The Observation Deck

We are looking for trees native to Ohio, red oak, sassafras, spice bush and basswood. As part of his Eagle Scout project my son is reclaiming a trail in the MetroParks. Does anyone know of a source for these types of trees? I know there are some larger nurseries out west but don't know the names. Any advice is welcome.

We still have quite a few buckeyes we picked up from our front yard tree, if that would be helpful.

I found a nursery online that sells Elm, Chestnut, and Red Oak trees.

http://www.willisorchards.com

They didn’t seem to have the other species that you mentioned, and I didn’t look for other online nurseries. I’m sure there are many.

There are groups raising disease resistant hybrids of chestnut and elm. I don’t know about the trees from this nursery.

I would suggest looking up Elm and American Chestnut on Wikipedia. Ohio was covered with these trees until blights wiped out most of their populations in the 20th century. Lots of resources are being used to preserve and reestablish these assets. Very interesting.

I have a friend who has been planting chestnut trees. He did a lot of research about them. I haven’t heard that he’s had problems.

It would be cool if your son could help bring back to the MetroParks some of the grander species of our native forest.

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Edward Favre wrote:We still have quite a few buckeyes we picked up from our front yard tree, if that would be helpful.

Great idea, Ed.

And, you can save the Ohio buckeye from migrating north due to global warming!





Matt

Toni C Northrop wrote:We are looking for trees native to Ohio, red oak, sassafras, spice bush and basswood. As part of his Eagle Scout project my son is reclaiming a trail in the MetroParks. Does anyone know of a source for these types of trees? I know there are some larger nurseries out west but don't know the names. Any advice is welcome.

Toni

There was, as of about 5 years ago, a large Sassafras grove off of Glenmore Drive in Westlake,
they can also be accessed from behind the senior center on Center Ridge.
Maybe 200-400 trees many saplings.

FWIW


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Thanks so much for the tips. The Parks gave us the list of what they thought would grow well in the area. I never thought that it might be hard to find native trees. I called one nursery and they told me to go to the woods and dig them up. My son will need to call the Parks again and see where they want us to get trees from. I know that they are pretty careful about bring trees in because of the risk of disease. Nothing like a little task to get you think is there?