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Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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Posted by
Asimina76 NC (
My Page) on
Sat, Sep 29, 12 at 20:51
| Hi, and thank you for reading. I have been scouring the internet for sources for native trees. Many internet retailers have high numbers of complaints. So far, my best choices seem to be Nature Hills Nursery and Willis Orchards. Some of the species I want are hard to come by, and I have had to create an order from each of these sites to get all of them (neither one had everything I wanted).
The species I want are: Shagbark Hickory, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Northern Catalpa.
I want to get the largest ones I can, but I'm flexible. Some of these are more widely available as 1'-3' seedlings, but I really want to get big ones to get a jump start on their growth. The Kentucky Coffee Tree is especially hard to get a hold of.
I'm also hoping to find the following trees for planting this year, but they are lower priority for now: Allegheny Serviceberry, Umbrella Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora D.D. Blanchard.
Any leads will be appreciated, and I'd love to be able to buy locally rather than out of state.
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| I would check out www.coldstreamfarms.net also shooting star nursery. They have great selections at good prices. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Good list and not the most difficult to come up with I would think. Big transplant = longer re-establishment times and lower survival rate / more likely hood of something being wrong in the roots. I like Forest Farm nursery. They will ship 5 gallon plants. Any bigger and local has to be better. Not only will shipping cost you a ton but you don't get to "pick your tree" when you mail order. Man I hate digging big holes. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| "So far, my best choices seem to be Nature Hills Nursery and Willis Orchards." Are you being serious or was this meant to be sarcasm??? |
Re: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Here are a few nurseries (just a sampling) with decent reputations: Fairweather Gardens
ForestFarm
Greer Gardens
Nearly Native Nursery
Nolin River Nut Tree Nursery
OIKOS Tree Crops
RareFind Nursery
Rolling River Nursery
Shooting Star Nursery |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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- Posted by acer 6b western NC (My Page) on
Sun, Sep 30, 12 at 11:04
| Try local farmer's markets, especially the big one in Asheville. Look for the places around the edges and the lower parking area that sell native ferns, etc. They'll be much more helpful for what you want than the ones bringing in tomatoes and such from Florida. The business of local, native, landscape plants has been booming around there. If you can't find the trees you want, you could probably custom order a nice wild-grown specimen. Most of these are earthy, organic type folks who are looking for ways to profit from their woodlands. Just ask. I was pretty surprised at the native plant choices during a recent "Herb Fest" there. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Some of these are more widely available as 1'-3' seedlings, but I really want to get big ones to get a jump start on their growth. ==>> counterintutive logic here.. the bigger the tree .. the harder they take the transplant.. and the longer they take to really get going ... if a tree is twice as big underground.. as above.. then the more roots you have to cut off .. for transplant ... and then basically.. they take years regrowing the root mass .. frankly.. the 1 to 3 foot size .. is the best.. ken |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Thanks for the suggestions all. @Brandon, I listed those retailers because I wanted to indicate my lack of success at finding reputable dealers online.. and I DID think it might get a rise outta you guys. @Ken Adrian, I am aware of your advice on size. Do you think that logic applies to any woody plant? I thought that it might make sense to go larger for a slower growing species with dense wood. I would normally be patient, but we just moved into a large grassy lot and I want to cover it in trees. The trees on my first list here are the shade trees I plan to plant on our South side. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Where are you in NC? East, west? Much better to buy in a nursery than mail order in NC. You should have a lot of selection if you call around (they can order them even if they don't have them). |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| when you were "scouring the internet" did you check out your state's native plant society's website? They list 19 nurseries. |
Here is a link that might be useful: NC Native Plant Society
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| I think that you would be better off, as suggested earlier, to go with the smaller seedlings for best results. Hickories have large tap roots so you will have trouble finding them in a much larger size than a seedling (think of nursery sizes regarding pecan trees, for example). Since you are wanting to convert a field into a forest, your best bet is to go the seedling route. Check out your state's forestry nursery (see link). They have a good species mix that is locally grown (in NC) and cheap! |
Here is a link that might be useful: North Carolina Division of Forestry
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| I think I have settled on a nursery, thanks for the suggestions. Woodlanders.net has almost all of the plants I'm interested in. That is, thanks to those of you who were helpful rather than quoting me in an attempt to appear witty. I worked at one of the best nurseries in the state for natives and I have a biology degree, however I'm not interested in the spitting contest some here want to engage in. I found that the search terms and page ranking on google made finding a nursery difficult. I'm not sure what is considered a safe question to ask if 'looking for suggestions for sources of native trees' is taken as an opening for sarcasm. I merely wanted a way to find all four species at one nursery. @Esh_ga, I'm in central NC. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Oh, and I will be purchasing 1 gallon trees - I knew that I should be planting smaller trees but I guess impatience got the better of my judgement. I think I'm even going to make the drive there rather than ship them, and they will have intact root systems in the gallon containers. Thanks again for the helpful links / advice. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Asimina, I'm glad you found Woodlanders. I was going to suggest them. I think that we can all relate to being impatient. But you will soon learn that it is an unfounded issue. Your small trees will grow rapidly. May I ask if you're up to date on the best planting practices? It's more than just a little possible to shoot yourself in the foot by making some mistakes at the very beginning. Let us know if you want some help. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| Asimina, I'm glad you found Woodlanders. I was going to suggest them. I think that we can all relate to being impatient. But you will soon learn that it is an unfounded issue. Your small trees will grow rapidly. May I ask if you're up to date on the best planting practices? It's more than just a little possible to shoot yourself in the foot by making some mistakes at the very beginning. Let us know if you want some help. |
RE: Looking for suggestions for sources of native trees
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| @rhizo_1 I am certainly always open to new information. I have read some on planting, but please fire away with your advice. I have a large amount of well balanced compost I've been saving for planting trees, and we have soil with a fair amount of clay here... the pH is on the acid side. I have read some advice indicating that I should use the existing soil to insure that the trees don't push through idealized soil only to find their roots encounter the existing soil and become obstructed. I have also read about leaving some undisturbed soil directly under a new planting to insure the roots expand outward. I thought I'd give you some clues about my local conditions and thoughts. Thanks for any advice you may have! |
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