Delaware Valley Native Tree Nursery

We are a small family specialty nursery focusing on conservation projects in the Delaware Valley Region. All sales go towards supporting these projects.

Serving

Maryland - Delaware - Pennsylvania- New Jersey

What we do

  • Seed Sourcing

    We differentiate between Locally Adapted, Indigenous Wild, Improved, and Cultivated seed and plant material. To do this, we work with regional partners as well as gather seed ourselves.

    Clear tags make it easy to ensure you are buying exactly what you are looking for.

  • Root Development

    Our #1 focus during the growth stage is on root development. You only get one chance at this. We grow in air prune beds and root pouches to train the trees to grow strong and resilient root systems that will take transplanting in stride, and grow trouble free for the life of the tree. We believe so strongly in the quality of our root systems, that all trees are guaranteed for 1 full year.

  • Tree Selection

    We are picky about what we grow. Native trees are selected to provide the greatest genetic diversity and vigor. For our "improved" tree selections we focus on productivity, disease resistance, and resiliency in our future climate and soil conditions. It is important to balance local ecotype genetics with consideration for future warming trends. Trees can live for several hundred years - they may be planted today in a zone 7, but may mature in a zone 9.

More Nursery Information

FAQs

How do we decide that a tree is “Native” to the Delaware Valley Region.

This question can ruffle a lot of feathers as there are many different “authorities” on native flora in the United States, and many different definitions of what “native” means. In addition, sometimes new research (or for no reason at all) academic institutions may change a species’ native range or sometimes even their scientific name or place within their genus.

In our nursery however, we make this easy. Every single tree in the Native Tree Store is listed as a native tree by either BONAP/USDA to the Delaware Valley Region. See each plant’s details for it’s respective range map and best growing region.

What kind of growing pots do you use for your larger potted trees, isn’t that a lot of plastic for each tree?

We don’t use the usual plastic pots you’d find in most nurseries because #1 - they lead to terrible root development and #2 - they break quickly and cause excess plastic waste.

Instead, when trees grow beyond the bare root stage, we use special fabric root pouches for proper root development. They are made of recycled plastic water bottles, mixed with natural fibers, to make a breathable pot that traps roots and moves air and water for proper root growth. This means that every pot actually has half the plastic of a normal pot would use. In addition, the plastic used is food grade and does not leach anything into the soil.

While plastic usually takes decades to degrade in the environment, the fibrous nature of these pots makes the plastic more accessible to myriad fungus and bacteria that actually DO breakdown plastics! ( for example, the bacteria Ideonella sakaiensis can breakdown 0.2mm of PET in 6 weeks!)

What growing media do you use in your pots.

We grow all our trees in a mixture of composts (mushroom, green-waste, chicken, leaf, etc), hardwood bark mulch, vermiculite, and native soil. We generally keep fertilizers to a minimum because trees grow best slowly, which ensures that they build strong and dense trunks, and full root systems. Organic fertilizing materials are only used to build soil biology or augment micronutrients.

Do you use any synthetic fungicides, herbicides, or pesticides?

No.

We are not “Organic”, but we do our best to stay within those guidelines.

Our growing area is a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat and we practice Integrated Pest Management.

We are also believers in “survival of the fittest”, so we focus on encouraging the strongest and most pest resistant seedlings to survive. The weakest and unhealthy ones will return to the earth as compost for future seedlings. This also means that the trees we sell are the strongest of their kin and adapted to survive the journey to their new homes.

Why is everything sold out?!?

We are a small nursery with limited space. Our 13 acres in southeastern PA is for research, breeding, and seed sourcing.

Due to our limited space, we usually sell out very quickly of any particular lot per year. Also, sometimes we are working on a project with a large single order that takes up a significant amount of space, leaving less for others.

If you would like to contract order, please fill out the Contact Us form and let us know the details. We can source seeds from specific ecoregions, specific suppliers, or even collect seeds for you from your own land if you wish to propagate your own trees.

Why are you only open by appointment?

We base our nursery out of our home in Newark DE, and have a busy life with 2 wonderful kids and 2 full time jobs. Appointments are the best way to merge the nursery with our busy and dynamic schedules.

Where does the name come from?

Our attention to detail on root development is what sets us apart. Usually the roots are hidden to most consumers as only top growth is important. Training, pruning, and otherwise working with tree roots requires that you remove the pot and soil to expose the “naked” roots. When we sell trees, we are as proud with the root system as we are with the strong trunks and vigorous green leafy growth.

What is our 1 year guarantee?

Growing trees in pots, air prune beds, bare root, or any other means other than sticking seeds straight into the ground, is NOT a natural process. Some nurseries focus on making the top of the tree grow as fast as possible and look as nice as possible, but they ignore root development. This is done with chemical fertilizers and daily irrigation. The root systems are ignored and abused because the customer never looks below the soil level.

There is a growing movement amongst smaller growers and nurseries using new tools, to focus specifically on root health.

For tap rooted trees, the tap root must be pruned in order for a tree to fit into a pot. Tap roots are critical for wild tree seedlings because they grow without support and need to access water deep underground while they are vulnerable seedlings. As they age however, the importance of the tap root greatly diminishes as sideways root growth takes over. (Most nutrient and water are in the upper layers of soil).

If the root system is properly managed and grown, after-care is minimal. Some watering the first season of transplant and some mulch, that’s it.

Our tree’s are grown in root prune air-beds and root pouches. These are techniques that prune off each root that reaches the edge of the pot or bed. When this happens, the root will grow a new branch back closer to the main tree and try again. Then, the new roots will be trapped, and the tree tries again. This happens again, and again, and again, until there are thousands of small fibrous roots throughout the entire pot. A tree grown in this manner has a HUGE root system surface area, capable of absorbing incredible amounts of water and nutrients when compared to any other tree growing method.

When a tree like that is put into the ground, there are enough roots for the tree to get tons of water and nutrients. The root growth at the small root EXPLODES and within days they can be several inches beyond their original location. By the end of the first growing season, some species root’s can be several feet away in all directions!

This is why we guarantee that our trees will thrive for their first year, because we make sure the roots are ready and healthy enough to do so.

If any tree fails to thrive, we will replace it within the first year.

Please keep 3 things in mind:

  1. New planted trees must be mulched.

  2. If planted during a heat wave or drought, soak the ground with water every 2-3 days for the duration of the drought. By the next heat wave or drought, they will be fine by themselves if properly mulched.

  3. After purchasing a potted tree, if you keep the tree in it’s pot for a while before planting and it sits in the shade, it may drop some leaves when planted in full sun. This is normal. Once planted, the tree will grow new leaves with more “sun-block” on them :)

This warranty does not cover poor growth due to planting a tree in a bad location (please don’t plant an American Chestnut in a swamp, or a Black Willow on a dry hilltop…)

Each species webpage gives detailed information on where the tree likes to grow and which soil conditions it likes best. That said, we will still give you a new tree of similar size, and give you advice on a better planting location. We WANT you to be successful. Everyone should have more trees in their lives!