CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC)
Southeast Regional office is buying seeds this summer and fall from
public landowners for a variety of tree and shrub species around the
region. Prices are by the pound of fruit.
The timing of seed maturity varies. MDC reminds the public to wait and
allow seeds to reach maturity before collecting them.
MDC Community Forester Jennifer Behnken says, “Each year, the seed
species list that the nursery needs can fluctuate. This year, the
nursery is not collecting black walnut as an example. Other species,
such as red buckeye, can only be collected in the southeast region, so
keep an eye out.”
Call MDC’s George O. White State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229 before
collecting seeds to ensure MDC is still buying the types of seed. MDC
will stop purchasing once the amount of seeds needed for the next
planting season is collected.
Each year, the state forest nursery processes more than 10,000 orders
and ships about 2 million seedlings. To grow all these species, the
nursery collects or buys tens of thousands of pounds of seeds each
summer and fall. For example, about 6,000 pounds of white oak acorns,
500 pounds of hazelnuts, and 500 pounds of plum seed are needed just to
establish seedlings of these four species. Learn more at
mdc.mo.gov/tree-seedlings. [1]
Collected seeds can be dropped off at the MDC Southeast Regional Office
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or at the Nature Center
Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 2302 County Park Drive
in Cape Girardeau.
TYPES OF SEED NEEDED AND WHEN
July
* Black Cherry: $6
* Wild Plum: $1.95 (Plum must be ripe – yellow, red, or orange. No
partially green fruit will be accepted.)
August
* Hazelnut: $4.75 (Seed must be mature, light brown, and easily pulled
from the husk. No green or partially
Green husks will be accepted. Please be patient and allow the seed to
mature on the plant.)
September
* Flowering Dogwood: $5
* Mixed Hickory: $0.75
* Shellbark Hickory: $0.90
* Persimmon: $0.75 (Persimmon fruit must be ripe – yellow, red, or
orange. No partially green fruit will be )
* Paw Paw: $1.50 (Fruit must be ripe (soft). If too firm, will not be
accepted)
* White Oak: $ 0.95
* Chinkapin Oak: $2.50
* Post Oak: $1.50
* Butternut: $3
* Ohio Buckeye (Without Hulls): $0.95
* Red buckeye (Without Hulls): $0.95
October
* Pin Oak: $1.25
* Deciduous Holly: $4.50
November
* Kentucky Coffee Tree: $8 (No pods – clean seed only.)
MDC reserves the right to stop buying seed once needs are met. The
Department also reserves the right to reject seeds that are poor
quality, not mature, or mixed with refuse such as leaves and twigs.
A special-use permit is required to collect seeds on conservation areas.
More information can be found online at https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fshort.mdc.mo.gov%2F4di&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cf60c49cd86654c6b140108ded7c19e23%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639185423744795098%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2Fs99YuR8T8zUL6Rny%2B9sZ%2BOQHbx%2F8sx4Vx17zE442J0%3D&reserved=0 [2].
_MDC is committed to accessibility at all its nature centers, regional
facilities, and conservation areas. To request an ADA accommodation for
participation in MDC programs, visit __https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fshort.mdc.mo.gov%2FoqF_&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cf60c49cd86654c6b140108ded7c19e23%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639185423744860179%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rF15sYLXi%2BLTJrHTOoffo9%2BbSTEqeBOUeb2hKd2a%2F3s%3D&reserved=0
[3]_. _