Get a Free Tree on Earth Day!

Every year, the Co-op celebrates Earth Day with a free tree giveaway. So come get yours Sunday, April 21! For those of you who want to plant an entire forest, we see you, but one tree per customer, please. Coming from Bellingham-based Fourth Corner Nurseries, this year's varieties are The Pacific Willow, Pacific Ninebark, and Common Snowberry.

And! If you come in to shop with your reusable shopping bag, we’ll give you TWO Tokens for Tomorrow instead of one, to donate to one of these local non-profits: Rodale Institute Pacific Northwest Organic Center, Sound Water Steward of Island County, Upper Skagit Library’s Freedge Program, and Fidalgo Island and Guemes Gleaners.

Earth Day Trees

The Pacific Willow, Pacific Ninebark, and Common Snowberry trees are all grown in the Northwest and are perfectly adapted to our region. Read on to learn how to care for your new tree with each tree’s sun, soil, and water requirements, as well as how big you can expect them to grow.

Pacific Willow

  • Native location: From Alaska to California (including British Columbia), and east to Manitoba and New Mexico. Grows on both sides of the Cascades crest, and at the coast in Washington.

  • Sun requirements: Full sun to mostly sunny.

  • Soil Requirements: Prefers damp heavy soils but will succeed in most soils. Grows well along streams where the soil is moist.

  • Water Requirements: Requires some watering in drier months.

  • Size: Grows up to 45 feet tall and 20 feet wide.

Pacific Ninebark

  • Native location: Native from British Columbia south to central California and east to western Montana.

  • Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

  • Soil Requirements: Best in acidic, moist to wet soils. Often found growing along streams, lakes, bogs and other moist sites.

  • Water Requirement: Little to no supplemental water required.

  • Size: Grows up to 15 feet tall and 15 feet wide.

Common Snowberry

  • Native location: Widely distributed across North America.

  • Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Best fruit production occurs in full sun.

  • Soil Requirements: Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Adapts to a wide range of soils including poor ones.

  • Water Requirement: Little to no supplemental water required.

  • Size: Grows up to 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

Leigha StaffenhagenComment