CAPE GIRARDEAU – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White Tree Nursery in Licking is currently buying seeds from the public for a variety of tree and shrub species throughout 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, you can bring collected seeds to MDC’s Southeast Regional Office from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You can also bring them to the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Seeds currently being accepted are below (prices are by the pound of fruit): Aromatic/Fragrant sumac: $7; Serviceberry: $7 – Fruit must be ripe and purple or black in color.
Starting July 7–Black cherry: $6 – Fruit must be ripe and black in color; Wild plum: $1.95 Plum must be ripe and yellow, red or orange. No partially green fruit will be accepted.
Starting July 28–Elderberry: $4.25 – Fruit must be ripe and purple to black in color, and fruit only; no clusters.
Starting August 11–Witchhazel: $4.50 – Seed inside must be black in color.
Starting August 25–Hazelnut: $4.75 – Seed must be mature, light brown and easily pulled from husk; no green or partially green husks will be accepted. Be patient and allow the seed to mature on the plant.
Starting September 8–Flowering Dogwood: $5; Gray Dogwood: $5
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 – The fruit must be ripe, meaning it will be soft. Seed will not be accepted if the fruit is too firm.
Starting September 18–Roughleaf Dogwood: $4.75 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 cease purchasing seeds once its 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 seeds from cultivars (plant varieties that have been produced in cultivation through selective breeding). A special use permit is required to collect seeds in 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 and Nursery Manager Mike Fiaoni at Michael.Fiaoni@mdc.mo.gov.
