Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs: Learn to ID trees with FGCA’s virtual Certified Seed Collector course

Your guide to recognizing spring’s flowering trees and shrubs through expert virtual training

Spring is an excellent time of year to scout for certain types of flowering trees and shrubs. New collection sites are easier to find because the flowers are so visible from a distance, plus, pollination success can be gauged based on how well blooming is synchronized with warm, dry weather.

There’s a large group of white-flowering species that can be hard to ID though, either close up or at a distance, and which sometimes resemble common ornamental and invasive species. They also usually all bloom together in the middle of May in southern Ontario. Almost all of these species are in the Rose family (Rosaceae), which means their flower and leaf morphology are very similar– five white petals, simple, alternate serrated leaves. Seed collectors need to know which features to look for in order to distinguish between these species and ensure seed collections are accurate and will not cause ecological harm.

Can you ID these confusing trees? Answers below

Learn how to correctly ID trees and shrubs, as well as many other skills needed for ethical and sustainable seed collection, by becoming a certified seed collector through the FGCA’s Certified Seed Collector course. Building on decades of experience in Ontario, beginning next year, we are excited to offer this course virtually, to a larger, national audience! The updated virtual curriculum will contain even more practical skills development—including  how to ID confusing spring flowering trees! You will learn about collection and storage methods, tree pollination and seed development, as well as the fundamentals of forest genetics and collection ethics that guide certified tree seed collectors. 

Our team is busy this season capturing a variety of tree seed examples, demonstrations in the field, and interviews with tree seed experts across the country. We anticipate launching the virtual course with new and exciting content next summer.

Join our waitlist or become a member to learn more and hear the latest news about the virtual Certified Seed Collector course as well as other FGCA initiatives that support gene conservation and help build forest resilience.

Answers

Top Left to Right: Prunus americana, Amelanchier humilis, Prunus virginiana, Malus coronaria

Middle: Amelanchier laevis, Prunus pumila var. depressa, Prunus serotina, Prunus avium

Bottom: Aronia melanocarpa, Prunus nigra, Prunus Pennsylvanica, Crataegus species