MDC to purchase seed in Columbia during select dates this fall

COLUMBIA, 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. The nursery conducts seed collections annually, and collected seeds are grown into bare root seedlings.

In central Missouri, people can bring their seed to MDC’s Central Regional Office at 3500 East Gans Road in Columbia from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. on the following dates:

• Aug. 21
• Aug. 28
• Sept. 4
• Sept. 11
• Sept. 18
• Sept. 25
• Oct. 2
• Oct. 9
• Oct. 16
• Oct. 23
• Oct. 30

The nursery will stop accepting seed once the quota is reached for that species. Sellers are encouraged to call ahead to ensure MDC is still collecting specific seed species. The nursery reserves the right to stop buying seed once needs are met. The nursery also reserves the right to reject seed that is poor quality, not mature, or is mixed with refuse such as leaves and twigs.

The nursery will begin accepting seed for the following species on the dates shown below (prices are by the pound):

Starting Aug. 21

• Serviceberry: $7 per pound. Fruit must be ripe – purple to black in color.
• Black Cherry: $6 per pound of fruit. Fruit must be ripe and black in color.
• Wild Plum: $1.95 per pound of fruit. Fruit must be ripe with a skin color completely red, yellow, or orange.

Starting Aug. 28

• Hazelnut: $4.75 per pound. Fruit must be mature with the seed being light brown and easily pulled from the husk. No green or partially green fruit will be accepted. Allow fruit to mature on the plant.

Starting Sept. 8

• Mixed Hickory: $0.75
• Shellbark Hickory: $0.90
• Persimmon: $0.75 per pound of fruit. Fruit must be ripe (soft). Not partially green fruit will be accepted. 
• Paw Paw: $1.50 per pound. Fruit must be soft. Too firm of fruit will not be accepted.

Starting Sept. 21

• White Oak: $0.95
• Chinkapin Oak: $2.50
• Post Oak: $1.50
• Butternut: $3
• Ohio Buckeye: $0.95 per pound of seed. Clean seed only. Hulls must be removed.
• Red Buckeye: $0.95 per pound of seed. Clean seed only. Hulls must be removed.

Starting Oct. 1

• Pin Oak: $1.25

Starting Oct. 22

• Deciduous Holly: $4.50

For questions about tree species or how to check seed quality, contact MDC’s Central Regional Office at (573) 815-7900. People can also get more information from George O. White Nursery Manager Mike Fiaoni at Michael.fiaoni@mdc.mo.gov.

A special use permit is required to collect fruit and seeds on conservation areas. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/permits/special-use-permits.

What Happens to Collected Seeds

Collected seeds are taken to MDC’s George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking. Nursery staff grow the collected seed into bare root seedlings used for conservation work and available for purchase by the public.

Each year, the State Forest Nursery processes more than 10,000 orders and ships around 2 million seedlings. To grow all these species, the nursery collects or buys tens of thousands of pounds of seeds each summer and fall. For example, about 2,000 bushels of walnuts, 6,000 pounds of white oak acorns, 500 pounds of hazelnuts, and 500 pounds of plum seed are needed just to establish seedlings for these four species.

Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-seedlings/about-missouris-state-forest-nursery.