MDC buying tree seed from landowners for select species in southeast Missouri

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White Tree Nursery in Licking is currently purchasing seed from the public for a variety of tree and shrub species within southeast Missouri.

“The nursery conducts seed collections annually, and collected seeds are grown into bare root seedlings,” said MDC Community Forester Jennifer Behnken. “The nursery will stop accepting seed once the quota has been reached for that tree or shrub, so please contact us beforehand if you have questions.”

In southeast Missouri, collected seeds can be brought to MDC’s Southeast Regional Office (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) and the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center (Tuesday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

Seeds currently being accepted are below (prices are by the pound of fruit):

• Aromatic/Fragrant sumac: $7
• Serviceberry: $7 (Fruit must be ripe – purple or black in color).

Starting July 7

• Black cherry: $6 (Fruit must be ripe – black in color).
• Wild plum: $1.95 (Plum must be ripe – yellow, red or orange. No partially green fruit will be accepted.)

Starting July 28

• Elderberry: $4.25 (Fruit must be ripe, purple to black in color, and fruit only; no clusters)

Starting Aug. 11

• Witchhazel: $4.50
  • Seed inside must be black in color.

Starting Aug. 25

• Hazelnut: $4.75
  • Seed must be mature, light brown and easily pulled from husk; no green or partially green husks will be accepted. Please be patient and allow the seed to mature on the plant.

Starting Sept. 8

• Flowering Dogwood: $5
• Gray Dogwood: $5

Starting Sept. 18

• Roughleaf Dogwood: $4.75

Starting Sept. 10

• Mixed Hickory: $.75
• Shellbark Hickory: $.90
  • Seed must be mature, light brown, and easily pulled from the husk.
• Persimmon: $.75
  • Fruit must be ripe, which means it must be yellow, red, or orange. No partially green fruit will be accepted.
• Redbud: $4 per pound in pods
  • Pods must be brown with an average of three seeds per pod that are light-brown and filled, not black. Green seeds will not be accepted.
• Paw Paw: $1.50
  • Fruit must be ripe, which means it will be soft. Seed will not be accepted if fruit is too firm.

Starting Sept. 24

• White Oak: $.95
• Chinkapin Oak: $2.50
• Post Oak: $1.50
• Butternut: $3
• Ohio Buckeye (without hulls): $.95
• Red Buckeye (without hulls): $.95

Starting Oct. 1

• Black Oak: $.85
• Shumard Oak: $.95
• Northern Red Oak: $.95
• Pin Oak: $1.25
• Cherrybark Oak: $1.85
• Nuttall Oak: $1.85
• Swamp White Oak: $1.50
• Swamp Chestnut Oak: $1.50
• Overcup Oak: $1.50
• Willow Oak: $1.85

Starting Oct. 22

• Deciduous Holly: $4.50

Starting Nov. 26

• Kentucky Coffee Tree: $8
  • Clean seed only, no pods.

“This year, there is an increased interest in serviceberry, wild plum, and Kentucky coffee tree seed collections,” said Behnken. “Please be on the lookout for these species as they mature. Serviceberry and wild plum will ripen this summer and Kentucky coffee tree seeds will develop later in the fall.”

George O. White Tree Nursery reserves the right to stop buying seeds once needs are met. The nursery also reserves the right to reject seeds that are of poor quality, are not mature, or are mixed with refuse such as leaves and twigs.

George O. White Tree Nursery will not accept seed from cultivars (plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding).

A special use permit will be required to collect seeds on conservation areas. More information can be found online at https://mdc.mo.gov/permits/special-use-permits.

For questions regarding tree species or how to check seed quality, contact MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at (573) 290-5730. Questions may also be directed to George O. White Nursery Manager Mike Fiaoni at Michael.Fiaoni@mdc.mo.gov.