Dogwoods and arrowwoods

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In many regions we can now admire the colourful fruits of various dogwood (Cornus) and arrowwood (Viburnum) species. Many of them are appreciated as garden plants for their flowers and fruits with wildlife value plus the fall foliage coloration.

In order to germinate in the first spring after sowing, the seeds (fruits) of most such species require first a slightly warm/moist stratification cycle before the cold/moist stratification (winter). There may be exceptions but it is always better to be on the safe side.

Read here about it: Friday Seeds & germination requirements for Viburnum species

Viburnum rafinesquianum, Downy arrowwood

Cornus rugosa fruits have just been collected and cleaned, and the same goes for Viburnum rafinesquianum. Last time we provided seeds of Downy arrowwood was in 2017, so it’s been a while…

Viburnum rafinesquianum, Downy arrowwood, is less known (and cultivated) compared to Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood), although its smaller size and similar characters make it a very good candidate for our gardens.

It grows well in dry conditions and loamy/clay/rocky substrates, another quality. The leaves are very similar to those of other arrowwoods, pubescent on the undersides. The fall coloration depends on how much sun it receives.

Showy flat-topped clusters of white flowers appear in late spring and are followed by attractive blue-black fruits (conspicuous flattened drupes), which are consumed by birds.

*The maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) fruits are not yet mature, but they will be collected asap.

Along with the dogwoods and Viburnums, do not forget that early fall is the best time to sow all species from the ‘moist packed’ category and others like Coptis trifolia, Daphne, Actaea, Aralia, Ilex, Hydrophyllum and most Paeonia species! To the SEEDS List!

Moist packed Seeds

Aralia racemosa fruits

Paeonia category

Colorful baneberries & time to sow

Actaea pachypoda

New Actaea fruits have been collected and now the whole baneberries ‘collection’ can be found in the inventory, including Actaea pachypoda fo. rubrocarpa (featured image) and the rare hybrid Actaea x ludovici (A. rubra x A. pachypoda). I have already showed this natural hybrid a few years ago; it can probably also be obtained in the garden if you grow the parent species.

There is nothing new but worth repeating that the good time to sow the baneberries is in the fall. The seeds require first a warm/moist stratification followed by a cold/moist stratification in order to germinate well. By sowing too late toward the winter, the seeds will need one more year to undergo these cycles.

*Orders containing Actaea rubra or Actaea pachypoda will receive a complimentary free pck. of Actaea x ludovici seeds (while quantities last).

The time of colorful baneberries is also a sign to (really) start sowing!

Back in stock:
Diphylleia cymosa, Trillium cuneatum, Clintonia borealis

Diphylleia cymosa fruits

Trillium cuneatum, Sweet Betsy

Clintonia borealis

Newly added:
Trillium luteum, Trillium erectum
Cornus canadensis (bunchberry)
Coptis trifolia (goldthread)

Trillium erectum

Trillium luteum

Cornus canadensis

Coptis trifolia flowers

Also, to pay attention to Aralia hispida and Aralia racemosa (fruits have just be cleaned).

Non-native wise, we also have as a new addition a lovely white flower form of Daphne mezereum, which I just sow it myself, with many thanks to the donor.

There are other new additions, like Gaylussacia baccata and Sisyrinchium montanum, but at this time I would like to keep the emphasis on those species that benefit from being sown in early fall: SEEDs LIST

Asarum canadense
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Daphne mezereum
Jeffersonia dubia
Trillium grandiflorum
Uvularia grandiflora

 

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, …..)

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

           

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 first a warm moist stratification before the winter (cold/moist stratification). They 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!

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 would be difficult to enclose in organza bags, 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’ :)

Prosartes lanuginosa

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Prosartes lanuginosa in flower (yellow mandarin), garden cultivated.

 Prosartes lanuginosa (the yellow mandarin) is in full bloom in my garden, looking more beautiful than ever and deserving a mention.
I looked back at propagation pictures and these older plants were tiny seedlings  in 2018! Formerly named Disporum, this is the only Prosartes species growing wild in Southern Ontario, and only in restricted locations.

Easily recognized by its graceful habit with usually 3 branching stems ending with 1-2 cream flowers (despite the name yellow mandarin) in late spring, followed by bright red/orange fruits in the fall. 

I mentioned on other occasions that I am partial to all Disporum and Prosartes species; there is a subtle elegance in the way they grow and carry themselves, not equaled by many other plants. Some may see it and some may not….obviously I like them very much!

Of course that one needs to see them grow and flower in order to appreciate their beauty, which is not an easy task. They are absent from regular garden centres and even specialized nurseries do not offer too many such species. Luckily they adapt well and are easy growing in the garden.

Yellow mandarin makes a great plant for the woodland garden. It flowers right after the Uvularia and Trillium grandiflorum have bloomed.  Other good native companions: Claytonia virginica, Asarum canadense, Jeffersonia diphylla, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Viola canadensis, Stylophorum diphyllum…to mention just a few.

It it is not difficult to grow from seeds: fresh seeds need to be sown in early fall and the pots kept outdoors to allow the natural variations in temperature (slightly warm – fall – cold -winter). Always keep an eye for the fresh seeds (always limited quantity) offered usually in September. They do not keep well in moist storage and it is best to purchase them asap.

Prosartes lanuginosa (Michx.) D.Don seeds

Prosartes lanuginosa in habitat

Prosartes lanuginosa seedlings

Prosartes lanuginosa seedlings April 2020

Prosartes lanuginosa seedlings

Prosartes lanuginosa 3 years old seedlings

About Hepatica acutiloba

Most years the Sharp-lobed leaf Hepatica, Hepatica acutiloba, blooms 1 week ahead of H. americana and right now the flowering is almost done (depending on the region).
So, we will first have a recap about this lovely wildflower with related links explaining how to identify it, where it grows, how to grow it from seeds, plus showing many images of flowering plants and seedlings.

I only have new to show a pretty semidouble pink form, which seems to be partially maiden as well (not with many functional anthers).

A reminder that our beloved Hepatica species have their own page that gets updated once in a while:

Hepatica – read about North American Hepatica species, seeds and germination, transplanting the seedlings….

Notes on Hepatica acutiloba (2018) – page

Other useful posts related with Hepatica acutiloba

Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix explained  (2019)

Hepatica acutiloba and a checklist (2020)

Getting ready for Hepatica acutiloba (2022)

Snowdrops day and near future

While they never rose to the fame and adoration they are held in Europe, the snowdrops are undeniably the spring harbingers at least in certain Canadian regions.

This could be blamed on the scarcity of offerings, both as bulbs and live plants.
There is nothing more exciting than to witness them piercing through the snow and leaves and nothing more delightful than a snowdrop gently swaying under the sunshine of an early spring day. More snowdrops musing, including how to try and propagate them from seeds in last year post: Onward to 2024!

Springing into the spring 😊 there are always questions about seeds of spring flowering plants: Corydalis, Hepatica and so on.
As always, I can only remind to all that when it comes to seeds, we are at nature’s mercy.

No one can predict what will flower well,  set seeds and also be caught at the right moment!
Given our long and snowy winter and late spring start, I approximate various such seeds to be available, if possible, somewhere in June (see the Subscribe to the blog button, on various pages).

With the upcoming spring, there is always a new seeds inventory to be done, quite a few items are out of stock anyways and many garden tasks awaiting.

Therefore, starting April orders will not be accepted, until further notice. Those in need of certain ‘warm germinating’ species, please hurry up!