Nature’s bounty

Fresh fruits of Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit) and Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

The best time of the year has arrived; colorful fruits are mixing together with new flowers for a most beautiful display!

Seeds-wise, the message is that the collecting of the fruits/seeds is always extending into November, weather permitting. However, a nice flowering in late August doesn’t always translate into seeds in our climate; we can only hope. 

The early fall Seed List will be completed by the end of next week (September 4th), with hopefully a few more species and all collected moist packed seeds available.
Prepare your wish list, sowing mix and pots!

Podophyllum peltatum fruits

Medeola virginiana

Chelone glabra

Symphyotrichum puniceum

Sorbus koehneana

Thalictrum delavayi

Sneak preview: moist packed seeds

We are waiting for all possible seeds from the ‘moist-packed’ category to be ready, before making them available in the early fall SEED List in early September.

Like in all other years, there will be an emphasis on the species with hydrophilic seeds that are best sown in the fall. They are stored in moist vermiculite, but the shipping can go on only as long as the weather permits. Last year the winter arrived early in November and the shipping of such seeds had to be stopped.

For all these species, again, the requirement for best germination is: a slightly warm/moist cycle (fall) followed by a cold/moist cycle (winter). So, those thinking about growing any of these species (written in green) please purchase them first, and let the dry seeds wait for the late fall.

Diphylleia cymosa dormant rhizomes after one year of seedlings growth.

A short sneak preview for the moist-packed category of this (early) fall.
Due to a reasonable rainy season, various Trilliums seeds will also be available in limited quantity, besides the more regular Trillium grandiflorum.

Thanks to a kind soul who donated again seeds of Diphylleia cymosa (American umbrella plant), more people will be able to grow this statuesque beauty.

We sowed it last fall for the first time to follow the germination pattern, and pictures were posted over a few posts. The seeds germinated promptly in the spring; the seedlings remained at the cotyledon stage, then went dormant somewhere in July. They had quite a long growth period compared with a few other rhizomatous species.
I hoped the ‘curiosity won’t kill the cat’ 😊, so I transplanted the small rhizomes to show an image with them dormant. You can leave them in the same pot for one more years or transplant to a larger pot (or in the ground, if more courageous); they will have a nice growing start next spring.

According to my scouting, at least a few Podophyllum peltatum fruits will also be available to collect at the end of August (the same germination/growth pattern as Diphylleia).

And yes, Hydrastis canadensis seeds will also be available.

* All these species will be kept in the top tab of the SEEDs List throughout the fall for better visibility and easy links.

Get ready for the moist-packed seeds – fall 2026!

* *A few other species from the same category have fruits that mature later in the fall and although there is good hope, we cannot guarantee they will be available (late September-October).
Lindera benzoin, Medeola virginiana
Prosartes lanuginosa
Disporum uniflorum
Maianthemum species

*** FAQ – Moist packed seeds
       Germination page

 

Hard to resist

Seeds of most peonies species have been collected and are in stock right now. Maybe more will arrive from other peonies lovers later, but there are enough seeds for those who want to start a peony collection.
The beautiful display of bluish seeds and the red appendages (unfertilized ovules), is always hard to resist. I like to keep them on display as long as possible (plus that the seeds need to dry out).

The peonies seeds are among the best “candies for the eyes and soul”.

Paeonia peregrina which is always the last to flower in June, may bring a nice surprise this year, but until the capsules open, we can’t be sure. Sometimes large fruits develop with no good seeds inside.

With the exception of Paeonia tenuifolia, all species require a late summer sowing (warm/cold stratification cycles).

*A reminder that, even if some of the species offered were grown from wild collected seeds, they are now garden cultivated and so hybridization is possible, especially for those that flower at the same time.

Paeonia japonica

Paeonia anomala ssp. veitchii

Paeonia mascula (2)

Paeonia officinalis (2)

Paeonia mlokosewitchii (2)

Paeonia peregrina

***The latest collected ‘candies’ from the moist packed category: Trillium cuneatum (all moist packed seeds available in September).

It’s starting

Slowly and a bit delayed by the cold spring, fruits of various spring-flowering species are approaching maturity. Paeonia anomala ssp. veitchii, P. officinalis and Paeonia mascula capsules opened last week; their seeds are posted in the inventory.
A few others like Paeonia japonica and P. mlokosewitchii should follow shortly.

Hydrastis canadensis with fruits starting to mature

The same can be said about Trilliums, Uvularia grandiflora, Clintonia borealis and Hydrastis canadensis. For some species, coloring/maturation of the fruits is gradual, which results in an incremental harvesting. This is followed by cleaning, figuring out the total seeds available, and moist packing.

This process takes more time than when collecting dry fruits/seeds and makes for a busier than usual period.

I am glad to see that more and more people got the message about the benefits of summer sowing. All orders are greatly appreciated!
However, during the month of August, the regular guaranteed shipping time for the orders (indicated in the shipping page) will not apply. Unless you are willing to wait longer to receive your seeds, please postpone ordering until the end of the month/early September.

The majority of seeds that require moist-packing collected from now on will be posted in the inventory towards the end of August. The Shop will truly re-open somewhere at the beginning of September – it will be announced.

At the same time, a few mid to late summer species are flowering, most notably among the native ones, Ipomopsis rubra and Delphinium  exaltatum, both held in high esteem by the hummingbirds and other long-tongue pollinators. These images are from previous years but Lobelia siphilitica is also just about to start flowering.

Lobelia-siphilitica-white-Ipomopsis

Delphinium-exaltatum-1

*** During the month of August the regular guaranteed shipping time for the orders will not apply ***
Thank you for your understanding!

Gravitropism

Many thanks to all customers who are purchasing various seeds that germinate best when sown outdoors in the summer!
There are still various species available, including the newly added Aconitum septentrionalis ‘Ivorine’ – the SEEDs LIST

Today, about Clintonia borealis, the Blue bead lily, germination

One can find various stories about this subject on the wide net. I just wanted to clarify it, and also hoping that the AI learns the lesson 😉

Clintonia borealis mass germination in cold/moist storage

Very brief: Clintonia borealis seeds cleaned and kept right away in moist media, first at the ambient temperature (to mimic the fall towards the winter temperature), then at cold (winter) will germinate freely. This holds true for many other North American species with hydrophilic seeds.

Translation: sow the seeds right away (fall) outdoors; or keep them in moist media and follow the described cycles (slightly warm, then cold). If it is not cold enough in your region, or in case of a short winter, the seeds may need one more cold cycle for germination.

Also, the germination will start in the fridge (at cold), in case of indoor stratified seeds, which is always good to know. If you follow this path, keep an eye on them and sow right away.

The story the long way

Last fall I collected a bit too many Clintonia borealis seeds. It was very hard to abstain from picking the blue, juicy fruits from a large, healthy population.
I provided very generous seed packets in the fall but still lots remained, especially with the early winter arrival.

The collection was done in early September. As per usual, the cleaned seeds were kept in moist vermiculite, first at room temperature, then in early winter in the garage (the cold cycle). The winter was very cold and long, followed by a similar spring.

Clintonia borealis seedlings

When the temperatures started to slowly raise in late spring, I placed the remaining Clintonia seeds in the fridge, hoping they will hold on the germination until fall. Not all species will initiate the germination at cold.

I was wrong. The first timid signs of germination were visible in late May/June, but I was too busy at the time, and unfortunately they grew a bit too much, with also the cotyledon leaf expanded by the time I sown them.

I placed the germinated seeds on top of the sowing mix as they were and covered with a thin layer. It would have take too much time to point all the radicles down.
I hoped that the natural root growing direction will prevail and for most it did (gravitropism).
In any case, it is not good to let the seeds germinate up to this stage in moist media! The seedlings will develop poorly.

I also had the chance one year to sow fresh seeds of Clintonia uniflora and the pattern was similar.

Summer Seeds sale

Asarum canadense, wild ginger.

We are starting the summer sale of fresh seeds for various native and non-native species that require sowing during the summer for best germination. The species are listed in the top section of the SEED LIST.

Thanks to very kind donors, we have more seeds of Jeffersonia diphylla and also from the nice light pink form Sanguinaria canadensis ex. ‘Armstrong Pink’.
To pay it forward: the first 3 orders will receive a free seed pack. of Sanguinaria! (write on the note that you are interested).

Some of the seeds will be shipped moist packed, some will be shipped doubled packed in glassine envelopes/plastic bags. The remaining seeds will be available for the fall-winter sale, moist packed. Generally speaking, there are less seeds this year, so better do not wait too long.

Details for all offered species available on their product page, as usual.

 

Jeffersonia dubia

Jeffersonia diphylla in April

Thalictrum thalictroides

To maximize the shipping cost, any other seeds can be added to your order.
Suggestions: Helleborus – the seeds can be sown until late summer/early fall, but please keep in mind that the Seeds shop will close at some point and re-open only in late August-early September. In the same idea, it would be best to purchase and sow the Paeonia seeds that are still in stock. Also Viburnum, Aralia, Actaea, Euonymus, Smilax…

Any other seeds in stock can be added to your order in fact (keep the cold germinators in the fridge for fall sowing).

The SEEDS Shop will close for orders at some point in August and will reopen a bit later in the fall this year. Various species show delayed fruits maturation because of the cold spring, so most probably various seeds collections will be done later than usual.

Many thanks again to all who support BotanyCa in the endeavour of offering fresh seeds of various native and other plants species. We can all make a small contribution to sustain the biodiversity simply by growing a few plants from seeds!

Still waiting

We had to postpone the tradition of offering a summer seeds sale around Canada Day. A very long winter and colder than usual spring have resulted in delayed maturation for many species, or no seeds at all for some (Pachyphragma and Cardamine).
Do not despair, the new wave of fresh seeds will be available at some point next week – to be announced.

For all spring flowering species, the seeds will be available in smaller quantities than usual; the wild ginger, Stylophorum diphyllum, Jeffersonia and the newly added Thalictrum thalictroides may not last till late fall. Caulophyllum thalictroides seeds (already with 1 year stratification done) are also available.

Until then, think what you can add to your wish list in order to maximize the shipping cost – SEED List
Suggestions: Helleborus – the seeds can be sown until late summer/early fall, but please keep in mind that the Seeds shop will close at some point and re-open only in late August-early September. In the same idea, it would be best to purchase and sow the Paeonia seeds that are still in stock. Also Viburnum, Aralia, Actaea, Euonymus, Smilax…

Newly collected seeds that were ‘out of stock’ are also being added to the inventory (for example Viola canadensis, Mitella diphylla). 

Until then, speaking native species, among others we can admire Solidago simplex var. ontarioensis, Campanula rotundifolia (Kill.). Once has started to bloom Campanula rotundifolia will do so the whole summer and early fall! A most wonderful native plant that shouldn’t miss from any garden.
If you are growing Cirsium edule var. macounii, it is the perfect plant to watch the green sweat bee at work (Agapostemon virescens, apparently Toronto’s ‘Official Bee’). Flowering just in time to provide the much needed pollen, after Cirsium hookerianum (in the featured image) provided the same service.

Campanula rotundifolia (Kill.)

Cirsium edule var. macounii

Solidago simplex var. ontarioensis

Waiting…

Thalictrum thalictroides (Rue anemone)

Our usual early summer seeds sale for various species that need to be sown fresh (or be moist packed for fall sale) will be postponed a bit due to a very cold spring start.

Some of the Jeffersonia diphylla and Jeffersonia dubia seeds have been collected, also Stylophorum diphyllum and Thalictrum thalictroides (Rue anemone).

Although the Rue anemone it is such a lovely native spring wildflower, I stopped offering seeds because there was not great demand (and the seeds are not easy to catch). People prefer to grow the double-flowered varieties (often called Anemonella); maybe with the pollinators in mind, that will change.

The wild ginger (Asarum) fruits are just starting to break open (keep on eye on them if you want to collect for yourself). There will also be few Epimedium seeds for those interested.

Meanwhile, June is high peak flowering time in the rockery. A few easy flowering species (besides the Dianthus) that can make anyone look like a ‘pro’, with little effort. Polygala major has self-sown in the rockery in a carpet of thyme. Small plants for big effects!

Polygala major

rockery mix, 2026

Scutellaria pontica

Edraianthus graminifolius

Campanula bellidifolia

Campanula sarmatica

When seeds are available, or if you find young plants to purchase, do not hesitate to try them. Most of  these species are actually from the category: ‘easy plants to grow from seeds’.

Growing small trees from seeds

Hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata) in flower (male). A small, dioecious tree from the Rutaceae family (Citrus), designated as a threatened species in Canada given the low number of individuals and the threats to its habitat. All plant parts are aromatic and the flowers attracts many species of pollinators; larval host for the Giant Swallowtail and Easter Tiger Swallowtail. It is known that some male trees may produce a few perfect flowers (meaning fruits), so I’ll keep an eye on it.

Ptelea trifoliata, the Hop tree, has flowered beautifully this year in the garden. It was grown from seeds and planted very young in a neglected corner of the garden (I didn’t give it much chance for survival).

This made me think how many times we grow some plant from seeds without thinking much about it, only to have them growing and flowering beautifully after a few years. Gardening in a relatively small city garden usually it means not much space available for new trees, when older ones are already present.

Of course, common sense doesn’t always apply to those obsessed with seeds. From the ‘let’s see how the germination goes’ to ‘precious seeds’, I grew quite a few  small trees from seeds over the years. Some are still with me, while others were gifted at a young stage.

A small inventory for the small trees/large shrubs grown from seeds over the years (not counting Clematis species, Dioscorea, Daphne mezereum and a couple of Rosa species).

Calycanthus floridus (Carolina allspice), Ptelea trifoliata, Lindera benzoin and Staphylea pinnata (European Bladdernut) from the category : ‘let’s test the germination’.

Acer pseudosieboldianum, Acanthopanax, Magnolia salicifolia, Sorbus koehneana and Chamaemespilus alpina from the ‘unusual species – must sow them’.

Time goes by very fast and depending how well they grow, in 5-6 years some species can start showing the first flowers. The European Bladdernut and the Hop tree are flowering on a regular base now.

Sorbus koehneana, a Chinese rowan with white fruits and beautiful reddish bronze foliage in the fall.

Sorbus koehneana has flowered for the first time this year and I’m looking forward to the colourful fruits (grown in a container).
Magnolia salicifolia is putting up a very nice growth this year, even if it doesn’t have a suitable location yet.

The reason I am writing this post is because most people shy away from growing shrubs and trees from seeds. In fact, it is not more difficult than growing perennial plants.
The only difference is that you should think carefully if you have the suitable planting spots for the youngsters. It means planning a bit more in advance, which I admit it is not easy.

Or do like I did and just grow them 😊 Containers, friends with  more garden space, a forgotten garden corner, older trees that need removing at some point…; there are many options for giving them a chance to grow and flower.
It is the only way to obtain species that are not readily available in the regular garden centers.

June updates

,

Jeffersonia dubia

Many thanks to all who participated in the Hepatica seeds sale!
Follow the instructions, sow the seeds when they arrive, and be patient. In a few years you will be rewarded with charming, colorful spring beauties!

In the near future, we expect a few other species with ‘best germination when sown fresh’  during early summer to be available. 
Considering the current heat wave, and by the look of the fruits, it is most likely that we’ll have all such species (many of them natives), offered in a single wave this year: Jeffersonia, Asarum canadense, Stylophorum diphyllum, Sanguinaria….and so on.

As always, the seeds will be announced beforehand.

June is by definition Dianthus flowering month. Most of them have fragrant flowers and are great companions for all other garden plants. Is there a need to repeat that they are easily grown from seeds? Only two from my favourites; I prefer the wild forms over the countless cultivars available on the market.

Dianthus deltoides, wild form

Dianthus spiculifolius

Talking native species, the Golden Alexander, Zizia aurea, is flowering right now, filling the gap between the natives early spring and late summer bloomers. 
It is an excellent pollinator friendly plant for short-tongued insects, doing well in a variety of locations, from full sun to part-shade. Serendipity made it for a tall blue Aquilegia to flower close to one of them; blue and yellow is a great combination in the garden.

I like it so much that last fall I also sowed the Heart-leaf Golden Alexander or meadow Zizia (Zizia aptera). The more the better 😊 The meadow Zizia it is supposedly more tolerant of soil dryness compared to Zizia aurea.

From the tall and beautiful category, Gladiolus caucasicus and Salvia nutans deserve a special mention this year.

Gladiolus caucasicus

Salvia nutans

And of course, Paeonia peregrina (in the featured image) was right on time to lead the June blooming in the garden (do not forget to sow your peonies seeds during the summer time).

May-early June seedlings update

Various Roscoea species (Hardy gingers) seedlings just about to go dormant after +/- 3 months of growth.

This post was prepared for late May, it is June already :) so a change of title and we’ll have it today. A note about Hepatica seeds following tomorrow…

The Roscoea (hardy gingers) seedlings (sown indoors in the first week of February) are getting close to their end of the season – which is always very short!
So, I took a ‘not very nice picture’ to reassure all those who have also sown Roscoea seeds that it is perfectly normal for the seedlings to look this way.

I emphasized before that in the first year the seedlings of hardy gingers will only grow for about 3 months and then become dormant: Growing Roscoea from seeds.

The first sign is that the leaves gradually start to wither. In this phase the watering needs to be greatly reduced.
After all the leaves have vanished, stop the watering and keep the pots in a dry (preferably cool place, otherwise the pots will dry out excessively). In the fall, replant the small tubers in larger pots so they can have yet another short and hopefully successful growing season!

Diphylleia cymosa (American Umbrella plant) seedlings – cotyledon leaves stage, May 2026.

Second item – we are following the germination and growth of Diphylleia cymosa (American Umbrella plant), a new species added to our Shop last year thanks to friendly seeds donations.

At the end of May, the seedlings are looking the same as they were in April – at the cotyledon leaves stage, as expected.

Once again, the majority of rhizomatous species will develop only cotyledon leaves in the first season, directing all the energy towards the root system.

These cotyledon leaves will most probably wither and the seedlings become dormant at some point, just like in the case of Podophyllum, Glaucidium and Roscoea. When that happens, stop watering and keep the sowing pot from drying out completely.

Small pots with dormant seedlings (and ungerminated pots) can be stored over the summer-fall in boxes, as described in: Cold stratification: part 4, springtime.

Also, from the category of species that require a cold/moist stratification in order to germinate well:

Taenidia integerrima (Yellow pimpernel) seedlings sown ‘in situ’ in the fall are looking very well and of course not-like the mother plant. In most cases, the true leaves of seedlings from the Apiaceae family (carrot) do not look similar to those of the species in the first season. Do not worry, your label is correct. By next year, the foliage will show the true to species characters (the same applies for Zizia aurea seedlings).

Last fall I also sowed a few older seeds of the native Dioscorea villosa (Wild yam). They started to germinate last week.
Dioscorea species are always late germinators; from my experience among the last ones to germinate in our climate (in SW Ontario) usually towards late May. Keep an eye on your pots but, most likely no other species sown in the fall/winter will germinate from now on if they haven’t already.

Taenidia integerrima seedlings

Dioscorea villosa seedlings

 There will always be ungerminated pots of various species by late spring, for various reasons (one of them being sowing species that require cold/moist stratification too late in the winter instead of sowing in late fall). It is a good idea to keep your sowing pots for at least another year.  
Another reason why purchasing a couple of plastic boxes is a good investment, seeds and sowing wise 😊

Castilleja seedlings (mix of species) sown in late fall, outdoors.

Last but not least, in the featured image: a close-up of very small Castilleja seedlings (Indian paintbrush).

In late fall I threw in a larger container all left-overs/older  Castilleja seeds I had. The container remained outdoors all winter long, most time under a thick layer of snow. From this point of view, the very cold and snowy past winter has been a blessing for all species requiring a cold stratification.

As previously discussed, usually germination is not a problem for Castilleja species when sown outdoors; what’s happening with the seedlings afterwards – it is another story. I just planted out some of the seedlings (in chunks) close to Sisyrinchium mucronatum and Symphyotrichum laeve. Fingers crossed…

 

Welcome to May, 2026

After a cold April, May arrived with the same weather pattern. Comparing with other years, Hepatica americana and Hepatica acutiloba flowered poorly, in some cases with a few late buds opening after the first wave of flowers. There are still a few flowers on some Hepatica nobilis, Hepatica americana and Hepatica transsilvanica in the deeper shade!

Native species wise, Iris lacustris and Primula mistassinica enjoyed the record amounts of snow of last winter and both flowered spectacularly and for a long time. Besides various Trillium species, Asarum canadense (wild ginger), Uvularia grandiflora, Mitella diphylla, Viola labradorica,Viola rostrata, Stylophorum diphyllum, Anemone quinquefolia (to name just a few) are in bloom at this time. I just noticed the first open flower on Prosartes lanuginosa today and Hydrastis canadensis will follow shortly by the look of it.
Information about most of these native species, and not only, is available by clicking on their name in the Seed List (images, description, propagation from seeds).

The Large flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum, remains the ‘star of May’ in Ontario. Many images, including its spring companions were added over the years on this website. The companion plants are the same, they only flower at slightly different times depending on the region & weather.
For those wishing to review and maybe get inspired for adding various native species to their gardens, please follow the links below:
Out in the woods: Trillium grandiflorum and companions (2023)
Trillium grandiflorum 2022
Out in the woods: Trillium grandiflorum and companions (2021)

Garden wise, the cooler weather has been a blessing for planting and transplanting/dividing larger perennials. On the other hand, the seedlings are growing very slow; advantages and disadvantages.

Welcome to May, much to admire, do, and so little time….just a small selection of native and non-native species.

Iris lacustris

Thalictrum thalictroides

Trillium cuneatum

Glaucidium palmatum

Pulsatilla pratensis hybrid

Viola dissecta (2)

Corydalis solida white form

* The bulbous Corydalis flowering was OK, but due to the April weather the seeds set is not looking great, with some exceptions; the same applies for most Hepatica species (and other very early flowering species). By the end of  the month we’ll have a clearer picture and decide if worth offering a limited selection of such seeds this year.

As usual, there will be an announcement for the first fresh seeds of the season.