Limited Edition Jamestown Oak Tree Seedlings For Sale

As America prepares to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestowne Colony, the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is offering a limited number of Jamestown Oak tree seedlings for sale to Virginians.

“Using acorns handpicked from the Cherrybark Oak trees on Jamestown Island, VDOF employees have taken great care to nurture and grow a supply of these special, 2-year-old seedlings,” said State Forester Carl E. Garrison III.

Quantities ranging from five seedlings to 1,000 seedlings are available for sale on the VDOF Web site (www.dof.virginia.gov). The seedlings are from 18 inches to 40 inches tall and will be delivered to customers via UPS.

When Captains Christopher Newport and John Smith first landed in the New World in 1607, one of the most prized items they discovered were the Cherrybark Oak trees that lined the island along the James River. In addition to their beauty, these oaks proved a valuable commodity both for the new colony and in England.

Billy Apperson, VDOF’s James City County forester, said, “Colonists used the straight-grained tree for everything from bateau paddles to simple furniture. In addition, historical records indicate that the first product shipped from the Jamestowne Colony to England was oak lumber. Colonists would cut boards four feet wide by 40 feet long and ship them to London. There, craftsmen would turn the boards into fine furniture while others would use them to construct buildings.”

Because of the tree’s characteristics and soil needs, people living in the Hampton Roads, Peninsula, Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck areas of Virginia would have the greatest success with the seedlings.

For more information or to order the Jamestown Cherrybark Oak seedlings, go to www.dof.virginia.gov or contact your local VDOF office.

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The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, there are Forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.

With nearly 16 million acres of forest land and more than 248,000 Virginians employed in the forest products industry, Virginia forests provide more than $30 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.