'Harry Lennox' White Spruce Seed

Latin Name: Picea glauca

DESCRIPTION

Family: Pinaceae

Native Range: Native to boreal region of Canada

Seed Source: Seed production orchard near Indian Head Saskatchewan.

Height and Spread: 18m x 5m

Overview: The 'Harry Lennox' seed strain is excellent for agroforestry planting in non-boreal regions. It is characterized by an upright crown form, extreme hardiness, and adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions in the aspen parkland. The seeds train is named in honour of Harry Lennox, tree planting supervisor a the Indian Head Forest Nursery Station in the early 1900s.

Seeds: Dark brown, winged 2-4 mm long.

Average number of seeds/packet: 1,600

SEED TREATMENT / SOWING

Stratification: No stratification required. Water soak 24 hours before sowing.

Ideal sowing time: Non-pretreated seed outdoors in late May.

Sowing instructions: Outdoors - sow 1.0 cm deep, 50 seeds/meter; Greenhouse - sow 3 seeds per cell.

Growing conditions: 'Harry Lennox' white spruce grows on a wide variety of soils but favours loamy soils with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. It is shade tolerant but grows best in a sunny exposure.

AGROFORESTRY VALUE

'Harry Lennox' white spruce is used in farmstead shelterbelts. The dense shallow roots make it useful for soil stabilization and erosion control on moist sites. Its dense coniferous crown provides excellent habitat for songbirds and thermal cover for mammals. Excellent wood quality for lumber.