Seedling Tree Nursery
The Colorado State Forest Service Nursery staff has been hard at work growing seedlings for the upcoming sales season. As we continue to improve infrastructure, staffing and processes, we will focus on providing a generous quantity of the majority of our typical species, in addition to several additional products. We are committed to continuing to increase our quality and quantity of seedlings as these improvements are realized.
CSFS Nursery seedling sales are now open to the public (retail) and cooperators.
Please review and complete the combined Spring 2025 Seedling Order Form and Terms & Conditions (PDF) before submitting your completed order form to [email protected]. Once submitted, you will receive order confirmation, payment instructions and further spring 2025 pickup/delivery info. Please allow several business days for order processing and confirmation.
NOTE: The Nursery will not be offering containerized seedlings in 2025 due to ongoing renovations to our greenhouse infrastructure. Available bareroot species and remaining quantities can be found on our Availability/Inventory page.
For general inquiries, please email us at [email protected].
Trees for Conservation
Few conservation efforts provide the extensive and enduring benefits of planting seedling trees. Seedling trees serve many functions:
- Reforest burned areas
- Enhance wildlife habitat
- Reduce soil erosion
- Protect water supplies
- Serve as living snow fences that provide protection from wind and snow
Growing low-cost seedlings for Colorado landowners is vital to meeting the state’s conservation goals.
Working with Landowners
The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Nursery, located on the Foothills Campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, is the state’s leader in producing low-cost, Colorado-grown seedling trees and shrubs for conservation purposes. The CSFS Nursery produces more than 40 species, all selected for their hardiness and adaptability, which are ideal for landowners and land managers to use for conservation in Colorado’s diverse environments.
Situated on 130 acres managed for field production of bare-root seedlings, the nursery also uses 18,000 square feet of greenhouse space for container plant production. Nursery staff continuously conduct trials to identify new species that will address landowner needs.
Restoring Colorado’s Forests Fund Program
Restoring Colorado’s Forests Fund (RCFF) is a donor-funded program established to provide no-cost seedlings to landowners whose properties have been impacted by wildfires and other natural disasters. Reforestation helps to protect water supplies, reduce flooding and erosion and restore wildlife habitat.
Restoration is increasingly important considering the growing frequency, size, and severity of disturbances such as forest fires. Active reforestation is important in Colorado because natural regeneration is often hindered by the loss of mature trees and their seeds, poor soil conditions, and the impacts of climate change.
Landowners in Colorado are encouraged to apply for no-cost seedlings during the annual application period, which is open from July 1 to Sept. 30.
Applicants must have previously forested land impacted by natural disasters such as wildfires and will be ranked based on CSFS forester evaluations. Priority ranking will be given to applications that best convey soil, water quality and wildlife habitat improvements and provide the greatest public benefit. Please reach out to your local CSFS field office to connect with one of our foresters before applying.
Every $2 donation to the fund pays for one seedling, and every $300 restores one acre of burned forest. Visit the donation page if you would like to support reforestation through the RCFF program.
Send inquiries and request an application through [email protected].
Applications for the annual Restoring Colorado’s Forest Fund are currently closed and will reopen from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2025.
For more information and to apply, view the Restoring Colorado’s Forests Fund Application (250 KB PDF).