Dear friends and colleagues,

I started Friends of the Trees Society in 1978 and one of it’s first projects was the Friends of the Trees Seed Service which specialized in tree and shrub seed. Within a few years I offered seed of over 50 species of trees and shrubs, along with propagation information. In the years since I have specialized in native wildflowers, garden flowers, herbs and some vegetables. Since 1995, medicinal herb seeds are my specialty. Now we are coming full circle and I am starting to offer tree and shrub seeds from my 25-year-old agroforestry farm in the Methow Valley. In 2021, we are offering seeds of 8 tree and shrub species. In 2022 we plan to add another dozen species.

** $5/packet.

** Ounce prices vary.

** Each order has a $10 processing fee plus shipping.

**Please order using our Herb Order Form

Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense) $20/oz fresh berry till January 1.

Bladder Senna (Colutea arborescens) $30/oz

Little-leaf Linden (Tilia cordata), $20/oz

Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) $20/oz. Moist seed till January 1. Dried seed only after that.

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) $10/oz

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus). $20/oz. Does not need any pre-treatment

Nanny-Berry (Viburnum lentago) $10/oz, as dry berry, could use more scarification.

Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) Packet only.

Planting tips: Many cold-temperate trees and shrub seeds are best planted in the fall. Plant in the ground or in flats. Over the winter they will be exposed to alternating temperatures that will help them break dormancy the next spring. Fall sowing is best for seed of many tree and shrub species. Natural stratification. Sow seed in the ground, in flats (or pots) with screens for rodent protection. Place flats/pots where they will get alternate freezing and thawing. Watch for spring or early summer germination. Some seeds take till two years. Do your research.

** I am writing some details for tree seed stratification methods and will post pdfs of my 1986 Friends of the Trees Newsletter which has propagation info on 50 tree & shrub species. These will be posted on www.friendsofthetrees.net by mid-December.

Amur Corktree. I have been a fan of the Amur Corktree for over 30 years. I have sold the trees in my tree sale and planted them in many places. Partly it is the allure of the exotic. A member of the Rutaceae family (includes Citrus) which is mainly found in the subtropics. Phellodendron amurense is one of the only Rutacea native to the Russian Far East. It’s bark and roots are medicinal and also a yellow dye. It’s fruit oil has medicinal and insecticidal properties. It is a very good honey plant.

Phellodendron amurense is adaptable to various environmental conditions; it grows well in different soil types (clays to light sand), is pH adaptable, drought tolerant, and has no serious pest problems.

Michael Pilarski
[email protected]