New growth - Rare trees and more

in #nature6 years ago

Come and take a look at our latest indoor grows.

We are continuously experimenting with growing different types of trees from seed, predominantly conifers. A few varieties of these diverse seeds has yielded promising results. Let's see 3 unique conifers that we've successfully been cultivating indoors over the past couple of months.

Giant Sequoia (Redwood)

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A tiny giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) growing from seed, its limbs outstretched

One species that we are conducting trials on is the giant sequoia, or redwood. Known by its scientific name, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoiadendron_giganteum) it can grow hundreds of feet tall in its native California. Here in Canada the growing conditions are harsher but this hardy tree can survive in Zone 5 successfully. We are looking forward to seeing this tiny tree become a mighty giant over the years and propagating many more for hobby gardeners and nurseries. We will make available any of the seedlings you see here being test grown, reach out to us if you are interested in something.

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia)

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The bright green dawn redwood seedlings with their characteristic soft leaves

This species of tree was once thought to be extinct, known only through fossil remains. A small group of these trees were discovered growing in the 1940s, and since then have been propagated worldwide. Although very rare in their natural habitat, these trees have become interesting specimen trees planted in botanical gardens and cities worldwide. A cold-hardy, deciduous conifer, it loses its soft leaves every year and grows new ones in the spring. It is known in Chinese as shui-shan (水杉) or "water fir" because of its preference for wet, waterlogged habitats.

Koyama's spruce

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It was surprising to find out the extremely rare, endangered species of spruce in Japan was growing nearby as a ornamental tree here in southern Ontario. Known for its stiff blue-green needles, there are only a few hundred specimens left living in the wild - between the the Yatsugatake and Akaishi ranges on the island of Honshu. In order to help propagate this critically endangered spruce, we have started to grow seedlings from our own locally-collected seed. With care, these seedlings will grow into healthy mature trees, producing cones full of seeds for the next generation.

Interested in growing your own trees from seed? Come on down to www.treeseeds.ca and check out what we're growing today.