Annual Seedling Sale Offers Native Pines and Hardwoods for Southeastern NC

Longleaf, loblolly, and other native species popular with Brunswick and Columbus County landowners are now available through the N.C. Forest Service’s annual seedling sale.

The NC Forest Service will begin accepting orders Wednesday, July 1, for its annual tree seedling sale, a program widely used by landowners across both Brunswick and Columbus counties who are restoring longleaf pine habitat, establishing future timber stands, and adding native species suited to the region’s sandy soils and coastal climate. More than 40 species of hardwoods and conifers are available this year, including several varieties that perform well throughout Southeastern North Carolina.

In Brunswick County, longleaf and loblolly pine remain the most commonly planted species on private tracts from Bolivia and Supply to Ash, Waccamaw, and the Green Swamp region. In Columbus County, growers frequently use the sale to replant acreage in communities such as Hallsboro, Lake Waccamaw, Whiteville, and Nakina, where longleaf restoration and small‑tract timber management continue to expand. Homeowners in both counties also purchase smaller bundles of hardwoods for shade, wildlife habitat, and erosion control.

The Forest Service’s Nursery Program produces roughly 10 million seedlings annually, supplying reforestation and conservation projects statewide. Seedlings are offered in quantities ranging from small residential bundles to bulk orders for larger tracts. Genetically improved stock is available for several species, offering better growth and disease resistance, an option frequently chosen by timber growers in both counties.

Orders may be placed online at buynctrees.com, by calling 1‑888‑NCTREES, or by mailing an order form to the Seedling Coordinator at Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro. Customers may choose delivery through UPS or pick up seedlings at one of 13 distribution centers statewide, including Claridge Nursery and Linville River Nursery.

Containerized seedlings are typically planted between November and March, while bare‑root seedlings are planted from January through March. The Forest Service encourages early ordering, as longleaf and loblolly often sell out quickly among Southeastern North Carolina buyers.