Initial Mortality

Plants that are not locally adapted may become established and grow well, but die or grow poorly when they become infected with a disease or experience climatic extremes (such as drought or early frost).

Many plantations in the Western United States have failed when seed sources were not locally adapted. They include ponderosa pine plantations in Montana that were planted with seed from the Black Hills. The trees became established and grew well, but the saplings were killed or heavily damaged by frost.

Both the geographic area and the elevation band are important when determining whether seed is locally adapted. Both factors are incorporated in the transfer guides.

Although using seed sources that are not locally adapted may be appropriate in a few cases, doing so is very risky.