Packing Uvularia grandiflora (Large-flowered bellwort) for orders in the past days I noticed few seeds with already emerged radicles – shown in the image above. From any given lot of seeds, some are always in a hurry to germinate; the others will follow over time. These seeds have been kept in moist storage at room temperature since being collected in early August (warm/moist cycle). When the seeds are kept moist or sown right away after collecting, the radicles will start to emerge and also form a tiny rhizome in the fall; the leaves will follow in the spring after a cold/moist cycle (winter).
For those who already sowed Uvularia seeds – this is happening right now, deep down in your pots!
Things are simple, fruit and seeds wise, when it comes to Uvularia species: the seeds are enclosed in a capsule which will open to release them at maturity; usually they mature somewhere in August in SW Ontario. They are equipped with elaiosomes which attract ants (and maybe other insects) that contribute to their dispersal.
The capsules will get from green to greenish-white to white before splitting to release the seeds: Uvularia al dente.
One reward for the work of collecting and offering moist-packed seeds is the fact that more people start growing and enjoying in their garden various native species not readily available to purchase.
Uvularia grandiflora is one of them. Like many other rhizomatous species that require a few years to reach a ‘saleable size’, it is rarely seen on offer at the regular garden centers, although it is easy to grow from seeds and it grows quite fast.
It emerges early in the spring already showing the flowers, at a time when it is quite ‘empty’ in our woodlands. The first pollinators do not take for granted this plant!
The large, yellow flowers are very showy and make good companions for many other woodland plants. It often forms colonies, sometimes on rocky slopes, being drought resistant.
The foliage remains nice looking for the rest of the summer and fall, in good years even taking a nice golden color.
So, what are you waiting for? For those ‘afraid’ of pots – the seeds are large enough and can be sown directly in the ground, in the garden in a proper location.
For sowing directly in the ground please review: Growing Caulophyllum from seeds the easy way
