Acorns & Seeds
Fresh-harvested acorns from verified parent trees. Available September through November. Ships across the United States — ideal for collectors, restoration, and bonsai growers.
Coming soon 📦 Ships across the USNative Oak Seeds, Seedlings & Pre-Bonsai Stock
Jeff's Nursery offers five species of verified-provenance North American oak seeds, seedlings, and pre-bonsai stock, grown from documented parent trees on our southern Michigan property (USDA Zone 5b/6a). We ship bare-root and dormant stock across the United States. Interested in international seed orders? Contact us to discuss options.
How to Get Started With Native Oaks
Seedlings
Bare-root and container-grown oak seedlings available in spring and fall. 1-year, 2-year, and larger stock all grown from verified-provenance acorns collected on our property.
Coming soon 📦 Ships bare-root US
Pre-Bonsai & Character Stock
Field-grown native oaks with distinctive trunk movement, taper, and character. Ideal starter material for bonsai or as specimen landscape trees. Each tree is unique.
Coming soon 📦 Ships bare-root USFive Species of Verified-Provenance Oaks
Quercus macrocarpa — Bur Oak
The most cold-hardy of all North American oaks, with exceptional winter hardiness even at the northern edge of Zone 5a. Distinctive large acorns with fringed caps. Grows into a broad, stately tree with deeply fissured dark bark. Excellent for bonsai due to its hardiness and ability to develop fine ramification.
Hardiness: Zones 3–9 Mature Height: 60–80 ft
Available as acorns & seeds, seedlings, and pre-bonsai stock.
Quercus bicolor — Swamp White Oak
Upright, elegant form with distinctive pale undersides to the leaves. Excellent for moist to wet sites where other oaks struggle. Acorns on long peduncles. Fall color ranges from yellow to russet. Naturally tall and columnar, making it ideal for screen plantings and specimen use.
Hardiness: Zones 4–8 Mature Height: 50–60 ft
Available as acorns & seeds, seedlings, and pre-bonsai stock.
Quercus muehlenbergii — Chinkapin Oak
A smaller oak with finely serrated leaves resembling chestnut. Naturally smaller stature (30–40 ft) makes it ideal for gardens and bonsai. Stunning golden-yellow fall color, often earlier than other oaks. Sweet acorns slightly attractive to wildlife. Excellent for bonsai development and container culture.
Hardiness: Zones 4–8 Mature Height: 30–50 ft
Available as acorns & seeds, seedlings, and pre-bonsai stock.
Quercus rubra — Red Oak
Fast-growing oak with bold, deeply lobed leaves and dramatic deep crimson-red fall color. Large tree with strong branching structure. Acorns mature in two years. Excellent for creating visual impact quickly. Good choice for bonsai growers who want rapid trunk development, though less suitable for fine-scale work than smaller species.
Hardiness: Zones 3–9 Mature Height: 60–75 ft
Available as acorns & seeds, seedlings, and pre-bonsai stock.
Quercus alba — White Oak
The quintessential oak, with pale blocky bark and subtly lobed foliage. Extremely long-lived (400+ years in nature). Acorns mature in one year. Elegant form with naturally ascending branches. Slow to moderate growth and exceptional wood strength. A classic choice for bonsai — prized by Japanese practitioners for its character and longevity.
Hardiness: Zones 3–9 Mature Height: 50–80 ft
Available as acorns & seeds, seedlings, and pre-bonsai stock.
Why Grow Native Oaks?
Documented Provenance
Every acorn and seed traced to a specific parent tree on our Michigan property — species, GPS coordinates, age, and photographs all on record. Genetic profiling of our heritage oaks is underway.
Cold-Hardy Genetics
Southern Michigan, USDA Zone 5b/6a. Our stock has been naturally selected for extreme winter hardiness — ideal for northern growers, challenging sites, and climate resilience.
Grown in Michigan, Shipped Nationwide
All stock ships across the United States. Our cold-hardy genetics thrive in northern climates and challenging sites. Interested in international orders? Contact us to discuss your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What oak species do you offer?
We offer five species of verified-provenance North American oaks: Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak), Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak), Quercus muehlenbergii (Chinkapin Oak), Quercus rubra (Red Oak), and Quercus alba (White Oak). All are grown from seeds collected on our own southern Michigan property with full GPS documentation.
Can I order seeds from outside the US?
We're exploring international shipping options. Contact us to discuss your needs and we'll work with you on what's possible.
What makes your oak genetics special?
Every seed we harvest is collected from documented parent trees on our own Michigan property, with GPS coordinates recorded for each collection. Our oaks are grown in USDA Zone 5b/6a hardiness conditions, meaning the genetics have been naturally selected for extreme cold-hardiness. This is ideal stock for northern growers, challenging sites, and climate resilience.
When are acorns available?
Fresh acorns are harvested in fall (September through November each year) and are available for shipment during that window. We take pre-orders in summer for fall delivery. Availability varies by species based on the annual acorn crop and weather conditions.
Do you ship oak seedlings internationally?
Bare-root and container seedlings currently ship within the United States only. We're exploring international shipping options for seeds and acorns — if you're outside the US, contact us to discuss what's possible for your location.
Ready to Start Growing?
Browse our acorns and seeds for fall harvest, seedlings for spring planting, or field-grown pre-bonsai stock with character and movement. Each tree carries the genetics of our Michigan oak country.