During a recent hike, I was in the right place at the right time, shortly after a recent storm broke down a few Sassafras fruit-bearing branches.
According to my records, this happens only every 10 years, when a stellar alignment leads to various energy points converging.
It also has to be a year when Sassafras has set fruits (sometimes late frosts can destroy the flowers) and, needless to say, a beautiful day that inspired hiking.
Taking all into consideration, plus the fact that I don’t intend to take up tree climbing, please get familiar with this nice and peculiar tree and consider growing it from fresh seeds, if your garden space allows. The next stellar alignment might come only in 2034!
Sassafras albidum portrait
Sassafras albidum – Sassafras (Fam.Lauraceae) is a medium size tree, 15-20 m tall that can be encountered wild in Southern Ontario woods (where its Northern limit is found) being more widespread across the border in a few US states. All parts of the plant are spicy and aromatic.
It has an interesting candelabra-like branching (aka. sympodial) and really cool leaves that come in three shapes! In the fall, they turn yellow, red and purple depending on the sun exposure and fall temperatures (mid-September – October). They host the caterpillars of the Spicebush swallowtail and Promethea silk moth. Young seedlings will first display only simple leaves.
The small, yellow flowers appear in early spring, on separate male and female trees, and by fall the ornamental black drupes are displayed on red long pedicels with the same candelabra-like ramification. The fruits are very attractive and consumed by various birds in the fall.
It is not easy to always observe the black fruits up on grown up trees, even when it happens. They are rapidly consumed by birds that will spread the seeds, so in stands with mature trees there are always youngsters with cute leaves growing beneath their parents.
Mature Sassafras trees prefer full sun locations and sandy-loamy soils; when young they will tolerate shade. It is a medium to fast growing tree which also can sprout and form colonies.
Those who have space and a good garden location can grow it solitary or as part of a native woodland garden with other companion species: Lindera benzoin, Lonicera canadensis, Hepatica americana, Amphicarpeae bracteata, Maianthemum, Mitchella, Gaultheria procumbens, Trillium, Prosartes lanuginosa, Polystichum, Adiantum….
Sassafras albidum has a long and interesting history related to North American Native Peoples and later worldwide. 
Before the discovery of the North American continent, the Sassafras was extensively used (leaves, roots and bark) by Native Peoples for various purposes: antihelmintic, antidiarrheal, antirheumatic, as a cold remedy, venereal, tonic…
The European settlers after seeing its traditional medicinal usage, like in many other cases, thought they found the ‘cure-all’ plant and started to import large quantities of sassafras oil (obtained by distillation from the root bark), into Europe.
For a while, the sassafras oil was a very precious commodity, being employed in foods, medicinal products, cosmetics (root beer, sassafras tea, filé powder, as flavoring in candies, beer…).
After safrole, the essential component of sassafras oil, was recognized as a potential carcinogen around 1960’s, its use was banned in the US and later in Canada.
Only young leaves which are said to contain little safrole, can be used to make the powder filé (part of the renowned Creole dish gumbo). Also, I read that some small brewers still use the extract to flavor traditional beers.
Those with more time can have a look at this wiki stub, or/and do their own research to read more about the Sassafras: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassafras_albidum
**Do not purchase Sassafras oil from non-verifiable sources, because most likely what you will get would be just some ‘fragrant oil’ obtained from other trees (via Asia and Brazil).
Also, be aware that safrole is on the List I precursor chemical of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (for good reason).
Sassafras albidum seedlings
I rarely see it cultivated, although it is a fully hardy tree in Southern Ontario. It can be propagated either from seeds or by root cuttings – according with some sources.
Sassafras seeds are losing their viability when kept dry, like its spicy cousin Lindera benzoin. Beware buying seeds that have been stored dry for longer periods for both these species!
For best germination the seeds need to be sown fresh in early fall, or if kept moist, throughout the fall, so they would first undergo a slightly warm stratification period followed by a cold one (winter). Treated like this (the natural way) they should germinate in late spring next year. The seedlings seen in the wild, testify for this method.
Lindera benzoin seeds will also be available for purchase again this year.
Start your ‘wish’ list, which should always contain first the species from the “moist packed” category – written green in the SEED LIST.
I am planning another short outing, fingers crossed for more new seeds!
Thank you for your interest and patience!
A lucky find one year – Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar on sassafras leaves
Things I’d like to grow
Wildflowers of North AmericaAlas, it is not possible at my location; or some species would need an artificially constructed bog.
Chamaedaphne calyculata, leatherleaf
Firstly, the beautiful evergreen leatherleaf: Chamaedaphne calyculata which inhabits edges of the ponds, bogs and swamps. It’s been quite a few years since I got the chance to collect a few seeds, actually 2017 when I also provided a plant portrait: Belated Friday’s seeds.
The sole member of the genus Chamaedaphne (Ericaceae), leatherleaf is a low growing evergreen small shrub (up to 1.5 m tall). It is native to the cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere from North America, NE Europe to N. Japan, Mongolia and Siberia, where grows in all types of bogs, sedge fens, and open wetlands.
It is characteristic of mature and late stages of moss – shrub communities, where it forms colonies, with rhizomes spreading in the sphagnum moss. It actually helps the installation of other species with whom is found growing, like: Sarracenia, Drosera, Kalmia polifolia, Oclemena, Ledum groenlandicum, Myrica gale, American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and other Vaccinium species.
For those who have proper conditions, it is more than worth to try and grow the leatherleaf from seeds (I never heard of a specialized nursery offering plants).
Drosera rotundifolia
With the same requirements, new to the Seeds List, Drosera rotundifolia, of which I never had the pleasure to collect seeds until this fall.
The seeds stock has also been replenished for Drosera intermedia – shown in the featured image. Looking at the picture one might wrongfully assume that it is a rockery plant! In fact it grew in a crack of bare rock sitting in a wet area. It can definitely fool us :) Carnivorous aficionados have the occasion now to grow a trio of: D. linearis, D. intermedia and D. rotundifolia.
Another wetlands inhabitant is the interesting bog aster which bears the name Oclemena nemoralis. Looking at the flower anyone could call it aster, while the foliage, almost linear leaves with recurved margins, tells a different story. It is a species flowering in late summer-early fall, and only a few heads were ‘fluffy’, but maybe someone wants to give it a try.
Oclemena nemoralis flower
Oclemena nemoralis foliage
Oclemena nemoralis seed heads
Exploring the nature always gives a chance to learn about new plants, you only need to keep your eyes wide open! If we have proper conditions in our garden, we can then try to recreate small ‘pieces’ of wilderness. If we don’t, at least we learned something new!
Stellar alignment & Sassafras
Plant portraits, PropagationDuring a recent hike, I was in the right place at the right time, shortly after a recent storm broke down a few Sassafras fruit-bearing branches.
According to my records, this happens only every 10 years, when a stellar alignment leads to various energy points converging.
It also has to be a year when Sassafras has set fruits (sometimes late frosts can destroy the flowers) and, needless to say, a beautiful day that inspired hiking.
Taking all into consideration, plus the fact that I don’t intend to take up tree climbing, please get familiar with this nice and peculiar tree and consider growing it from fresh seeds, if your garden space allows. The next stellar alignment might come only in 2034!
Sassafras albidum portrait
Sassafras albidum – Sassafras (Fam.Lauraceae) is a medium size tree, 15-20 m tall that can be encountered wild in Southern Ontario woods (where its Northern limit is found) being more widespread across the border in a few US states. All parts of the plant are spicy and aromatic.
It has an interesting candelabra-like branching (aka. sympodial) and really cool leaves that come in three shapes! In the fall, they turn yellow, red and purple depending on the sun exposure and fall temperatures (mid-September – October). They host the caterpillars of the Spicebush swallowtail and Promethea silk moth. Young seedlings will first display only simple leaves.
Sassafras albidum fall colors
Sassafras albidum fall colors2
Sassafras albidum fall leaves
The small, yellow flowers appear in early spring, on separate male and female trees, and by fall the ornamental black drupes are displayed on red long pedicels with the same candelabra-like ramification. The fruits are very attractive and consumed by various birds in the fall.
It is not easy to always observe the black fruits up on grown up trees, even when it happens. They are rapidly consumed by birds that will spread the seeds, so in stands with mature trees there are always youngsters with cute leaves growing beneath their parents.
Mature Sassafras trees prefer full sun locations and sandy-loamy soils; when young they will tolerate shade. It is a medium to fast growing tree which also can sprout and form colonies.
Those who have space and a good garden location can grow it solitary or as part of a native woodland garden with other companion species: Lindera benzoin, Lonicera canadensis, Hepatica americana, Amphicarpeae bracteata, Maianthemum, Mitchella, Gaultheria procumbens, Trillium, Prosartes lanuginosa, Polystichum, Adiantum….
Sassafras albidum has a long and interesting history related to North American Native Peoples and later worldwide.
Before the discovery of the North American continent, the Sassafras was extensively used (leaves, roots and bark) by Native Peoples for various purposes: antihelmintic, antidiarrheal, antirheumatic, as a cold remedy, venereal, tonic…
The European settlers after seeing its traditional medicinal usage, like in many other cases, thought they found the ‘cure-all’ plant and started to import large quantities of sassafras oil (obtained by distillation from the root bark), into Europe.
For a while, the sassafras oil was a very precious commodity, being employed in foods, medicinal products, cosmetics (root beer, sassafras tea, filé powder, as flavoring in candies, beer…).
After safrole, the essential component of sassafras oil, was recognized as a potential carcinogen around 1960’s, its use was banned in the US and later in Canada.
Only young leaves which are said to contain little safrole, can be used to make the powder filé (part of the renowned Creole dish gumbo). Also, I read that some small brewers still use the extract to flavor traditional beers.
Those with more time can have a look at this wiki stub, or/and do their own research to read more about the Sassafras: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassafras_albidum
**Do not purchase Sassafras oil from non-verifiable sources, because most likely what you will get would be just some ‘fragrant oil’ obtained from other trees (via Asia and Brazil).
Also, be aware that safrole is on the List I precursor chemical of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (for good reason).
Sassafras albidum seedlings
I rarely see it cultivated, although it is a fully hardy tree in Southern Ontario. It can be propagated either from seeds or by root cuttings – according with some sources.
Sassafras seeds are losing their viability when kept dry, like its spicy cousin Lindera benzoin. Beware buying seeds that have been stored dry for longer periods for both these species!
For best germination the seeds need to be sown fresh in early fall, or if kept moist, throughout the fall, so they would first undergo a slightly warm stratification period followed by a cold one (winter). Treated like this (the natural way) they should germinate in late spring next year. The seedlings seen in the wild, testify for this method.
Lindera benzoin seeds will also be available for purchase again this year.
Start your ‘wish’ list, which should always contain first the species from the “moist packed” category – written green in the SEED LIST.
I am planning another short outing, fingers crossed for more new seeds!
Thank you for your interest and patience!
A lucky find one year – Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar on sassafras leaves
Back to seeds
PropagationThe feeling that the late summer is slowly sliding towards fall is more and more pronounced and with it the thought of seeds.
So, while the inventory work is getting under way in parallel with seeds collecting, we are getting back to weekly updates on seeds, plants and other worthy garden subjects to talk about.
When will the Shop open for orders?
Gentiana andrewsii
This fall the Seeds Shop will reopen somewhere in the first or second week of September (it will be announced). Orders are not accepted until further notice.
This way, we’ll have the chance to hopefully collect a few more species. It will also address the complains of having to order a few times in order to get seeds that are placed gradually in the inventory.
There will always be late collections: from species that are starting to flower now, like Gentiana andrewsii, or for those that mature their fruits in September/October (or even November: Asclepias exaltata), and who knows what ‘gifts’ will be arriving from friends.
Meanwhile, seeds collected in previous years will be available.
What to expect in the Seed List?
Various seeds offered as moist packed are kept in moist vermiculite and will be available to ship as soon as orders are accepted. These species are written in green in the Seeds List and recommended to be purchased first.
Fruits of Podophyllum peltatum, Mayapple and Clintonia borealis were collected last week and Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) is lining up. Hydrastis canadensis seeds are already moist packed.
After a rainy start of the season, the drought made an appearance and some species have been detrimentally affected. Some spring flowering species, like Primulas, have stood up to the occasion and there are more garden cultivated species and forms to choose from this fall.
Primula ‘Violet Victorians’
Primula hose-in-hose
Primula sieboldii, 2024
Primula veris ‘Sunset Shades’
Phyteuma confusum in wild habitat
Many North American native species will be available like every year, from A – with Arisaema triphyllum and Actaea species to V – with various Viola species.
First time offerings: Kalmia angustifolia and K. polifolia and we hope to have back in the inventory few species that were missed last year like Viburnum acerifolium and Lindera benzoin.
Non-native species speaking, by browsing the Seed List with attention, one will also find a few choice, garden and wild collected species like: Gypsophila cerastioides,
Clematis alpina ssp. sibirica, Gentiana gelida, Phyteuma confusum, Silene lerchenfeldiana, Soldanella hungarica and S. pusilla…
*Of course that the Seeds List is currently ‘in the works’ and may change until the Shop re-opens.
The late summer-fall gentians have flowered a bit earlier this year and by watching them there is always the desire to have more! With patience, by late fall we will know if the capsules contain good seeds.
Gentiana paradoxa
Campanula rotundifolia complex
Wildflowers of North Americahttps://data.canadensys.net/vascan/name/Campanula%20rotundifolia
Well, I don’t like it but I should write something about this Campanula, which is offered in the Shop (seeds).
Once upon a time, when life was easier, Campanula rotundifolia L. was considered a single species with a widespread distribution and with many variable forms depending on the geographic range.
The situation is reflected by the many synonyms accumulated over the years for this species including: Campanula alaskana, C. arctica, C. gieseckeana, C. intercedens, C. petiolata and so on….
Time has passed, and like with many other things in life, people from various parts of the world started to look more closely at the harebell, with newer tools and fresh eyes. It is an extremely variable pretty plant, so we cannot blame them.
Among other articles, I also managed to find on-line, a partial treatment for Campanulaceae for Flora of North America, which I recommend to be read entirely.
https://inaturalist.ca/posts/86696-campanula-partial-treatment-for-flora-of-north-america
For those who want a very short resume:
Firstly, it seems that the species has colonized NA in a single event from European ancestors, then it diverged into separate morphotypes.
Campanula rotundifolia populations in North America are represented by diploids, tetraploids and hexaploids which occur in a ‘matrix’ according with S. G. Shetler who studied C. rotundifolia in North America and is of the opinion that “the tetraploids form a ‘groundmass,’ and the others might turn up anywhere”. (!)
He has been able to differentiate four ‘races’ in NA based on plants morphology: the “Alaskan Race”, the “Arctic Race”, the “Eastern Race” and the “Cordilleran Race” (please follow the above link for more explanations and relative descriptions).
Very important I think is this note: “in any particular location plants may be found with any combination of morphologies mentioned above, or populations with the features of one or more “races” may occur together or in the same general area”.
If all these ‘races’ will be formally recognized as distinct species, I don’t know. I notice that on WFO C. rotundifolia and C. gieseckeana are listed as accepted.
Campanula rotundifolia L. in Bruce pen., likely what is given now as Campanula gieseckeana
I will personally wait for a general consensus and a complete treatment of Campanulaceae published in Flora of North America, so we can follow the traditional keys for identification. We will follow closely this ‘story’ of and wait for the ‘happy ending’.
With this in mind, it is important to note the seeds collection locations.
Regarding the seeds offered in BotanyCa Shop – all seeds offered as Campanula rotundifolia, of any year, were collected in Ontario on the shorelines of Lake Huron (Bruce peninsula and Killarney).
I also grew plants from the latest collection and after a very close look with the measuring tape in hand out in the garden, our current plants/seeds qualify ‘somewhat’ into to the “Eastern race” as described by S. G. Shetler, with the decumbent stems and very particular ‘ribbonlike leaves’ (currently presented as Campanula intercedens on iNaturalist).
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=905640
I would also note that height and vigor will vary greatly depending on the garden location: shorter, more upright plants in a full sun/dry location versus a much taller plant in part-shade and more moisture.
Campanula rotundifolia – Killarney, ON in full sun
Campanula rotundifolia, C. intercedens in part-shade
Campanula rotundifolia, C. intercedens, Killarney
So, for now I changed the title in the Shop to:
Campanula rotundifolia L.– Killarney, ON
somewhat equivalent to Campanula intercedens Witasek
If you grew plants from seeds purchased in the last two years from BotanyCa Shop, please mark this change in your labels/records.
Let me explain about evergreen Epimediums
PropagationWhile waiting for Jeffersonia diphylla capsules to open and the heat dome to go away, I will write a bit about the evergreen Epimedium species. Seeds will be offered soon and I know that not everyone is familiar with them/growing from seeds.
Years ago I had quite a few articles about some Chinese Epimediums on the website which I subsequently deleted because of the amount of spam generated by the tags attached. Because you see, the evergreen Epimedium species, which are of Chinese origin, are commonly called fairy-wings or barenworts (like the European and Japanese Epimediums), and also horny-goats weeds, supposedly because one of theirs medicinal properties ;) Enough said…
From all Epimediums I particularly like this group of species because of their evergreen, leathery handsome foliage and spidery-looking flowers. Musing on species that maintain a nice presence over the winter, I once described the evergreen Epimediums the next best thing to the Helleborus: Winter joys II.
Then, ‘the best is yet to come’ with the new spring foliage being incredibly ornamental in various shades of purple, salmon, or mottled, before turning green later. The spidery flowers might be a personal like, but I noticed that other people enjoy them too.
Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’
Epimedium lishihchenii
Epimedium acuminatum
I acquired a few of the available species, and after a few years when I noticed capsules on Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’, I said: how about trying to grow more from seeds? I had no idea about their requirements for germination and there was little to no info about the subject. This fantastic cultivar is in fact a hybrid resulted from a cross: E. wushanense ’Caramel’ x Epimedium flavum.
Now there are more hybrids around the garden, and it may be a swarm of cross-hybridization going around. There is no ‘ flight control tower’ for the bumblebees :-) Which takes me to the third reason I love them: the flowers with long spurs are in high demand in the spring (around May here) for the long tongue pollinators.
Other evergreen species growing in the garden are Epimedium acuminatum, Epimedium stellulatum and Epimedium brachyrrhizum, so there are more cross-pollinations possibilities.
To state the obvious: all plants grown from seeds will be the result of cross-pollination.
Growing from seeds it is also the method of obtaining new commercially cultivars after careful selection. In the garden, one can keep whatever finds suitable and discard away the unwanted (flowers-wise). Most will produce a few flowers in 3-4 years so it’s a quick process.
I also found myself in the position to giving names to a few of the most deserving specimens, all chance seedlings; labels are needed when sharing divisions with friends :-)
Epimedium ‘New Horizons’
Epimedium ‘Freckles’
Epimedium ‘Raspberry Fudge’
Garden cultivation: plant them in part-shaded locations (especially shade for the afternoon in a hot climate). After many years, I consider the most commonly cultivated species to be quite drought resistant (occasional watering during drought), just that they will flower better having more moisture.
The evergreen foliage can became unsightly by early spring (depending on climate and in snowless winters); remove it only in late spring because it protects the flowering stems, which show up at ground level early and can be damaged by late frosts.
Most species grow from a tight rhizome, so if you want to divide them, dig out the whole clump and carefully take out a rhizome ‘slice’ in late spring/summer and grow it in a pot until fall to build up the roots. The spreading types are more easily divided, but even so they require a season or two to get back in shape.
Very fresh (green) and a few days ‘old’ Epimedium seeds
Propagation by seeds: the seeds seem to be hydrophilic and require a warm stratification followed by a cold stratification in order to germinate; sow them fresh in the summer and then allow a cold (winter) period.
As shown in the image, they are still green when the capsule splits open and are equipped with large elaiosomes, which will dry out in a few days, while the seed coats will mature and become brownish. For sowing we should follow the same procedures as with Hepatica seeds.
It seems that the seeds only need +/- 2 month of cold stratification, so if you keep the pots in a cold garage, for example, they may start to germinate in February (even earlier depending on the climate). To avoid this, keep the pots outdoors for the winter for spring germination. Self-sown seedlings appear in the spring every year now.
If you use indoor lighting, you can get a head start for the season; the seedlings grow fast and are very easy-going under lights.
Epimedium seedlings with cotyledon and first true leaves
Again, as a thank you to all customers (ask in the note) seeds will be offered complementary with all orders coming in with the next wave of fresh seeds (while quantities last).
Likewise, those who only want Epimedium seeds will be able to purchase them.
I hope to convert at least few people of growing them from seeds. Nice surprises await those willing to try!
Bursting at the seams
Wildflowers of North AmericaMid-June is by tradition a period when various spring flowering species are maturing their fruits – many are literally bursting at the seams :-) and are a bit difficult to catch, even for experienced collectors. Cues of maturation are slight changes in color and/or in texture, but even so, fruits on the same plant will mature at different times, therefore using organza bags when possible is still a better way to go.
Stylophorum diphyllum fruits releasing the seeds
Cardamine enneaphyllos splitted fruits
Asarum canadense fruits and seeds
Viola adunca var. bellidifolia opening capsules
With plants being smart, the fruits are in most cases down-turned towards the ground (like in Stylophorum diphyllum, the woodland poppy), which makes the matter of capture even more difficult. The wild ginger fruits (Asarum canadense) are laying at the ground level and innocently keep the same color/shape until the ‘last minute’ of maturation – an open buffet for all ground crawling creatures.
Viola species capsules, we talked about them, are explosives and it is not possible to include all the stems in bags.
So, daily garden walks have a double goal, to admire the newly flowered and to also collect seeds from the ‘seeds defectors’.
Papaver chakassicum, Polygala
Campanula bellidifolia
Dianthus deltoides (2)
Dianthus spiculifolius
Dictamnus albus
Gladiolus tenuis
Just one example of an Epimedium ex. ‘Amber Queen’ hybrid; colored young foliage and yellow spidery flowers in various shades
To make a long story short, there will be new fresh seeds listed in the Spring-Summer 2024 section of the SEED LIST very soon.
At this point, only Jeffersonia diphylla and one Helleborus are on the ‘wait list’, but not for long I think.
PS. In the featured image: capsules with seeds of Epimedium lishihchenii.
Free Epimedium seeds will be offered for all orders (while quantities last)!
This spring was good with them and there are plenty of capsules on Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’ and its hybrids, so it would be a shame to let them go to waste.
Stay tuned…
June seeds and Dicentra
Wildflowers of North AmericaThe Corydalis and Hepatica seeds offering will be closed sooner that June 15th, after this weekend. So, do not wait longer if you want to grab some of the remaining seeds.
I was concentrating towards preparing the orders with Hepatica seeds as fast as possible when garden walks revealed that many early flowering species (March/April) are ripening their seeds sooner than usual! The biggest mischiefs from ‘catch me if you can’ category were bagged, and in fact, as of today Helleborus niger and Helleborus purpurascens seeds are already collected.
Frequent garden walks are recommended now because many species are maturing their fruits gradually (Physoclaina, Geum triflorum, Lathyrus vernus, Draba, Viola species….for example). I also noticed the first Epimedium capsules bursting…
Jeffersonia diphylla capsule
Helleborus purpurascens seeds
Lathyrus vernus gradually maturing fruits
Geum triflorum
Collecting seeds in the wild will be a hit and miss this year, that’s for sure.
Dicentra formosa flowers showing immature capsules.
In the feature image we have Dicentra formosa, the Pacific bleeding heart, for which I’ll make a short plant portrait.
It was grown from a few seeds collected many years ago during a trip to Victoria, BC. It grows well in a part-shaded location and I like it for its long flowering period and for providing food for the bumblebees in the spring. Interestingly, I’ve never noticed fruits until this year; as shown in the image they would be hard to miss!
The Pacific bleeding heart is a lovely plant with ferny-like foliage growing from fleshy rhizomes that broke easily (so careful with transplanting). The pink heart shaped dangling flowers appear in early spring and last for a very, very! long time. It will spread to form carpets, with size depending on how much moisture it has; easy to remove as the rhizomes are very shallow (almost sit atop the ground). It usually becomes dormant in late summer.
I would say it is an essential species for the long tongue pollinators in the spring. In my garden it flowers at the same time with Lathyrus vernus and they are both very good ‘providers’. The bumblebees population has increased because of them, and because of the countless early Corydalis and Dicentra cucullaria, of course :-)
Regarding Dicentra seeds germination, I would like to emphasize that the same applies as for Corydalis species. The seeds need to be sowed fresh, with warm/cold stratification cycles. From dry, old seeds you will not get much germination. This subject is not often discussed because actually not many Dicentra species are grown from seeds.
Like in previous years, the next offering of fresh seeds will be done on late June-early July for various native and non-native species, before the Shop will close for the rest of summer: Sanguinaria, Asarum canadense, Stylophorum diphyllum, Saruma, Epimedium, Jeffersonia, Dicentra formosa (if enough seeds), Pseudofumaria lutea, Capnoides sempervirens, Helleborus (Helleborus seeds can also be sown in early fall)…
All done
PropagationThe newly added Hepatica seeds are available. Links are provided for easy access on the top section of the SEED List.
There are still Corydalis seeds available, Claytonia virginica and notice the latest collection – Pachyphragma macrophyllum
Those wishing to obtain nice Pulsatilla seedlings right away this summer: have a look at Pulsatilla styriaca and Pulsatilla ex. styriaca pink.
ALL Hepatica, Corydalis and Claytonia seeds will be available only until June 15th.
Many thanks again to all who are trying to grow from seeds our native Hepatica species and all other ‘best if sown right away’ species. My effort to provide these fresh seeds is equalled only by your effort to sow and take care of the seedlings.
A first
PropagationIt is the first time when I collected a nice amount of seeds from Corydalis nobilis, the ‘lord’ of the Corydalis species, also called Siberian corydalis. This species is self-incompatible, i.e. needs a partner or two, in order to produce good seeds. So, I counted on friends for seeds a few years – many thanks, while I grew and planted a couple more (actually there are 4 specimens now).
The first time when I mused about this species was in 2012 (thanks to WordPress organizing folders): The lord of the Corydalis.
Then, in 2016 I wasn’t worried about it becoming a ‘weed’ in my new garden. One can tell I am very fond of this Corydalis :)
“I read somewhere (most probably in an AGS Journal) about an old, neglected garden where C. nobilis had taken hold of and was growing everywhere like a weed. It can maybe happen in time; say 30 years from now on. Sounds like a good plan…”: In charge – Corydalis nobilis.
The lord of Corydalis species didn’t click as expected with the regular gardeners. The collectors know best. True that only a picture with the yellow flowers may induce just a ‘meh’ reaction.
This Corydalis has to be experienced from the very early spring apparition to the flowering end: to wonder at the expanding fleshy, bluish foliage (extremely cold hardy), at the ‘cones- like’ future inflorescences and later smile at the bumblebees foraging with delight the spicy flowers.
Plant it in the back/side of another larger perennial (Lathyrus vernus, Paeonia, Aconitum…) if you worry about having empty spots after it goes dormant.
Corydalis nobilis early spring
Corydalis nobilis spring foliage
Corydalis nobilis, Siberian Corydalis
Corydalis nobilis rhizome of a mature specimen; moving/transplanting can be easily done after the plant goes completely dormant.
It is not a rarity because it flowers later than the bulbous Corydalis species and the specialized nurseries have the occasion to show it when they open in the spring.
So, if you can find to buy a young one do not hesitate, the display will only get better as it grows up.
If not, it is easy to grow from fresh seeds like all other Corydalis species. Keep a couple of them and gift the rest to friends. It forms a large rhizome in time, making it fairly easy to move it around the garden in search for a good place (do it in late summer/fall when it is dormant).
Hepatica speaking, the seeds collecting is under way. As I know what seeds will be available, they are gradually displayed on the SEED List – Spring seeds section.
Also a first, there will be a small offering of Hepatica transsilvanica seeds; plus other regulars like Hepatica americana ‘Apple Blossoms’ , Hepatica americana blue mix, and we’ll see what else….. I even managed to catch few Claytonia virginica seeds, so the spring ‘seeds assortment’ will be complete. The sale will be announced.
Apropos Hepatica germination
Wildflowers of North AmericaNow that the seeds sale is started, today I will show a small flat with little pots of Hepatica sowings from last year. Sometimes ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. Have a look at it; the post will be transferred to the Hepatica germination page afterwards.
What else can be said? The seedlings will remain on this stage on for the rest of the season – above ground wise. More is happening below ground with the root system growing on, accumulating reserves for next year growth. Seedlings of this size should not dry out but also beware of overwatering. Less foliage, less watering is the norm. Apply a very light fertilizer once in a while.
The seedlings from the first pot should (and will) be pricked out because the pot is very small; all other pots should wait until next spring, especially those where more seeds are expected to germinate.
The top image features a pot with a sowing from 2021. One seed germinated (spring 2022) and grew up, the remaining seeds germinated only this spring! This means germination in the third year after sowing.
I hope this will draw more appreciation for the amount of work put into obtaining a Hepatica young plant! Never consider that they are too expensive, should you decide to purchase plants. If/when gifted to you, take them with a big thank you.
And my big Thank You to those who persevere in growing these beauties from seeds!
Welcome May
PropagationHepatica japonica magenta form
All possible Corydalis seeds have been collected; we will wait a few more days to start the sale because the few Hepatica japonica forms which started to flower very early in an exposed location are also almost ready to shed their seeds.
So, we’ll group them together while waiting for all the other Hepaticas. This year the seeds of Hepatica americana and Hepatica acutiloba and some of the Hepatica nobilis forms will mature a bit later; the variations in temperatures play a big role, also the sun exposure.
For example, although Hepatica transsilvanica was one of the first to start flowering this spring, the seeds are not mature yet because it grows in a very shaded location.
Meanwhile, welcome May, much to admire, do, and so little time….
Hepatica japonica seeds catching
Androsace villosa ssp. taurica
Gentiana clusii
Degenia velebitica
Viola adunca var. bellidifolia
Primula ‘Violet Victorians’
Corydalis nobilis
Epimedium ‘Freckles’
Glaucidium palmatum ‘Album’
Aristolochia steupii, iberica
Paeonia mascula ssp. mascula
Paeonia mlokosewitchii
Adieu to April
Propagation…and to bulbous Corydalis
Due to a mild winter this year, the first picture of Corydalis malkensis starting to flower was recorded on March 20th! This is the first Corydalis to flower in our climate. Corydalis paczoskii followed shortly then along the month of April, more and more flowers appeared throughout the garden. As usual, they fared well though a few cold snaps and brief snowy periods. The latest to flower was as always Corydalis cava, which may be also due to its more shaded position.
Corydalis solida
In general, the flowering of bulbous Corydalis has been much better this spring.
I was excited to see flowering well a Corydalis solida of a nice peachy (or coral) color, with dense flowers on short stems. It may receive a name :)
Also, for a solitary clump of a very fragrant Corydalis, of kusnetzovii origin (it may also be a hybrid, although it sets seeds) with densely packed, powdery purple flowers (shown in the gallery).
A few Corydalis solida flowers are still hanging on, but it won’t be for long. As we know, when they prepare to go dormant it is time to check for the seeds and don’t forget that the capsules mature gradually and ‘explode’ to release the seeds.
The first seeds of Corydalis malkensis and Corydalis packzoskii were collected on April 25 and I’m working on Corydalis solida right now.
At BotanyCa, Corydalis solida and allies seeds are provided fresh only, so we may have to start the seeds sale before the Hepatica this year! The start of the sale will be announced as soon as all seeds are collected (there is a special section on top of the Seeds List general offerings).
There are so many posts about bulbous Corydalis, pictures included, on this website that one would wonder if we need any more. I do it as a ritual of passage from early to late spring. They are on my ‘plants I cannot live without’ list, and also on the same list for the spring mama-bumblebees. For all you need to know, click here: Growing Corydalis solida & allies from seeds
Adieu to April and to bulbous Corydalis; welcome May!
To all celebrating this weekend, a Happy Easter with hope for peace, kindness and love among all people!
Corydalis malkensis, 2024
Corydalis paczoskii, 2024
Corydalis solida, 2024
Primula sibthorpii, Corydalis malkensis
Corydalis solida ‘Beth Evans’, 2024
Corydalis solida red fragrant
Hepatica, Corydalis marschalliana
Corydalis cava
Corydalis ex. kusnetzovii fragrant, 2024