Tree and Shrub Descriptions for 2013

The 2013 Spring Seedling Sale begins on January 2nd. Please check the availability of species before placing your order.

Conifer Species

Order in units of 25, 100 or 250, depending on species. Minimum height of 4 inches.

Latin name: Pinus nigra
Height: 50 to 80 feet
Width: 20 to 40 feet
Growth Rate: Medium
Site Requirements: Sun, well-drained soil.
Physical Description: Evergreen conifer tree. Dense pyramidal shape when young, becoming more open and flat-topped with age. Shiny dark green stiff needles, 3 inches to 5 inches long, sharp tipped, arranged in bundles of 2. Cones stiff, 2 to 3 inches long. Bark dark gray brown becoming deeply furrowed.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals.
Uses: Christmas trees, windbreak, pulp.
Interesting Facts: Native of Europe, popular for landscape planting because more tolerant of heavy soils and pollution than many native pines.
Seedling size, source and cost: Two-year seedling. European source. Average height 4"-8". $20/25, $42/100, $56/250 unit.

Pitch Pine

Latin name: Pinus rigida
Height: 40 to 60 feet
Width: 20 to 30 feet
Growth Rate: Medium to slow
Site Requirements: Full sun, well drained soil. Does well on dry rocky sites and in sterile sandy soils. Grows well in coastal areas and sand dunes.
Physical Description: Evergreen tree. Form rounded and conical when young, becoming open with age. On better sites can grow long straight trunk, and symmetrical shape. On sites with sterile or rocky soil, often gets very craggy and picturesque with age. Foliage yellowish- green, needles in bundles of three, 2 to 5 inches long. Cones reddish brown, 2 to 3 inches long, very stiff, with distinct spine on each cone scale. Cones persistent, sometimes remaining on tree for several years. Bark gray-brown, becoming rough and platy with age. Needles may sprout directly from bark, a unique trait that is part of pitch pine's fire adaptation.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals. Bark eaten by porcupines.
Uses: Primarily used for coastal planting and restoration of inland pine barrens such as the Albany Pine Bush. Formerly used as a source of pitch and turpentine. Rot-resistant wood once used for boatbuilding and railroad ties.
Interesting Facts: Highly fire-adapted, the key tree species in Northeastern coastal and inland pine barrens.
Seedling size, source and cost: Two-year seedling. New York orchard. Average height 6"-12". $20/25, $42/100, $62/250 unit.

Red Pine

red pine needles and cone

Latin name: Pinus resinosa
Height: 50 to 80 feet
Width: 30 to 40 feet
Growth Rate: Medium
Site Requirements: Sun, well drained soil. Does well on sterile sandy soils.
Physical Description: Evergreen tree. Form rounded and conical with dense foliage when young, becoming more open with age. Develops very long straight trunk, especially in plantations. Needles dark green, in bundles of two. Cone reddish- brown, 2 to 3 inches long, stiff with thickened scale tips. Attached directly to branches, persistent. Bark reddish, becoming gray, platy and flaking with age.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals. Bark eaten by porcupines.
Uses: Poles, Christmas trees, lumber, pulp.
Interesting Facts: One of the primary reforestation species during early to mid 20th century. Ability to grow in dry sandy soil led to widespread planting of red pine for reclamation of abandoned and ruined farmland. These pine plantations stabilized the soil and provided shelter for eventual regeneration of hardwoods. Long straight trunks of plantation trees made outstanding poles for telephone lines, log buildings and pole construction. Also widely planted around reservoirs for water quality protection.
Seedling size, source and cost: Three-year seedling. New York source. Average height 6"-10". $20/25, $42/100, $56/250 unit.

Scotch Pine

Latin name: Pinus sylvestris
Height: 30 to 60 feet
Width: 20 to 40 feet
Growth Rate: Medium
Site Requirements: Sun, well drained soil.
Physical Description: Evergreen tree. Rounded conical form with dense foliage when young, growing more open with age. Foliage bluish-green. Needles in bundles of two, 1 ½ inches to 3 inches long, thick and twisted. Cones small and stiff, 1 to 2 inches long. Bark red-brown, scaly when young, becoming grayer and furrowed with age. Older trees very distinctive because upper trunk and limbs are reddish and lower trunk is gray.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals. Bark eaten by porcupines.
Uses: Christmas trees, windbreak, pulp.
Interesting Facts: Has become one of the top Christmas tree species because of long-lasting needles and dense sturdy foliage.
Seedling size, source and cost: Two-year seedling. New York orchard; Boonville or Danish strain. Average height 4"-8". $20/25, $42/100, $56/250 unit.

White Pine

Latin name: Pinus strobus
Height: 60 to 100 feet
Width: 30 to 50 feet
Growth Rate: Medium to fast
Site Requirements: Sun, well drained soil.
Physical Description: Evergreen tree. Rounded conical shape with dense foliage when young, becoming more open with age. Straight long trunk. Foliage bluefish-green, soft looking. Needles in bundles of five, very thin, 3 to 5 inches long. Cones narrow and flexible, 4 to 8 inches long with thick tipped scales. Bark dark gray-brown, smooth when young, becoming rough and furrowed with age.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites, especially for larger birds. Height and open branches on old trees make white pine a prime species for large raptor nests. Large diameter of trunk especially valuable as nest site for pileated woodpeckers. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals. Bark eaten by porcupines.
Uses: Lumber, pulp, poles, windbreak. Used for furniture, paneling and boat planking. Soft white wood is prized by carvers because it cuts and sands cleanly without any fuzzing.
Interesting Facts: In colonial times, tall straight white pines marked by British as king's pines to reserve them for use as masts by royal navy ships. Tallest-growing tree species in Northeast growing to 120 feet tall and with trunks up to 4 feet in diameter. Most valuable timber species in historic times, used for almost every purpose.
Seedling size, source and cost: Three-year seedling. New York source. Average height 6"-10". $20/25, $42/100, $56/250 unit.

Norway Spruce

Norway spruce forest

Latin name: Picea abies
Height: 60 to 100 feet.
Width: 30 to 50 feet
Growth Rate: Fast to medium.
Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade. Moist, well drained soil. Tolerates very wide range of soil types.
Physical Description: Evergreen conifer. Conical shape, older trees with long upswept branches. Dark green needles, ¾ inch to 1 inch long, four sided with sharp tip. Leaf scar is a raised woody peg. Cone red-brown, very large, 6 inches to 8 inches long with thin stiff scales. Bark gray-brown, smooth when young, becoming rough and platy with age.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals.
Uses: Lumber, windbreak, Christmas trees, pulp. Soft, light wood is valued for soundboards of musical instruments.
Interesting Facts: Big outdoor Christmas trees, such as those at Rockefeller Center, are often Norway spruce. Grows very large, and is most widely planted spruce for windbreaks and plantations.
Seedling size, source and cost: Two or three-year seedling. New York source. Average height 6"-12". $20/25, $42/100, $62/250 unit.

White Spruce

Latin name: Picea glauca
Height: 40 to 60 feet
Width: 15 to 20 feet
Growth Rate: Medium
Site Requirements: Sun, well drained soil. Hardy to zone 2. Does not like shade.
Physical Description: Evergreen conifer tree. . Full pyramidal shape when young, growing to tall narrow conical form. Foliage dull blue-green. Sharp-tipped, four-sided needles ½ inch to ¾ inch long, pointing upward. Cones brown with wavy scales, 1 ½ inches to 2 inches long. Bark brown to grayish brown, becoming rough and flaky.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals.
Uses: Lumber, windbreak, pulp, Christmas trees.
Interesting Facts: Inner bark is silvery white, hence the name white spruce.
Seedling size, source and cost: Two-year seedling. New York source. Average height. 6"-12". $20/25, $42/100, $62/250 unit.

Douglas Fir

Latin name: Pseudotsuga menziesii
Height: 40 to 80 feet
Width: 20 to 40 feet
Growth Rate: Medium
Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade. Moist well drained soil.
Physical Description: Evergreen conifer tree. Dense foliage when young, becoming tall open and conical with age. Foliage often grayish green to blue-green, needles 1 inch to 1 ½ inch long. Cones oval, light brown, 3 to 4 inches long, with long tongue-like bracts hanging out between the scales.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by birds and rodents.
Uses: Christmas trees , lumber, pulp. Popular as Christmas tree because of long-lasting attractive foliage.
Interesting Facts: Native to western U.S., grows very tall and large in coastal forests and is major timber species in Pacific Northwest, and in the Rocky Mountains.
Seedling size, source and cost: Two or three-year seedling. Lincoln source. Average height 6"-10". $20/25, $42/100, $66/250 unit.

Japanese Larch

Latin name: Larix kaempferi
Height: 70 to 90 feet
Width: 25 to 40 feet
Growth Rate: Fast
Site Requirements: Sun, moist well drained soil. Hardy to zone 4.
Physical Description: Deciduous conifer tree. Conical open habit with soft blue-green foliage. Turns yellow in fall, then drops needles. Soft flexible needles 1 to 1 ½ inches long, bright to dark green, arranged in whorls of 40 or more on short woody spurs. Twigs brown, usually with hairs. Cones stiff, oval, 1 to 1 ½ inches long with scales turned upward, giving effect of a rosette. Bark thin and grayish brown, becoming rough and furrowed with age.
Wildlife Value: Seeds eaten by birds and rodents. Provides cover and nest sites for birds.
Uses: Lumber, pulp. Strong heavy rot-resistant wood used for construction, poles, railroad ties.
Interesting Facts: Grows faster than European larch and is slightly more heat tolerant. The rose-shaped cones and blue-green foliage are the easiest way to distinguish it from European larch.
Seedling size, source and cost: Two-year seedling. New York orchard. Average height 6"-12". $20/25, $42/100, $62/250 unit.

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Containerized Stock

Two-year greenhouse tublings. New York source. All are available at $35/50 unit. (All in very limited supply).

Red Spruce

Latin name: Picea rubens
Height: 60 to 80 feet
Width: 20 to 30 feet
Growth Rate: Medium
Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade, moist well-drained soil. Shade tolerant when young, prefers cooler sites such as north facing slopes. Hardy to zone 2.
Physical Description: Evergreen conifer tree. Full pyramidal shape when young, growing to tall narrow conical form. Foliage is shiny bright green to yellow-green. Sharp-tipped, four-sided needles ½ inch to ¾ inch long, pointing toward tip of stem. Cones shiny reddish brown with stiff smooth scales, 1 ½ inches to 2 inches long. Bark reddish brown to grayish brown, becoming rough and flaky.
Wildlife Value: Cover and nest sites. Seeds eaten by many birds and small mammals.
Uses: Lumber, Christmas trees, pulp. Soft white lightweight wood, particularly fine for musical instruments and boat masts. A top timber tree in the northeast.
Interesting Facts: Called red spruce because of the red-brown color of the inner bark and also the young twigs.
Seedling cost: $35/50 unit.

Norway Spruce

Balsam Fir

Latin name: Abies balsamea
Height: 40 to 70 feet
Width: 20 to 30 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Site Requirements: Sun to partial shade, moist well drained soil. Prefers cool conditions.
Physical Description: Evergreen tree. Conical shape with narrow crown. Needles ¾ inch long, dark green, with rounded ends, very fragrant. Leaf scar round and flat. Cones upright, 2 to 3 inches long, disintegrate on tree leaving persistent central spike. Bark gray-brown, smooth with
blisters filled with fragrant resin.
Wildlife Value: wildlife cover, foliage and buds eaten by deer, seeds eaten by birds and squirrels.
Uses: Christmas trees, wreaths, pulpwood and lumber.
Interesting Facts: Traditional Christmas tree species long prized for its wonderful fragrance. Resin from bark, known as Canada Balsam, formerly used as optical adhesive for glass lenses and microscope slides.
Seedling cost: $35/50 unit.

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Hardwood Species

Order in units of 25, 100 or 250. Average Height: 5" - 14". All New York source.

Black Locust: $20/25 unit, $42/100 unit, $62/250 unit

Black Walnut: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Butternut: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Buckeye: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Grey Birch: $30/25 unit

Paper Birch: $30/25 unit

Flowering Dogwood: $30/25 unit

Hybrid Poplar: $30/25 unit, $56/100 unit

Silver Maple: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Bear Oak: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Chestnut Oak: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Red Oak: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

White Oak: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Osage Orange: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

Sycamore: $30/25 unit

Wild Apple: $30/25 unit, $66/100 unit

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Wildlife Species

Order in units of 25 or 100. Average height 3 - 12". New York source. $20/25 and $42/ 100 unit.

American plum: One-year seedling.

Bayberry: Two-year seedling.

Beach plum: One-year seedling. (25 unit only)

Buttonbush: Two-year seedling. (25 unit only)

Eastern red cedar: Two-year seedling.

Elderberry: Two-year seedling. (25 unit only)

Grey dogwood: Two-year seedling.

Highbush cranberry: Two-year seedling.

Nannyberry: Two-year seedling.

Northern white cedar: Three-year seedling. (25 unit only)

Prairie willow: One-year rooted cuttings.

Pussy willow: One-year rooted cuttings.

Red osier dogwood: Two-year rooted cuttings.

Red stem dogwood: Two-year seedling.

Rugosa rose: Two-year seedling.

Sandbar willow: One-year rooted cuttings.

Serviceberry: Two-year seedling.

Silky dogwood: Two-year seedling.

Streamco willow: One-year rooted cuttings.

Toringo crabapple: Two-year seedling.

Virginia rose: One-year seedling.

Wetland rose: One-year seedling.

Wild grape: Two-year seedling.

Witch hazel: Two-year seedling.

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Mixed Species Packets

Wildlife Mixed Species Packet #1 - $42.00 Contains 30 each of the following: Highbush Cranberry, Red Stem Dogwood, Toringo Crabapple. (90 plants)
Wildlife Mixed Species Packet #2 - $25.00 Contains 10 each of the following: Highbush Cranberry, Silky Dogwood, American Plum. (30 plants)
Long Island Shore Species Packet #3A - $25.00 Contains 10 each of the following: Bayberry, Virginia Rose, Beach Plum. (30 plants)
Riparian Species Packet #4 - $60.00 Contains 10 each of the following: Hybrid Poplar, Pussy Willow, Red Oak, Red Maple, Red Stem Dogwood, Highbush Cranberry, Streamco Willow, Gray Dogwood, Silver Maple, White Spruce. (100 plants)
Ruffed Grouse Packet #6 - $42.00 Contains 10 each of the following: American Hazelnut, Hybrid Poplar, Red Osier Dogwood, Toringa Crabapple and White Spruce. (50 plants).

The Nursery reserves the right to make substitutions in any wildlife packet using a species suitable for the area to be planted.