Tree Nurseries

Claridge Nursery

The N.C. Forest Service's Claridge Nursery is located at the Goldsboro Forest Center, which is also home to the agency's Tree Improvement Program and an insect and disease control station. The nursery has been in operation since 1954 and has produced over one billion tree seedlings for the citizens of North Carolina.

Claridge is the largest of the NCFS nurseries, producing over 50 different species annually of conifers and hardwoods in both bare root and containerized form. It also serves as the statewide hub for seedling distribution.

Seedlings may be ordered directly from the nursery by calling 1-888-NCTREES (628-7337) or from the online forestry store. They may also be ordered through any N.C. Forest Service office.

The Claridge Nursery is located near Goldsboro on Claridge Nursery Road, immediately adjacent to US Highway 70 and the Little River.

Linville River Nursery

Located just outside Crossnore, in western North Carolina, the Linville River Nursery supplies Christmas Tree growers with Fraser fir seedlings. The facility also produces Eastern white pine used for Christmas tree production and reforestation. Linville also sells seedlings directly to the public. Customers may place orders by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (628-7337), via the online forestry store, or at any N.C. Forest Service office.

Fraser firs at the nursery are produced in a state of the art greenhouse as containerized seedlings. To prevent disease, only water from a deep well is used for irrigation in the soil-free growing medium.

Eastern white pines are produced as a bare root seedling crop using the best single family seed available. Seedlings grown at lower planting densities are also produced specifically for the Christmas tree industry. These seedlings have larger root collar diameters and a larger overall size, making them suitable for liners.

Linville River Nursery is located on US Highway 221, just south of Crossnore.