Seed Collection Open at MDC Southeast Missouri

By Blake Jackson

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White Tree Nursery in Licking is now purchasing seeds from the public for a range of native tree and shrub species found in southeast Missouri. These annual seed collections help supply the nursery with material to grow into bare root seedlings.

“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.”

Residents in southeast Missouri can deliver seeds to the MDC Southeast Regional Office (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center (Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).

Current prices for seeds vary by species and are based on the weight of the fruit. Some of the accepted seeds include:

• Aromatic/Fragrant sumac and serviceberry at $7 per pound. (Serviceberry fruit must be ripe-purple or black.)
• Black cherry at $6 (ripe fruit must be black).
• Wild plum at $1.95 (must be yellow, red, or orange-no green fruit).
• Elderberry at $4.25 (ripe, purple to black fruit only, no clusters).
• Witchhazel at $4.50 (seeds must be black).
• Hazelnut at $4.75 (light brown, mature seeds only).
• Flowering and gray dogwood at $5, and roughleaf dogwood at $4.75.
• Various oak species range from $0.85 to $2.50, depending on the type.
• Redbud pods fetch $4 per pound if seeds are brown and properly filled.
• Kentucky coffee tree offers the highest rate at $8 per pound for clean seeds only.

Behnken noted growing interest in serviceberry, wild plum, and Kentucky coffee tree seeds, advising collectors to watch for ripening stages throughout summer and fall.

Seeds must be clean, fully mature, and free from debris. Cultivars and poor-quality seeds will be rejected. The nursery may also cease purchasing certain species once quotas are met.

Collectors on conservation of land must obtain a special use permit. For more details, visit: https://mdc.mo.gov/permits/special-use-permits.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-pixdeluxe