The 2022-2023 George O. White State Nursery Seedling catalog. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

2023 George O. White State Forestry Seedlings

Big news this year for George O. White State Nursery fans. The ordering window now opens at 8 a.m. September 1 instead of midnight so we can all sleep in before we start to order. Oh, I’m not joking, ask around, many of us wanted to get our orders as soon as possible.

Why the big excitement? Because some of the seedlings sell out fast such as paw paw trees. If you want to get them for spring 2023 you have to be quick on the ordering.

Native seedlings are important to our local micro climates and ecosystems. Not only have those plants become adapted to the local growing conditions but they have critical interdependent relationships with local bugs, birds and other animals. In Missouri, the George O. White State Forestry Nursery in Licking, Missouri has been raising, and providing native trees and shrubs since it was started in the 1940s when Missouri’s forests were replanted.

If you are just starting to learn about Missouri native trees and shrubs — or even if you think you know — get a copy of their catalog for your reference files. The color catalog has good photos of each Missouri native tree and shrub species as well as a detailed, easy to read graph of the best uses of each. They also have a detailed guide on site preparation so don’t miss out on how to prepare for success.

Smallest bundles of 10 seedlings are $1 each. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Some of the noted species may be marked sold out. Order it anyway because of the people before you don’t pay for their order, they move on to the next person. For a number of years I have ordered sold out items only to be contacted early December and asked if I was still interested. So if you are contacted, make sure to pay at the time they contact you or they will move on to the next person who ordered.

Each seedling is $1 for a minimum of 10 seedlings. The price goes down for more seedlings in quantities of 25 and 100. There is a $9 handling charge and taxes, too.

This year they started charging a shipping fee but you can save yourself that fee by picking up the seedlings at the Licking site next spring. They usually have a very nice open house around the beginning of April where you can volunteer to help and get your seedlings at the same time.

If you have a Missouri Conservation card, you get 15% off up to $20 order.

False indigo bush has lovely flowers bees love. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Once I get my seedlings, I get them in pots and let their roots get established for at least a year. That way the tree and shrub species has a good start before I place it somewhere on my limestone hillside. Not all of them make it, growing on my hillside can be brutal for plants that can’t get their roots through the rock.

The one exception is flowering dogwoods. Those seedlings don’t like to be moved so I get them into the ground and get their holes full dry leaves. I also cover them in leaves, mark their location and make sure they get watered for the first couple of years. I’ve found the tops may die off but if the roots can make it, new growth may appear a few years later. By marking their location I don’t disturb them as they try to settle in.

Last year, I fell in love a new addition to my hillside; false indigo bushes. I pruned them into a tree form in some spots and was surprised that they made it through our record hot temperatures earlier this year. Guess what I will be ordering again.

What are you planning to order?

Charlotte