Conifer seeds
Your own pine or spruce from seed — growing conifers is a project spanning years that rewards patient gardeners and bonsai enthusiasts. Here you will find conifer seeds: pines, spruces, firs and larches, ornamental and dwarf forms, and unusual species for collectors. For each packet we list the sowing time and the seed pre-treatment needed.
Conifer seeds
A conifer grown from seed is rewarding material for bonsai, a sapling for the garden and a hedge. The range includes conifer seeds: black pine, Scots pine and Swiss stone pine, Norway spruce and blue spruce, fir and Douglas fir, larch, and ornamental species like false cypress and juniper. There are common species as well as collector and mountain species.
Most conifers have dormant seeds that won't germinate without preparation. Stratification — keeping the seeds moist and cool for several weeks — mimics winter and wakes the embryo. Some species only need soaking before sowing, while others need several months of cold. For each species we list the pre-treatment it needs.
When choosing, consider the intended use and climate — bonsai suits species with short needles and good branching, the garden slow-growing ornamental forms, and a hedge the faster spruces and thujas. Check the species' hardiness for your zone and the expected size of the mature tree.
After sowing, expect a longer, uneven germination — conifers come up over weeks to months. Keep the sowing moist and undisturbed, and protect young seedlings from direct sun and drying out. Store the seed packets somewhere dry and cool so they keep their germination rate.