Hardwoods
ArborGen’s hardwood program began in 1976, and we currently produce more hardwoods than any other company in the United States. We grow 80 different varieties of hardwood species and wildlife shrubs, including Oaks, Beech, Cottonwood and Hickory, adding several new varieties every year. We closely allocate our seed sources to customer planting sites.

Our hardwood support involves wetlands mitigation, stream restoration, mine reclamation, reforestation and wildlife habitat enhancement. ArborGen customers include private landowners, wildlife biologists, county, state, and federal government institutions, non-profit conservation groups, environmental consultants, mitigation bankers, tree planters and industry. We are active partners with Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) and the National Mitigation Banking Association. ArborGen also works with numerous other conservation groups in their efforts to restore hardwoods to the landscape.

In addition, we grow hardwood seedlings for wildlife conservation. Trees like the Alleghany Chinkapin, Hickory, Sumac and others provide seeds, fruits and nuts that are favored by deer, birds and other wildlife. Sourwood is one ArborGen hardwood that is planted to attract bees, butterflies and birds, that love this tree’s seeds. Sugar Maple is another valuable seedling that not only produces delicious Maple syrup, but is favored by wildlife.

Thousands of acres are planted each year with hardwood species to help mitigate soil erosion and retain the benefits of watersheds. Species of hardwood that grow well in wetlands and grown by ArborGen include Tag Alder, Green Ash, Baldcypress, Sycamore and many others.

In addition, we are working with advanced biotechnology to help restore certain species of trees that are under threat of extinction from disease, including American Chestnut, Atlantic White Cedar and Longleaf Pine.