We’re Always Searching For Sources of Seed.

We’re always searching for sources of seed for plants and shrubs that are Native to New Mexico. The drought in the Southwestern United States has made it more difficult to find seed from wild populations but we keep looking.

Sometimes we must depend upon seed collected from landscape grown plants. If we collect from landscape grown plants we make every effort to use plants grown in isolation. This ensures pure seed that had not been hybridized with other similar related plants.

Oaks easily hybridize with members of the same group. For example, members of the White Oak Group can hybridize with each other. Members of the White Oak Group include many common New Mexico Natives like the Gambel, Chinquapin, Bur, Gray, and Turbinella Oaks.

The photo below shows a Turbinella Oak producing abundant seed.

This Oak is planted in a landscape where it receives sufficient water to support acorn production. We will be back to collect acorns from this Turbinella Oak.

Turbinella is a native evergreen oak, typically with multiple trunks reaching 15’ – 18’ tall and wide.

If pruned into a single trunk tree it can be much taller. Turbinella Oak is very heat and drought tolerant. It is equally at home in a regular water landscape or planted in a more xeric location with prickly pear and junipers. The evergreen Turbinella oak can be used to create visual barriers or screens.

Trees That Please Nursery has Turbinella and many other oaks available in 5 and 15 gallon containers.

Tree That Please Nursery

An Albuquerque Area Nursery

Located in Los Lunas, New Mexico.

Photos & Narrative By:

Stephen Sain
Staff Plant Physiologist

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