SEEDS -Native Evergreens for Bonsai, Shade: White Pine Pinus & Balsam Fir Abies

 

 

**Eastern White Pine** (*Pinus strobus*) and **Balsam Fir** (*Abies balsamea*), use as bonsai, shade trees, and landscape specimens.

 

 

### **Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)**  

#### Native Range  

The Eastern White Pine is native to eastern North America, ranging from the Appalachian Mountains to the Great Lakes region and southeastern Canada.

 

#### Growth Habit  

- **Mature Size**: 50–80 feet tall and 20–40 feet wide in natural settings.  

- **Form**: Pyramidal in youth, becoming more irregular with age.  

- **Foliage**: Soft, flexible, bluish-green needles in bundles of five, providing year-round evergreen beauty.  

- **Growth Rate**: Moderate to fast, adding about 12–24 inches annually in ideal conditions.

 

#### How to Use in the Landscape  

- **Shade Tree**: Ideal for larger landscapes, providing dense shade when mature.  

- **Screening/Privacy**: Effective in natural screens and windbreaks.  

- **Specimen Planting**: Adds vertical interest with its striking form.  

 

#### Bonsai Use  

- **Popular for Bonsai**: Appreciated for its soft needles, elegant branching, and ability to be shaped.  

- **Techniques**: Responds well to pruning, wiring, and root trimming. Suitable for informal upright and group plantings.

 

#### How to Grow from Seed  

1. **Seed Preparation**:  

   - Collect cones in late summer to early fall.  

   - Extract seeds and remove any remaining cone scales.  

   - Stratify seeds by chilling them in moist sand or peat moss for 60–90 days at 34–40°F.  

 

2. **Sowing**:  

   - Plant stratified seeds in well-draining, sandy soil in early spring.  

   - Cover seeds lightly and keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.  

 

3. **Germination**: Expect germination in 20–30 days under optimal conditions.

 

4. **Care**:  

   - Provide bright, indirect light for seedlings.  

   - Protect from frost in their early years.  

 

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### **Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)**  

#### Native Range  

Native to northern North America, the Balsam Fir thrives in cool climates from Canada to the northeastern United States, commonly found in boreal forests.

 

#### Growth Habit  

- **Mature Size**: 45–75 feet tall and 20–25 feet wide.  

- **Form**: Symmetrical, conical shape with a narrow crown.  

- **Foliage**: Short, flat, dark green needles with silvery undersides and a pleasant balsam scent.  

- **Growth Rate**: Slow to moderate, with annual growth of 6–12 inches.  

 

#### How to Use in the Landscape  

- **Shade Tree**: Provides filtered shade with its dense branching habit.  

- **Ornamental Tree**: A beautiful specimen for cool-climate landscapes.  

- **Holiday Tree**: Known for its fragrant needles, often used as a Christmas tree.

 

#### Bonsai Use  

- **Challenging but Rewarding**: Requires patience due to its slow growth.  

- **Techniques**: Ideal for formal upright or cascade styles. Needs careful wiring due to its fragile branches.  

 

#### How to Grow from Seed  

1. **Seed Preparation**:  

   - Harvest cones in late summer or early fall.  

   - Extract seeds and stratify them in moist sand or peat moss for 30–60 days at 34–40°F.  

 

2. **Sowing**:  

   - Sow stratified seeds in acidic, well-draining soil in early spring.  

   - Cover seeds lightly and keep soil moist.  

 

3. **Germination**: Expect germination in 15–30 days.  

 

4. **Care**:  

   - Provide partial shade for young seedlings.  

   - Protect from high heat and drought.  

 

Both Eastern White Pine and Balsam Fir are excellent choices for bonsai enthusiasts and landscape gardeners alike, offering versatility, beauty, and native resilience.

 

Shipping of Seeds and Cuttings: Orders are shipped via Canada Post Mail unless otherwise specified. 

 

Some items are shipped without tracking to keep costs low. This is  the most economical option. Canada Post is incredibly reliable, but can be slow. 

 

If you require tracking or a faster delivery please message before ordering.

 

We try to ship any live plants on MONDAYS or TUESDAYS as a precautionary measure to avoid delays over the weekend and ensure the viability of live plant orders. Weather may be a contributing factor in the processing of our orders and will occasionally cause some delay. 

 

We will ship seeds anywhere in the world, however, please make sure you check with your country's customs office to be sure that they are allowed in. We will not be held responsible for orders held, confiscated and/or destroyed by customs. Please note this and make sure you understand before you buy it. 

 

If you have a question or if you are unclear about shipping policies please contact us.

 

We welcome questions! Contact us before, after, or during any transaction and you will receive a reply ASAP.

 

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