Tag Archive for: Aconitum germination

Aconitum and Saruma

The last two remaining species that will be available soon, as moist packed seeds, are Saruma henryi and Aconitum moldavicum.

Saruma henryi, the upright wild ginger is a nice, foliage-wise perennial species complemented by yellow flowers in early summer. It goes well with various Arisaema, Aconitums, Podophyllum, Glaucidium, Deinanthe…to mention just a few.
A tough plant, perfect in a part-shaded location; with too much shade it becomes leggy (it can be sheared). It will self-seed in a proper location, just like Stylophorum and I recommend to always keep 1-2 seedlings as a reserve.

Saruma henryi

Saruma henryi

Saruma henryi seeds

Aconitum moldavicum

Aconitum is the main subject of this post though.
Only seeds of Aconitum moldavicum A. lycoctonum ssp. moldavicum) will be available. But regular readers of the blog may remember that few years ago I embarked in a journey regarding Aconitum germination. Just few years later, I ended up with too many young plants that I could deal it!

See the link: Aconitum germination revised.

The conclusion remains: Aconitum species have very good germination when fresh or moist packed seeds are sown.
Most species will germinate to some extent from dry seeds (kept for 6-12 months), but in low percentage. Some may not germinate at all.

All this being studied and repeatedly mentioned, it is a surprise that not many people take advantage when fresh and /or moist packed seeds are offered. I consider most Aconitum species wonderful garden plants (wolf’s banes by general common name): they come in a wide variety as flowering time, growth habit, and flower color. Yes, they are toxic/also medicinal when used properly, but animals know to stay away from such plants. Only having very young children around the garden might pose a problem.

Aconitum moldavicum (syn. A. lycoctonum ssp. moldavicum) is a beautiful species native of the Carpathian Mts. with purplish, long hooded flowers on tall flowering stems. Usually found growing on siliceous substrates but it adapts well in cultivation. Habit and flowers wise it is similar with the widely cultivated A. lycoctonum. On a superficial look can also be mistaken with Aconitum vulparia (open the gallery to see pictures from the wild and also from cultivation).

Aconitum moldavicum, garden

Aconitum moldavicum, Fagaras Mts.

Aconitum vulparia maybe, cultivated

Aconitum vulparia, Carpathian Mts.

Aconitum lyctotonum, garden

Aconitum 2 years-old plants

It is always a good idea to double check your Aconitum at flowering/fruiting time, especially if grown from seeds; proper identification is not an easy task, to say the least.

Aconitum germination revised: 2019

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It may become a tradition to publish revised notes on Aconitum germination around Christmas time every year; it only depends if new species will be available for trial-outs! My thanks to those making this study possible. Read HERE the starting notes on Aconitum germination.

Again, Aconitum comprises many species which are (in general) difficulty to germinate if the seeds were stored dry, some even after short periods of dry storing. But some species are more recalcitrant than others, and that’s what this study tries to looks at, including the effect of GA3 on improving the germination.

These are the main germination tables revised, Dec. 2019

The conclusion from last winter sowings is that Aconitum moldavicum and Aconitum hemsleyanum are difficult to germinate species even after a relatively short period of storing the seeds dry. It remains to be seen if some of the seeds will germinate in the second spring after sowing.

Aconitum kusnezoffii seedlings

Aconitum krylowii seedlings

Aconitum kirinense seedlings (2)

Aconitum kusnezoffii seedlings (2)

From the recently sown species there are moist packed seeds to share of Aconitum japonicum

Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix – seeds are starting to germinate! Together with the Aconitum they can be ordered via – Fast shipping option.

Shipping will resume after Dec. 26

Merry Christmas to all!

Starting notes on Aconitum germination – 2018

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Yesterday I sowed the first Aconitum seeds of the season! – a good occasion to also publish this post, drafted since late spring.

Aconitum is a large genus with many beautiful species, usually growing in mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere, popularly known as wolf’s banes or monkshoods. Many know that they are toxic/medicinal species, but more than that they are highly valued as garden plants.

Like many other species from fam. Ranunculaceae they can prove difficult to germinate from dry stored seeds. Most often it is not possible to moist pack the seeds right away; some collectors are not aware of the requirement or they are unwilling to do it because it is too tedious.

Experienced growers from all over the world will confirm the fact that dry kept seeds of various Aconitum species will generally germinate poorly/germinate in the second year after sowing, or in many cases will never germinate.

My intention is to compile a list for Aconitum species showing their germination pattern when using fresh, moist packed or dry seeds. Knowing which species retain good germination capacity even after their seeds are kept dry for a given amount of time would be very useful.

Generally speaking, we know for sure few facts about Aconitum seeds/germination:
– at the time of seed collecting the embryos are underdeveloped
– the germination can’t occur until the embryos reach a certain size, usually after a period of cold/moist stratification.
– GA3 treatment can promote embryo growth for some species, and thus can be useful in combination with the cold/moist period.

The list below was compiled from my own data and supplied by others on the Scottish Rock Garden Forum, where you can also find a thread open on this subject. Feel free to contribute.

 

And few pictures with various Aconitum species that germinated this spring (2018), in the second year after sowing (dry seeds, GA3 treatment), seedlings, new seeds and the new batch of Aconitum sowings!

Aconitum species germinated 2018

Aconitum alboviolaceum seedlings 2018

Aconitum moldavicum seeds

Aconitum species sown Dec. 2018

Few Aconitum species  will be available late next week!

 

The pain and joy of dealing with moist stored seeds

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When I embarked on my seeds adventures few years ago, I’ve decided that there will be no DOD’s offered by BotanyCa (DOD = dead on delivery).
Sometimes seeds won’t germinate from unforeseen reasons, abnormalities and so on… Offering seeds that you know from the beginning won’t germinate or will germinate in very low percentage is a completely different story.

So, I accept the losses and the fact that there will always be leftover seeds germinated in the Ziploc bags by early spring.
When it comes to seeds, just like in nature, everything is accomplished with a great waste of energy. Yet, I am always sad when the time comes to end their ephemeral life.

Stylophorum lasiocarpum germinated seeds

Saruma henryi: germinated seeds which cannot be safely shipped anymore

 On the other hand, I imagine the joy of all those who bought moist packed seeds when they start to germinate!

Other species which ALWAYS start to germinate by late February when kept moist are: Asarum ssp,, Claytonia, most Corydalis,  Aconitum, Hepatica, Podophyllum spp., sometimes Maianthemum stellatum and M. canadense.
*If kept dry some of these species may germinate in the second year, in low percentage.
I hope there is be a better understanding now why seeds of these species need to be ordered in early winter!

 

Refreshing – Aconitum ‘Ivorine’

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White on blue is a refreshing combo. Yesterday, amidst the heat wave I took few pictures of Aconitum ‘Ivorine’ just starting flowering.
Pure white, tinged with green flowers on sturdy stems make this Aconitum very appealing.  The bluish background provided by Juniperus ‘Wichita’ is pure serendipity – most of my plants were planted where I could find a proper space in this new garden without much thinking of colour combinations.

Aconitum septentrionale ‘Ivorine’

It doesn’t clump excessively, which is unfortunate; I could use more seeds, so this is the next ‘ivory’ generation! Very easy to germinate if the seeds are sown fresh or kept moist and allowed a warm/cold cycle. The pots can be brought indoors around February to germinate and grown under lights will achieve a better growth by June. I had no more space available this year so they germinated outside somewhere beginning of May.

Aconitum septentrionale ‘Ivorine’ freshly transplanted seedlings