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Text2012 Native Seedling Sale
The district's annual seedling sale makes low-cost native shrub and tree seedlings available to Northern Virginia residents. Seedling packages go on sale each year in January and are available for pick-up in mid-April. Trees and shrubs help cleanse water, prevent soil erosion, provide habitat, cool our climate and clean our air. Consider adding native trees and shrubs to your community today!
2012 NATIVE SEEDLING SALE
Incredible Edibles for Humans and Wildlife
Many of our native shrubs and trees have been in use for centuries by humans, and have provided habitat benefits for wildlife. This year's seedling sale features native species that have fruits, berries, nuts, leaves or roots you can eat or use yourself and that birds and other wildlife will find delicious. Enjoy!
The 2012 Shrub and Small Tree Package featured 10 seedlings. The Tree Package included 7 seedlings.
Tree Package
2 American Plum (Prunus americana)
Bright red, one-inch plums provide excellent food for wildlife. Fruit is eaten fresh or processed as preserves and jellies. Grows best on rich, moist bottomland soils. Small tree: up to 30-35 feet. (Green Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 3-8.
Photo credit: Virginia Department of Forestry
2 Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Deciduous tree, slow grower. Typically 20-40 feet in height, up to 75 feet in moist sites. Distinctive bark, yellow to purplish-red fall color, and fragrant white flowers in spring. Edible orange fruits on female plants ripen in the fall attract wildlife! When ripe, persimmon fruit can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or dried. Sun to partial shade. (Orange Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 4-9.
2 Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Chokecherry fruits, turning from red to dark purple, were frequently used by Native Americans. Great for jams and jellies! Chokecherry provides excellent food and shelter for wildlife. Fast-growing to 20-30 feet. (Red Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 2-6.
Photo credit: Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
Bonus! 1 Allegheny Chinkapin (Castanea pumila)
The Allegheny Chinkapin (or Chinquapin) is the closest native relative of the American Chestnut. Chinkapin nuts are smaller but just as sweet! Mature size is 15-30 feet in height. This small tree often forms thickets and is most commonly found on drier soils. (Black Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 6-10.
Photo credit: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org
Shrub and Small Tree Package
4 American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)
Deciduous multi-stemmed shrub valued for its distinctive catkins, copper-red to yellow fall color, edible nuts and naturalistic form. Ideal for dry sites with poor soil. Prefers partial shade. Height: 10-15 feet. (Yellow Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 4-9.
2 Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Large heads of fragrant white flowers in mid-summer are followed by clusters of deep purple or black berries, edible for humans and at least 48 species of birds! Compound leaves turn yellow-green in the fall. Commonly 6-12 feet in height. Fast-growing, flourishes in shade or sun, tolerates dry or wet sites. Great rain garden plant! (Blue Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 3-9.
2 Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
Serviceberry's attractive white flowers are among the first to bloom in early spring. Berry-like summer fruits are a food source for songbirds and edible for us! Moist to wet and sun to part-shade conditions. Height 25 to 30 feet, fast-growing shrubby structure. (White Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 3-8.
Photo credit: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org
2 Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum)
Grows 8-12 feet with white clusters of flowers in May. Bright red berries can be used to make jelly, and provide food for birds through the winter. Good wetland plant. (Pink Ribbon)
Hardiness Zone 2-7.
Photo credit: Musser Forests
Hardiness Zone
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows 10 different zones, each of which represents an area of winter hardiness for plants. Fairfax County falls into zones 6b-7a. All of our seedlings are suited for planting in the greater Washington, DC area.
Looking for 2011 plants?
See 2011 Seedling Sale for the 2011 plant names, descriptions, and ribbon color.
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