Tree and Shrub Seedlings Available from DNR

Tree and Shrub Seedlings Available from DNR

Contact(s): Joe Vande Hey, Reforestation 608-574-404, Joseph.VandeHey@wisconsin.gov

Forest landowners can now order tree and shrub seedlings for planting next spring from DNR nurseries.   - Photo credit: DNR
Forest landowners can now order tree and shrub seedlings for planting next spring from DNR nurseries.Photo credit: DNR

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin forest landowners can now order tree and shrub seedlings for planting next spring from the Department of Natural Resources.

For well over 100 years, the DNR has provided high-quality seedlings of native species, appropriate for planting throughout Wisconsin. Seedlings grown by the state nurseries are used for reforestation and conservation plantings on private, state and county forest lands. These seedlings can provide future forest products and revenues, wildlife habitat, soil erosion control, living snow fences and aesthetics and shade to landowners and managers in every county of the state.

Forest landowners and managers may place orders starting this month using an online form found on the DNR website (keyword: “tree planting”) or by printing the order form, completing it and mailing it to the Griffith Nursery, 473 Griffith Ave., Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494. Customers may also contact reforestation staff or DNR foresters who serve the area where their property is located for personal assistance. Printed copies of the order form are also available at any of the nurseries or local DNR offices.

Conifer species available this year include white cedar, balsam fir, tamarack, white spruce, black spruce and jack, red and white pine. Inventories are adequate for 1-0 jack pine and 2-0 red pine age classes, but the all remaining conifer species and ages classes are limited, so consider ordering early.

Hardwoods include aspen, basswood, river, white and yellow birch, black cherry, hackberry, shagbark hickory, red, silver and sugar maple, bur, red, white and swamp white oak and black walnut. Shrubs include red-osier and silky dogwood, American hazelnut, Juneberry, ninebark and American plum.

All seedlings begin as a seed, and many are collected from a tree or shrub located somewhere in or around Wisconsin and grown at the F.G. Wilson State Nursery in Boscobel.

A minimum order consists of a packet of 300 trees or shrubs, of the landowner’s choosing, in increments of 100 of each species, 500 shrubs or 1000 tree seedlings. Youth groups and educational organizations can also purchase seedlings for their reforestation and conservation planting projects.

In addition to the ordering online, customers can also find the following on the DNR website: current inventory, seedling stock descriptionsfrequently asked questions, additional tree planting information and a listing of private nurseries.