 3 – 8
Height range: 40′ – 75′
Growing information: Prefers humid, well-drained soils and partial shade but tolerate full shade
Pretreatment of seed: Stratification for 30 – 120 days
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 170000
Comments: Useful as a slow-growing, long-lived ornamental tree due to fine, drooping foliage and pyramidal growth habit

Botanical name: Betula alleghaniensis
Common name(s): Yellow birch, golden birch
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 3 – 7
Height range: 60′ – 75′
Growing information: Prefers cool, moist conditions
Pretreatment of seed: Cold stratify for 30 days; provide extra light
Seed type: Rubbed seed grade
Average seeds per pound: 500000
Comments: Important lumber tree

Botanical name: Betula papyrifera
Common name(s): White birch, paper birch, canoe birch
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 2 – 6
Height range: 50′ – 70′
Growing information: Does best in moist, well-drained, acidic, sandy soils; prefers full sun
Pretreatment of seed: Cold stratify for 30 days
Seed type: Rubbed seed grade
Average seeds per pound: 610000
Comments: Characteristic bark colour contrasts beautifully with a variety of landscapes

Botanical name: Quercus robur
Common name(s): English oak, European oak, common oak, pedunculate oak
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 4 – 8
Height range: 75′ – 100′
Growing information: Prefers well-drained soil and full sun
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 105
Comments: Large shade tree suitable for parks and other open areas

Botanical name: Quercus rubra
Common name(s): Red oak, northern red oak, champion oak
Source: New Brunswick
Hardiness zone: 4 – 8
Height range: 75′ – 100′
Growing information: Transplants easily; prefers acidic, sandy soil; tolerates pollution
Pretreatment of seed: No pretreatment necessary
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 110
Comments: Fast-growing; useful for parks and streets

Botanical name: Fraxinus americana
Common name(s): White ash, American ash
Source: New Brunswick
Hardiness zone: 3 – 9
Height range: 50′ – 80′
Growing information: Prefers deep, moist, well-drained soil and full sun
Pretreatment of seed: Warm stratify for 30 days, then cold stratify for 60 days
Seed type: Winged
Average seeds per pound: 10000
Comments: Handsome; commonly grows alongside Acer saccharum (Sugar maple)

Botanical name: Sorbus americana
Common name(s): American mountain ash
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 2 – 6
Height range: 10′ – 30′
Growing information: Prefers moist areas
Pretreatment of seed: Cold stratify for 120 days
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 122290
Comments: Attractive fruits and flowers

Botanical name: Juglans nigra
Common name(s): Black walnut, eastern black walnut
Source: Nova Scotia
Hardiness zone: 4 – 9
Height range: 50′ – 75′
Growing information: Transplants with difficulty
Pretreatment of seed: Cold stratify for 60 days
Seed type: Cleaned
Average seeds per pound: 25
Comments: Excretes chemicals harmful to competitive trees, particularly apple, pine, and birch

Botanical name: Juglans cinerea
Common name(s): Butternut, white walnut
Source: New Brunswick
Hardiness zone: 3
Height range: 40′ – 60′
Growing information: Prefers moist, fertile soil and full sun
Pretreatment of seed: Cold stratify seed for 90 – 120 days
Seed type: Clean seed
Average seeds per pound: 30
Comments: Useful in dry, rocky soils, especially those of limestone origin, including near coves, streams, slopes, rock ledges, and other well-drained sites