California seedling resources

After reading about the longevity of bristlecone pines, I decided to go looking for a seed source. I didn't find one, but did find a couple of interesting sources for seeds or young trees.

I found an academic article stating that bristlecone pine seeds had been obtained from the USDA Forest Service Placerville Nursery. I now know that the nursery is charged with providing seedlings to a wide range of national forest service lands in various areas. The nursery takes orders, collect seeds, and grows them into seedlings to be delivered almost two years after receipt of the initial order. Occasionally, though, the nursery grows too many seedlings, or the original order is no longer required, or, for whatever reason--they have a surplus of seedlings. In this case, the seedlings can be sold to the public for an incredibly cheap price. The downside is that only large lots are available (100 minimum). The nursery does not usually make seeds or cones available but may soon start to do so.

The benefit of getting seeds or plants from a nursery like this is specificity. The Placerville Nursery knows the precise location where its seeds were gathered, including elevation to within 500 feet.

To have a shot at these seedlings, you have to get on their mailing list. You'll receive a letter in December outlining availability, and can respond at that time for delivery between January and April. That's your one and only shot for the year. To get on the mailing list, write to the nursery at: 2375 Fruitridge Road, Camino, CA 95709.

The manager of the USDA Forest Service Placerville Nursery was kind enough to point me toward another potential supplier: the California Department of Forestry Magalia Reforestation Center. These folks also offer seedlings in minimum lots of 100, with orders taken in November and delivered starting December 1. Unlike the USDA nursery, which sells only surplus seedlings only when available, the Magalia Reforestation Center seems to expect to provide seedlings to the public and does so yearly.

Good luck to those of you with enough space to accomodate 100 seedlings!