Lisianthus seed pod

Does anyone have a photo??

Thanks

I'm growing these ones for the first year. As soon as they set seed, I'll let you know.
Jonna

I've read they have a very long germination. I gave up trying to collect seeds--could not seem to locate them once my blossom had died. However, they are one of my favorite flowers so have just resorted to purchasing seedlings every year. I'll be watching this to see what the response is on saving seed. If you wish to purchase seed or seedlings, I've purchased from a source that has been very reliable for several years--d-mail me and I'd be happy to send the information.

Well, don't shoot me if I'm wrong, but I *think* these are the lisianthus seeds I collected last year. I'm really bad about forgetting to label things. :-(
It certainly does take patience to grow them from seed, and I think the problem I had was keeping them too warm, but I did get a few to grow. They certainly are worth the trouble.

Woofie:

Thank you for posting that photo. At least now I have a general idea of what to look for. Funny you mentioned you may have kept them too warm....the grower I usually get my starts from often has problem with either losing them or being very small starts due to the cold! Seems like these might be very picky, but they are worth it. Probably my favorite flower in the garden, and they draw comments from everyone that sees them.

Oh my gosh, look at these!

http://www.global-flowers.com/index.phtml?sek_id=67

I am an evil person. Look what else I found:

http://www.tsflowers.com/seeds2/lisianthus_blue.rim.html

This message was edited Sep 14, 2009 3:21 PM

You found my source--I've been purchasing from T's flowers for several years. It takes a while to grow the seedlings, but well worth the wait. I was so surprised to find these flowers from a grower less than 2 hours from where I live.

Ooooooh, did you get seeds for those blue and white ones? I'd never seen them.
I also came across a site that has more information than you could possibly want about growing lisianthus. It's intended for commercial growers, but if you're willing to wade through it, there's some good information.

http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/Harbaughpubs/PottedLisianthus1.htm

I'm not quite that patient to start from seed--I've been buying the small seedling plants (and the blue/white ones are my favorites). The plants are usually quite small when they arrive--barely a couple of inches tall; I put them under my grow lights for several weeks to let the root systems develop and the plants grow larger before planting them out.

The website you provided the last link for looks interesting--I'll have to spend some more time looking through it. Thanks for sharing that. Maybe next season I'll consider starting from seed, if I can far enough ahead. Based upon the photo of the seeds you provided, I can see why the pelleted seed would be easier to work with.

It's funny...everyone always loves my lisianthus when they see them, but even the more experienced gardeners haven't heard of them. I think I first discovered them in a bouquet from our local farmer's market. It's impossible to find either the seeds or plants at any of our local stores.

I first saw them in a picture in a magazine and went searching for seeds. I had planted some seeds, forgotten to label them (as usual!) and forgotten about them. Weeks later, a mystery plant appeared and I had no idea what it was, but it looked interesting so I kept it. Lo and behold, it turned out to be one of the lisianthus, a pale rose colored one. What was really silly, tho, was that even after it had bloomed, I still didn't know what I had. I had to post it on the ID forum to find out! Boy did I feel dumb! Unfortunately, the plant only lasted a couple of years. I'm guessing now that it might have been a victim of fungus gnats. I planted a few more this year and now have three plants in containers, one a dark blue, one white and one too small to bloom yet.
So you mail order the seedlings? Are they expensive?
Um, if you get seeds off those blue and whilte ones, would you be willing to share some?

How did you get your plant to winter over? They are defintely annuals in my area...I tried heavily mulching a few plants up close to the house on the south side, but with no success. I'll check to see what I still have blooming, and if I can grab any seeds, I'll certainly be happy to send some your way. Most of my lisianthus never get to the seed stage, as they end up as cut flowers (they last an incredibly long time). Pretty sure I still have a few blue or blue/white ones--I'll try to keep on eye on them.

The seedlings from T's flowers are not terribly expensive....I think about $3 - $3.50 for a 3 pack.

Well, mine are in pots. I have a nice big back porch with nice big windows.

I really should thank the person who started this thread; it got me poking around for more information and that last link I posted has some very useful growing tips.

Wow, that is reasonable for seedlings. But if you do end up with a few seeds, particularly off that blue and white one, thank you, I'd love to have a few. But I know, they do make really nice cut flowers.

I'm a bad person...I'm finally back

I started a TON of lisianthus from seed and was too dumb to know they took a long time and were difficult to finish!

Most of them actually made it and they are beautiful. Now I have a million seed pods (I know this now from woofie's post) and I'm glad to see the seed is the tiny tan stuff inside.

Ion--thanks for the update. I've been waiting forever for my seed pods to ripen. The seeds are well-known for taking a long time to germinate. You're in a similar zone to mine--we'd have to start seed in January to have seedlings to put out in May.

How long did you let your seed pods ripen? Mine are all still green--any advice will be helpful. I appreciate your help.

Mine are still green too, but I picked one that was close and brought it inside to dry for a few days. Still green after a week

These suckers must take forever

I brought my plants inside today. I had 2 plants in my greenhouse, 10 in my garden. The ones in my garden are dead, it's too cold for them here. Hope I'll have seeds from the other 2. I have one pink and one deep purple.

Jonna--have you ever tried saving seed from lisianthus before, or tried growing them from seed? I think we're all looking for someone with some experience to guide us here.
Will your plants overwinter in your greenhouse?

I'm trying to get seeds from the plants that have white flowers with purple edges. I will be happy to share some if I can ever get the darn seed pods to ripen.

I sowed them on February 12 indoors, 28 seeds. They germinated very irregular, but at the end 17 did. They grow very slowly. I kept 2 in my unheated greenhouse and put the rest in the garden or gave them to others. In the garden the first flowers appeared last month and now the plants are dying since it's too cold now. The ones in the greenhouse I took indoors. One has flowered a month ago, but still no seeds. What I learned from it is that I must start them earlier, in December or even November to have flowering plants in summer.
If they set seed I'll let you know.

All of mine have been from 6 packs. I like ready made plants ;-}
I sometimes even find them at Home Depot
Fortunately they tend to be tender perennials in my neck of the woods and several of them are going on their 3rd year.
Here is Heidi Blue Rim

Here is Heidi Red. I purchased this a few years ago and it was only good for a year. I have never seen it since. I asked the local garden center to check for me and got a response that the solids did not seem to be available any more.

I think this is Echo Light Blue

As you might guess. I really like these flowers!
Me thinks this be Echo Pink

PotEmUp, did your plants ever set seed?

I have never seen seed. I guess it is possible I don't have the right pollinator.

This might be interesting to read if you want to grow them from seed.

http://www.dontveter.com/howtogrow/eustgran.html

Beautiful photos, PotEmUp--thanks for sharing. I've never seen, nor heard of any of the "Heidi" series. That red is especially stunning. I've only found plants/seeds from the "Echo" and "Mariachi" series. I'm envious you've been able to maintain some for 3 years in your zone.

Jonna--thank you for the link. Interesting reading. Still trying to wait out the seed pods ripening here. I will probably resort to bringing my pots indoors. It's supposed to get down to 30 degrees by this weekend. UGH!

We had the remnants of the typhon that hit Japan pass through here yesterday dumping much rain. Today it was muggy in the 70's.

I was contacted by someone in New Zealand for some photos. She was hired to make a wedding cake and here is what she did based on the photos I sent. The cake has fondant icing with the lisianthus as a topper!

Oh, wow. How very cool!