Which Species are in my Life Box?

Wondering which types of seeds are present in your Life Box? Simply enter the lot code (pictured above) from the bottom of your Life Box in the field below.

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Enter a lot code in the box above.

Seedling ID (when 4+ months old)

Learn which species you are growing by using our handy Seedling ID Guide.

Life Box™ Seedling Id Key

This identification key works best when seedlings are at least 4+ months old.

Start with step 1a. If description in 1a is accurate, follow “go to” directions. If the description does not fit, move to step 1b. Continue this way through the key until you identify your tree(s)!

1a. Seedling has broadleaves (not evergreen)….go to step 2a
1b. Seedling has evergreen leaves…go to step 7a

2a. Seedling has lobed leaves….go to step 3a
2b. Seedling has leaves not as above…go to step 4a

3a. Seedling leaves have 5 sharply pointed lobes, leaves are rich dark green and glossy….American sweetgum (Liquidambar styriciflua)
3b. Seedling leaves have 3-5 lobes, with rounded valleys and tips not sharply pointed as in 3a….American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

4a. Seedling has linear leaves…desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
4b. Seedling has leaves not as above…go to step 5a

5a. Leaves are rough on the surface, and slighty hairy on the underside, with doubly serrated margins…American elm (Ulmus Americana)
5b. Surface of leaves soft and finely hairy are darker green on surface and paler green on the underside, doubly serrated edges…birch (Betula species, Betula nigra, Betula occidentalis or Betula papyrifera) .

7a. Seedling small branches with scale-like leaves (usually after 5+ months)…go to 8a
7b. Seedling has needle-like leaves…go to 9a

8a. Scales (2-5 mm long) on rounded (not flattened) shoots…Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
8b. Scales (3-5 mm long) on flattened shoots, creating fan-like sprays…white cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

9a. Needles long (>4 cm) and in bundles of 2, 3 or 5 (usually after 4 months)….got to 10a
9b. Needles not in bundles….go to 11a

10a. Needles in bundles of 5…Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
10b. Needles in bundles of 3….pitch pine (Pinus rigida)
10c. Needles in bundles of 2…lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) or Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) (fully ID when trees are older, using cones)

11a. Short seedling, round bluish needles with pointed needle-like tips…Blue spruce (Picea pungens glauca)
11b. Needles not as above….go to 12 a

12a. Shoots orange-brown, w/ dense hair 1 mm long, needles 7-25 mm long with blunt tips (not pointed), tops of needles blue-green….mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)
12b. Needles flat, soft and linear, circle the branch and occur singly…Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)