See the current Inventory & Price List for seedling sources and availability.
Further seed source info and scientific names are available by contacting the nursery.
Further seed source info and scientific names are available by contacting the nursery.
Average Seedling Height By Age:
1 year old - 10-16"
2 years old - 12-22"
3 years old - 16-26"
Many of our species are produced from MITOSIS seed. MITOSIS is the Montana Interagency Tree and Shrub Improvement Study. The study was a cooperative effort to evaluate the performance of various species of plants in established Montana plantings. The selected plantings were evaluated for over ten years and the best performing plants were selected for seed orchard establishment at the nursery.
We use this seed source whenever possible. These selections perform well in many of Eastern Montana's variable and harsh climates. Although these plants have not been tested in every environment, MITOSIS selections are some of the best plant materials available for use in Montana. The selections are proven to survive in Montana because they were evaluated in Montana not other Northern Great Plains states.
1 year old - 10-16"
2 years old - 12-22"
3 years old - 16-26"
Many of our species are produced from MITOSIS seed. MITOSIS is the Montana Interagency Tree and Shrub Improvement Study. The study was a cooperative effort to evaluate the performance of various species of plants in established Montana plantings. The selected plantings were evaluated for over ten years and the best performing plants were selected for seed orchard establishment at the nursery.
We use this seed source whenever possible. These selections perform well in many of Eastern Montana's variable and harsh climates. Although these plants have not been tested in every environment, MITOSIS selections are some of the best plant materials available for use in Montana. The selections are proven to survive in Montana because they were evaluated in Montana not other Northern Great Plains states.
Alder, Thinleaf
Alnus incana
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 20' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 6,000' | Life Span | 30 years |
| Windbreak Spacing | N/A | Minimum Annual Precip. | 20" |
| Wildlife Value | Pests | ||
| Comments | Small riparian tree. | ||
Ash, Green
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
| Growth Rate | Moderate | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 18' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 5,000' | Life Span | 40+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-12' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 10" |
| Wildlife Value | Good bird nesting cover and browse. | Pests | Ash borer. |
| Comments | MITOSIS selection from seven superior windbreaks in eastern Montana. Superior to "Cardan" green. | ||
Aspen
Populus tremuloides
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 30' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Poor |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 8,000' | Life Span | 30+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | N/A | Minimum Annual Precip. | 15" |
| Wildlife Value | Valuable browse for big game. | Pests | Stem rots, poplar borer, leaf spot, tent caterpillar. |
| Comments | Forms thickets from root suckers. Showy fall color. Does best at mid to high elevations. | ||
Birch, Water
Betula occidentalis
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 20' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Moderate |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 6,000' | Life Span | 30+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-10' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 16" |
| Wildlife Value | Good nesting cover and shade tree for streamside plantings. | Pests | None significant. |
| Comments | Bronze to deep red bark is very attractive. Common native tree in Western MT, riparian areas. | ||
Cherry, Black
Prunus serotina
| Growth Rate | Moderate | Cold Hardiness | Fair |
| 20-Year Height | 30' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Poor |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 4,500' | Life Span | 50+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 6-12' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 12" |
| Wildlife Value | Fruit provides excellent food for birds and mammals. | Pests | None Significant |
| Comments | Leaves not palatable to grasshoppers. Nice ovoid crown shape. | ||
Cottonwood, Black
Populus trichocarpa
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 30' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 6,500' | Life Span | 25+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | N/A | Minimum Annual Precip. | 16" |
| Wildlife Value | Important riparian species for all forms of wildlife. | Pests | Cottonwood borer, aphids, stem rots, leaf rusts. |
| Comments | Native to western and central Montana. Generally not found east of Helena, MT. | ||
Cottonwood, Daniels
Populus deltoides
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 35'+ | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Good |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 4,000' | Life Span | 30+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-15' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 15" |
| Wildlife Value | Important nesting cover for birds and cavity nesters, browsed by big game. | Pests | Cottonwood borer, stem rots, aphids. |
| Comments | A cottonless selection of plains cottonwood. Collected on gravel benches in Daniels county Montana. | ||
Cottonwood, Narrowleaf
Populus angustifolia
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | Good |
| 20-Year Height | 35'+ | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 5,000' | Life Span | 25+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-12' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 15" |
| Wildlife Value | Provides nesting cover for birds. | Pests | Leaf rusts, stem rot, wetwood, aphids. |
| Comments | Native to western and central Montana. Very similar in appearance to black cottonwood. Usually found in narrow canyons. | ||
Cottonwood, Plains
Populus deltoides
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 35'+ | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 4,000' | Life Span | 25+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-12' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 15" |
| Wildlife Value | Important nesting cover for birds and cavity nesters, browsed by big game. | Pests | Cottonwood borer, stem rots, aphids. |
| Comments | A native collection from the Musselshell River near Roundup, MT,. Requires a moist site or plenty or irrigation. | ||
Crabapple, Siberian "Midwest"
Malus baccata var. mandshurica
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 15' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 6,000' | Life Span | 40+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 6-10' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 12" |
| Wildlife Value | Fruit is excellent food source for most birds and small mammals. | Pests | None significant. |
| Comments | Densely branched, oval shaped small tree, which is very cold hardy and disease resistant. Fruit remains on trees into winter providing a winter food source for wildlife. | ||
Hackberry, Common
Celtis occidentalis
| Growth Rate | Moderate | Cold Hardiness | Moderate |
| 20-Year Height | 35'+ | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 4,000' | Life Span | 12" |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-12' | Minimum Annual Precip. | |
| Wildlife Value | Provides nesting cover for birds. | Pests | None |
| Comments | Very hardy tree once established but susceptible to frosts when young. Virtually pest free, low maintenance large tree. | ||
Hawthorn, Arnold "Homestead"
Crataegus arnoldiana
| Growth Rate | Moderate | Cold Hardiness | Good |
| 20-Year Height | 16' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 5,500' | Life Span | 40+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 6-10' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 12" |
| Wildlife Value | Excellent cover and food source for song birds. | Pests | Cedar apple rust, fire blight, aphids; none severe. |
| Comments | Vigorous, dense small tree. Excellent for wildlife and windbreaks. Adapts to heavy soils. Excellent escape cover due to large, stout thorns. Fruit turns bright red when ripe. | ||
Hawthorn, Black
Crataegus douglasii
| Growth Rate | Moderate | Cold Hardiness | Good |
| 20-Year Height | 16' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 5,000' | Life Span | 30+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 6-10' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 15" |
| Wildlife Value | Fruit provides excellent food for birds and mammals. | Pests | Leaf rusts. |
| Comments | Native bottomland hawthorn. Thorny tree that provides excellent wildlife food and cover. | ||
Maple, Amur
Acer ginnala
| Growth Rate | Moderate | Cold Hardiness | Good |
| 20-Year Height | 15' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 6,000' | Life Span | 30+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 4-8' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 12" |
| Wildlife Value | Provides cover for birds. Browsed by deer. | Pests | Subject to damage by rabbits. |
| Comments | Brilliant fall color, adapts well to all but heavy or alkaline soils. Virtually pest free. | ||
Oak, Bur
Quercus macrocarpa
| Growth Rate | Moderate | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 15' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Good |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 5,000' | Life Span | 80+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-14' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 12" |
| Wildlife Value | Acorns provide mast for deer and food for numerous birds and small mammals. | Pests | Anthracnose |
| Comments | Long-lived, very hardy tree, which is very drought tolerant once established. Under used windbreak or wildlife tree. | ||
Poplar, Prairie Sky
Populus spp.
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | High |
| 20-Year Height | 30' - 45' | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 6,000' | Life Span | 30+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-10' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 14" |
| Wildlife Value | Provides winter thermal cover. | Pests | Minor, stem rots |
| Comments | Cottonless, drought and cold tolerant. Narrow upright form similar to a wide Lombardi Poplar. Excellent, rapid growing poplar for windbreaks. | ||
Willow, Golden
Salix alba var. vitellina
| Growth Rate | Fast | Cold Hardiness | Moderate |
| 20-Year Height | 30'+ | Alkali/Saline Soil Tolerance | Fair |
|
Elevation Range |
Up to 5,000' | Life Span | 30+ years |
| Windbreak Spacing | 8-15' | Minimum Annual Precip. | 14" |
| Wildlife Value | Fair browse. Provides nesting cover for birds. | Pests | Stem rots, aphids, wetwood. |
| Comments | Large, fast-growing, semi-weeping willow. Usually requires irrigation. Young bark is bright yellow. | ||