seed box NI

Silver Birch Betula pendula

Native Land: is a widespread European birch, though in southern Europe it is only found at higher altitudes. Its range extends into southwest Asia in the mountains of northern Turkey and the Caucasus.

Description: It is a medium-sized deciduous tree, typically reaching 15–25 m tall (exceptionally up to 39 m ). The bark is white, often with black diamondshaped marks or larger patches, particularly at the base.

Leaves: The shoots are rough with small warts, and hairless, and the leaves 3–7 cm long, triangular with a broad base and pointed tip, and coarsely double-toothed serrated margins.

Flowers: The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins, produced before the leaves in early spring, the small (1–2 mm) winged seeds ripening in late summer on pendulous, cylindrical catkins 2–4 cm long and 7 mm broad.

Requirements: Successful birch cultivation requires a climate cool enough for at least the occasional winter snowfall. As they are shallow rooted they may require water during dry periods. They grow best in full sun planted in deep, well-drained soil.

Hawthorn Tree Crataegus monogyna Native Land: native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia.

Description: The Common Hawthorn is a broadly spreading shrub or small tree 5–14 m tall, with a dense crown. The bark is dull brown with vertical orange cracks.

Haw: They are pollinated by midges and later in the year bear numerous haws. The haw is a small, oval dark red fruit about 1 cm long, berry-like. Haws are important for wildlife in winter.

Flowers: The hermaphrodite flowers are produced in late spring (May to early June in its native area) in corymbs of 5-25 together; each flower is about 1 cm diameter, and has five white petals, numerous red stamens, and a single style; they are moderately fragrant.

Requirements: no special cultivation is required

Rowan Tree genus Sorbus of family Rosaceae Native Land: native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere Description: Rowans are mostly small deciduous trees 10–20 m tall, though a few are shrubs.

Leaves: The leaves are arranged alternately, and are pinnate, with (7-)11-35 leaflets; a terminal leaflet is always present.

Flowers: The flowers are borne in dense corymbs; each flower is creamy white, and 5–10 mm across with five petals.

Fruit: The fruit is a small berry 4–8 mm diameter, bright orange or red in most species, but pink, yellow or white in some Asian species. The fruit are soft and juicy, which makes them a very good food for birds.

Requirements: Cover the seed thinly with about 5mm of

horticultural sand or grit and the firm the pots contents by pressing lightly with a flat piece of wood. It is important that you do not cover the seed too thickly as this could prevent germination, this is especially important in the case of birch seed, so I tend to only cover it with 2mm of sand or grit.

Marigold Tagetes Native Land: They are native to the New World (North and South America) but have become naturalized around the world

Description: species vary in size from 0.01-2.2 m tall.

Leaves:They have pinnate green leaves.

Flower: Blooms are naturally in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights. Floral heads are typically (0.1-) to 4–6 cm diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets.

Requirements: They grow well in almost any sort of soil. Most horticultural selections grow best in soil with good drainage.