On Black Huckleberry germination

Cleaning seeds, especially from fleshy fruits, allows your mind to wander free, and of course, I usually ‘meditate’ on the germination requirements of the seeds.

I’ve collected for the first time a few fruits of Gaylussacia baccata, the Black Huckleberry.
I do not know if it will be in great demand, but I believe that providing wild collected seeds is good even if just a few people grow them from seeds; it adds to their genetic variability.

Some sources claim that Black Huckleberry seeds are hard to germinate and have a short viability.

Going in more depth, one can find the following germination protocol, in controlled conditions:
“ Samples of 2-year-old seeds were subjected first to warm stratification in moist peat at temperatures alternating diurnally from 68F to 86F for 30 days (20-30C). Then the temp. was lowered to 50F (10C) and the seeds germinated: 80% after 27 days and 96% after 47 days “ (Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States – Forest Service, USDA)

It may be one of those cases when sowing the seeds too late in the fall/winter, doesn’t allow for the first cycle of warm/moist stratification that these seeds require in order to break dormancy. The seeds contain a fully developed embryo, like shown in the image, so there is no reason for the seeds not to germinate.

The truth is that it is impossible to provide outdoors the 20-30 alternating day temperatures in Canada at this time.

So, the solution would be to naturally sow the seeds outdoors next year in the summer (July-August) and be patient as they should germinate in the next spring. Alternatively, stratify the seeds in moist media and provide the mentioned controlled warm/cold cycles in the house (if possible).

Stay tuned….
* I also wondered about the genus name: Gaylussacia. It commemorates the French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac. There are about 40 Gaylussacia species in North and South America.

Short intermezzo with Gentiana

The first flowers of Gentiana asclepiadea and Gentiana andrewsii are announcing the fall. Gentiana paradoxa flowers on the other hand are slowly coming to an end.

Gentiana paradoxa

Gentiana asclepiadea

Gentiana andrewsii

A self-sown Gentiana dahurica has flowered white, to prove, once again, the variability obtained from seeds. Shall we name it ‘Snowhite’?

Gentiana dahurica – white flower

Gentiana dahurica

All these Gentiana species are not difficult to grow from seeds. More seeds to be announced toward the end of the week after they are cleaned and processed, stay tuned…
(Trillium erectum, T. luteum, Cornus canadensis, Coptis, more Clintonia, more Trientalis, …..)

Diphylleia cymosa plant portrait

I was actually preparing something else for today. Then a small packet with ‘precious’ seeds inside arrived.

Besides announcing new seeds, even on the other prepared post, I was first expressing my gratitude and thanks to all those who are contributing with interesting seeds for BotanyCa Shop. It would otherwise be impossible to offer various species, especially native to North America, which actually do not grow wild in Ontario, or even in Canada for that matter.

Diphylleia cymosa flowering in late spring

On to Diphylleia cymosa, the American Umbrella Plant.

I am excited for these seeds for a few reasons, one being my penchant for studying the germination patterns of Berberidaceae, you know… Caulophyllum, Jeffersonia, Epimedium, Podophyllums and others in this family.
They all bear a few similar characteristics, including having seeds that need to be sown fresh in order to germinate; or kept moist, to allow later sowing. I admired this large perennial many years ago in the now closed Lost Horizons Gardens.

Diphylleia cymosa  is a native of southeastern USA, particularly from the Blue Ridge Mountains of the southern Appalachians, where according to Flora of North America, it forms “dense colonies on moist slopes in mixed deciduous forests and along streams”. 
I call it American Umbrella Plant because there are other 2 species in this genus, D. sinensis (from China) and D. grayi (from Japan and Sakhalin).

A very large perennial, it is growing from a short rhizome that produces 1 leaf or one flowering stem per year (with 2 leaves); a similarity with Podophyllum I would say. The large leaves are simple, 2-parted, each part with 5-9 lobes.
In culture it prefers a moist, rich substrate but can also grow in average soils, only that it remains shorter in stature.

American Umbrella Plant flowers

The white flowers appear in late spring in a terminal cyme (hence cymosa). One cannot deny the resemblance of these flowers to those of Jeffersonia dubia white form!

Later, the maturing dark-blue berries will make a striking contrast with the red pedicels!

How are the seeds looking? I think they are also very handsome, seeds-speaking 😊

A few were malformed, it happens, so I said let’s have a look ‘inside’. A very nice surprise! I found the embryo to be in the torpedo stage (with the shoot apical meristem and root apical meristem formed), so the germination shouldn’t be difficult after proper stratification.

Diphylleia cymosa seeds; to the right a dissected seed showing torpedo stage embryo

Those who have proper space in the garden, do not hesitate to give it a try. It makes a striking specimen plant for the woodland garden!

Most likely, like all rhizomatous plants, it needs a few years to establish but afterwards it will remain a long lived plant to be admired, from spring to fall for many years to come.

I will follow you in the journey of sowing a few seeds to witness their germination and see how the seedlings develop! Among a few Podophyllums I can certainly also grow one Umbrella Plant.

I again, kindly call attention to the moist-packed seeds category: the Seeds List (warm germinating species with dry seeds can be purchased all winter long).

 

Still waiting…with Daphne mezereum

I just cleaned up seeds of the February Daphne and I will take a little time to tell a well kept secret; not on my website though! Maybe google AI will learn about it as well 😉

Daphne mezereum seedlings

The seeds of Daphne mezereum (like some other Daphne species) are in the category of recalcitrant seeds. The storage life of these seeds is limited! I don’t know precisely how short is the viability, one would need many seeds to keep them dry and sow them at intervals over a year.
Usually Daphne seeds received from seeds exchanges (usually in the spring), will germinate very poor or not at all.

The germination practice: the seeds need first a warm/moist stratification (ie. sowing in late summer/early fall, during which the radicle will emerge from seeds), followed by a cold/moist stratification. In this case, they will start to germinate in the spring.
Most serious seed companies agree on the germination cycles but they fail to warn you about sowing seeds that were kept dry for too long.

This is the reason why, in some years, seeds of Daphne mezereum are offered by BotanCa only in late summer/early fall. What doesn’t sell (if), gets thrown away. I kept them moist packed one year after collecting and the radicles protrude sometime in late fall, so that it is not a good option.
The same goes for Daphne tangutica, but the fruits are maturing much later in this case, reason why it remains on offer until early winter.

Daphne mezereum

So, do not miss the occasion to grow the February Daphne when the shop reopens. It is a most beautiful and fragrant harbinger of spring! One of those species you rarely find to purchase at a garden center (if ever).

PS. If Canada Post keeps to only ‘evaluation the situation’, we will start accepting orders on Friday.

Waiting…raspberries and blackberries

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Rubus odoratus

Well, today’s news is that the Unionized workers of Canada Post voted against the latest contract offer. The common sense didn’t prevail after all. More uncertainty  is something that we do not actually need at this time.

We have to wait and see what the bankrupt Crown Corporation will announce on this matter. There is no point to accept orders and then not being able to ship the seeds, or for the small parcels to remain on hold in their containers, especially those with moist packed seeds.

The positive side of waiting, is that more seeds will available.
Latest collections: Rubus odoratus, Purple-flowered raspberry and Rubus canadensis, the Smooth blackberry – this one new to the Seed List.

Rubus odoratus is more an ornamental raspberry appreciated for its large, purple fragrant flowers, foliage and attractive red fruits which are edible but not truly tasty.

Rubus canadensis with immature fruits

On the other hand, Rubus canadensis produces delicious, sweet fruits and most often in great quantity; red maturing to black.

*Despite the common name (Smooth blackberry), it can sometimes have small prickles on the stems.

Not everyone can grow a raspberry or blackberry in their garden; most are large size shrubs/colonizers. However, it is good to know more about the native species that can be encountered while hiking, and which are the sweetest of them 😊

Flowers of all the raspberries and blackberries attract various pollinators, while the berries provide food for mammals and birds!

Native woodland garden recipe – updated

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At the same time with cleaning seeds and updates of the inventory, I look to see what posts may need to be removed to make space for new ones. On this occasion I  stumbled upon a post entitled: Native woodland garden recipe, which I think would be good to bring ‘upfront’ (those familiar with Photoshop know what I mean), with a few updates made.

It is about the usefulness of sowing species with similar germination and seedlings growth requirements grouped together, and methods that can be used to avoid having too many individual pots sitting around.

A native woodland garden recipe updated
Please read all other posts with links provided at the end.
Fingers crossed Canada Post employees will vote with common sense on their labor dispute; we should know on Friday what’s going to be.

Select a large container (preferably a rectangular one), add a good potting soil mixture, press firmly and add:
 1/2 tbs Trillium grandiflorum (Large-flowered Trillium) seeds (+/- 50 s)
1/2 tbs Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort) seeds (+30 s)
1/2 tbs Clintonia borealis (Blue bead lily) seeds (or other Trillium species)
1/3 tbs Asarum canadense (wild ginger)

Cover with 2+ cm of the same mixture
Water very well by going over with the watering can a few times, at intervals
Simmer for at least 2 years in a part-shaded location; never let the container dry out! (sun in the spring, then shade to part-shade)
For best results in a cold climate: dug the container in the ground, cover with a mesh for critters; add a layer of dry leaves on top of it in late fall for winter protection
Remove the leaves in early spring; you may need to top up the container with a bit of fresh mix
Continue simmering, check regularly the water status – this is very important!
Ready to consume usually after 3-4 years (ie. to transplant the seedlings)

Trillium grandiflorum seeds

Uvularia grandiflora seeds

Clintonia borealis seeds

Wild ginger seedlings

The recipe can be adapted to your particular needs. For example if the wild ginger is needed in greater quantity, the seeds can be planted in a separate container.

You can also add to the recipe: 1 tbs Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue cohosh) seeds!(+/- 14 s) – but sown in a separate large deep pot, or ‘in situ’ because of the 2 years germination and the seedlings that form a large root system even when young. Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot) seeds are also recommended, added to the recipe similar with Caulophyllum.

In case of sowing in a large container, take care and do not sow too many seeds! The future seedlings need space for growing!

Also, you can reduce the recipe in half, replace some of the species, or use individual pots grouped together in a flat/holding container (as shown in another post).
*Those adventurous can also sow all these species ‘in situ’, ie. directly in the ground (double up the recipe in that case).

Joke aside, from my own experience it is much easier to handle plant species with similar requirements for germination/growing conditions when grouped together.

Few older postings of interest:
Moist packing – what’s that?
We got the moist packed seeds – now what?
FAQ – moist packed seeds

           

Re-opening soon

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This year the shop will re-open throughout the summer after certain waves of seeds collection, with an emphasis on the species with hydrophilic seeds that require immediate sowing, which for later sowing they need to be stored in moist vermiculite.
These seeds are being offered moist packed into late fall/early winter but only as long as weather permits, reason why sometimes the sale period is short.

After a two years fiasco from various reasons, Trillium grandiflorum seeds will make a strong come back on the Seed List this season. The seeds have just been sorted out and washed. Uvularia grandiflora fruits collection will follow shortly and there are good signs from Clintonia borealis and Hydrastis canadensis fruits.

Trillium grandiflorum1

Uvularia grandiflora in habitat, early May

Clintonia borealis (Blue beads) fruits

Hydrastis canadensis

The Shop will re-open after Uvularia seeds are collected – it will be announced, probably at the beginning of August.

Those interested will be able to add to their orders previous species offered in early summer, like Asarum canadense, Stylophorum, Saruma…
Thanks to a generous friend, there will be on offer more seeds of Jeffersonia dubia and also the light pink Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Armstrong’s Pink’ . Don’t miss the occasion!

After a break of a few years I also collected few seeds from Aconitum ‘Ivorine’. Aconitum species have never been in great demand, I never understood why. This pure white form of A. septentrionale is really worth growing and preserving in our gardens.

Rubus occidentalis

For those interested in edible Rubus, sowing fresh seeds may lead to faster germination, so I bring to attention Rubus pubescens and the new this season Rubus occidentalis.

To maximize your shipping and handling costs (although they are kept to a minimum in our Shop), the inventory is now actively updated for various sold-out species, where seeds have already been collected.

Make a wish list and stay tuned for next week announcement!

Summer Seeds 2025

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Newly collected hydrophilic seeds are in stock: Jeffersonia, Asarum, Sanguinaria and Stylophorum diphyllum, plus other species that require a warm moist stratification before the winter (cold/moist stratification), and can be easily found in the tab above the regular Seed List.
What hydrophilic seeds means? To make a long story short:

Various species have been proven to have hydrophilic seeds, which means that if they are let to dry (like for the majority of other species) and are kept this way for certain periods of time, they lose their viability and will either not germinate upon sowing, or will germinate poorly & over a longer period of time.
So, they have to be either sown soon after collecting, or if they will be used at a later date, they need to be kept moist. Hence our ‘Moist packed category’.

Sowing such seeds soon after collecting or keeping them moist throughout the summer mimics their natural growing conditions, will result most times in 100% germination. It is a lot of extra work but worth doing it.

Sanguinaria canadensis seeds are offered for free (1 pck., while quantity lasts) with any order for other seeds, during the Canada Day promotion.
Orders are accepted until July 5. Afterwards, I have to take care of some personal matters, so the Shop will close for about 2 weeks.

Pachyphragma macrophyllum

Other species that do not have hydrophilic seeds but give best results when sowed during the summer because they require first a warm/moist stratification period, have been added to the listing: Pachyphragma, Cardamine and Helleborus.
In other cases (Pseudofumaria, Pulsatilla) by sowing in the summer it is possible to obtain seedlings this season and thus shorten the time needed for full grown plants.

Helleborus seeds can be sown until late summer/early fall in our climate, but they are listed in case someone needs more seeds in order to optimize the shipping costs.

Sanguinaria canadensis 2024

Asarum canadense

Helleborus caucasicus

Jeffersonia diphylla

*Regarding the hydrophilic seeds, since they are freshly collected most will be shipped doubled packed in glassine envelopes/plastic bags (some may be moist packed in vermiculite).
**As usual, the remaining hydrophilic seeds will be moist-packed and available for the fall-winter sale (where enough seeds).
***All orders must conform with the Ordering and Shipping terms.

Those new to the Shop and website, please read more about these species on their pages, also have a look at the Germination page for more info on: Growing Helleborus from seeds, Growing Jeffersonia from seeds, Growing Caulophyllum from seeds…

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!

The ‘superfluous’ Penstemon

Upon inspection, Jeffersonia diphylla capsules will open soon. I  just collected Asarum canadense seeds (wild ginger) and Sanguinaria canadensis capsules look ready to burst. So, we will wait a couple of days to start a new wave of fresh seeds sale. Stay tuned…and check the Seed List for what’s coming.

Penstemon grandiflorus ‘War Axe’

Meanwhile, a beautiful North American Penstemon is flowering for the first time: Penstemon grandiflorus, the Shell-leaf Penstemon.
I was expecting lilac flowers but instead they are deep purple. Since I got the seeds from a friend (cultivated source), I thought a bit more research might be necessary even if all characters match for it.

It was easy, it seems there is a seed strain offered as ‘War Axe’, with the resulting seedlings in various colors from lilac to pink and deep purple. I have 2 plants and both are the same. So, this was clarified and the changes were made in the Shop.
Reading here and there, I become aware of another issue: some databases (WFO, POWO) are listing Penstemon grandiflorus Nutt. as a synonym name for Penstemon bradbury Pursh.

This on the account that Penstemon grandiflorus name is considered superfluous. The meaning of a superfluous plant name is that: if a new name is published for a species, and it included the type of an existing, valid name, then the new name is considered superfluous and illegitimate. This is because the author of the new name should have used the existing, valid name.

On the other hand, Flora of North America specialist for the genus accepted the name Penstemon grandiflorus while considering Penstemon bradbury an illeg., superfluous name: “The validity of the name Penstemon grandiflorus has been debated owing to the meager diagnosis by Nuttall. The name is accepted here, making P. bradburyi Pursh, an illegitimate, superfluous replacement for P. grandiflorus.”

Squabble between the specialists? 😉 Not the first time happening…
I usually prefer to follow the Flora of North America taxonomic treatments, regardless of the country/continent, as opposed to various databases compilations, so at least for now I keep P. grandiflorus.

The name may be ‘superfluous’ by some, but the beauty of the “Largest and showiest of the North American prairie penstemons” is not contested by anyone.

 

 

June & Jeffersonia

Many thanks to all who participated in the Hepatica seeds sale!
Sow the seeds, follow the instructions, and be patient. In a few years you will be rewarded with charming, colorful spring beauties! Only a couple of packets of H. acutiloba are still available.

Jeffersonia dubia flowering in April

Soon, a few other species with best germination when ‘sown fresh’ will be available: Jeffersonia dubia (syn. Plagiorhegma), Cardamine enneaphyllos and Pachyphragma macrophyllum.
Considering the crazy spring weather, it was pleasing to see the twinleafs forming a few fruits.
The seeds to be announced; those interested can also keep an eye on the Seed List page, on the tab dedicated to the fresh seeds in need of fast sowing.

For those new to the website, here are useful links with info for growing the Twinleafs from seeds. Both species are great, cold hardy early spring bloomers for those in cold climates. Jeffersonia dubia ‘Alba’ also flowered for the first time, so in a couple of years we hope to offer it in both colors.
Growing Jeffersonia from seeds
More on Jeffersonia germination

A few other spring species are starting to mature their fruits/seeds, so careful attention is needed to catch especially those ‘specialized’ in escaping 😊 like Viola species, which are difficult to bag, as opposed to Hepatica, Jeffersonia, Helleborus and few others. Despite the crazy early spring weather, Physoclaina orientalis had an excellent flowering time resulting in good seeds setting (and preparing to go into dormancy now). On the other hand, Stylophorum diphyllum fruit setting is very low (do not expect too many seeds available).

Physoclaina orientalis

Viola dissecta

June is a most wonderful month in the garden with new seeds, a plethora of species flowering and with many garden ‘chores’ :)

Hepatica seeds sale 2025

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Those interested can now browse this year list of Hepatica seeds; they are all posted in the inventory: Seed List
The seeds will be available during the month of June/while quantities allow. As explained, most offerings are in limited quantities due to the unfavorable spring weather.

Besides of the regulars on the Seed List, like H. acutiloba pastel mix and H. americana – the best blues mix, we have a comeback of H. americana pink form (quite a rarity), and the ‘Preciosa’ strain with a deeper color, plus a little surprise with H. acutiloba white/pink multipetal.

Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix

Hepatica americana

Hepatica americana – light violet 2025

Hepatica americana – pink 2025

Hepatica americana #2, 2025

Hepatica americana ‘Precioasa’ strain 2025

Hepatica acutiloba white multi, 2025

Hepatica nobilis multipetal

Hepatica nobilis ‘Walter’

Like in the previous years, the seeds won’t be embedded in moist vermiculite, but double packed in glassine envelopes and plastic bag. Sowing instructions are provided with the orders.

All other terms will proceed as usual; please do not combine Hepatica orders with many other species in order to expedite the shipping. Claytonia virginica seeds are also still available, so let’s get sowing!

Thank you again for making the effort to grow these spring beauties from seeds!

 

 

 

Getting ready for Hepatica

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We are getting very close to having all Hepatica seeds collected; only a few bags placed in the woods for H. americana have yet to be retrieved. In fact, it was an easier job this year because of the low seeds setting due to the very cold early spring, both in the garden and in  the wild.

Even plants that flowered very well, like Hepatica nobilis multipetal have been ‘shy’ to producing seeds: it is known that very low temperatures are not favorable for the pollen transfer to happen.

We should be happy with what we have, seeds wise. Who knows what’s going to be next year?!
On this line of thought, I will tell a short story about H. americana ‘Spring Dawn’, a multipetal form with large flowers I found in the wild in 2019; seeds were shared for 2-3 years.
A regular client of BotanyCa was very kind to send me in early spring a photo with his first flowering seedling obtained from those seeds.

Hepatica americana ‘Spring Dawn’ progeny

This very nice form of Hepatica americana doesn’t exist in the wild anymore. It is possible that at the same location, some young seedlings will flower similar at some point, but there’s no guarantee.

The 3 original plants were growing on a very steep slope, supported by tree roots and a few rocks. During a heavy rain period 3 years ago, they were dislocated by the floods and all I could find one spring was a piece of a plant hanging to its life with the roots exposed and partially desiccated. Of course, it was rescued, and it is now growing in a pot, still not recovered entirely.
Plants like Hepatica, which do not form buds at the root level, are very hard to revive in case the root system is partially destroyed.

Later in the season, I also had the occasion to admire on FB another plant grown from H. americana ‘Spring Dawn’ seeds by a friend.

So, I rest assured that this beautiful form has been saved and it will be preserved in our gardens, at least for a while.

Hepatica americana ‘Spring Dawn’ shown growing in the wild and a plant resulted from its seeds

The morale is that if/when you have to occasion to collect seeds of a special form of a given species you should do it! Even without various ‘accidents’, all plants have a given life span, and sooner or later they will vanish. The best advice is to practice “conservation through propagation”.

Special seedlings can appear in any given wild population as far as I noticed, or from unexpected crosses of garden grown plants.
You never know when a seedling will flower to be a new Hepatica americana ‘Spring Dawn’ or a Hepatica nobilis ‘Walter’. After all, that’s how it goes. 😊

In the featured image, a vivid magenta flower Hepatica nobilis obtained random from seeds. I collected the few seeds which will be gifted to the first person ordering Hepatica; a specimen with leathery foliage and drought resistant.

To conclude, the Hepatica list will be updated as soon as the last seeds are retrieved, tomorrow or on Saturday. The start of the sale will be announced.